Ten Different Types of Effective

Presentation Styles
Here are ten common different effective presentation styles:

1. Visual Presentation Style

The visual style is great for anyone who wants to use your
presentation to complement the main points of your speech. This
visual presentation technique is perfect for people who have many
important talking points.

To use this technique, include a visual of what you are talking about
in your presentation. You can also put graphs and charts in your
presentation.

Steve Jobs often used the visual presentation style. You can see an
example of this in the YouTube video below:

Notice the visuals on the giant screen behind Jobs. Here are some
pros and cons of the visual presentation method:

Pros: The visual presentation technique is helpful if you've got a

large audience. The visuals will let the audience see what you're
discussing in your presentation. This style is great if you're
discussing a product or something similar.

Cons: The visual presentation technique isn't for someone who

doesn’t need visuals to explain what they're talking about.

2. Coach Presentation Style

The coach presentation style is for energetic and charismatic
speakers. This presentation style is a great style to use with an
audience who needs to be sold on an idea. This presentation style
works best if the presenter doesn't need to get into details.

Pros: The coach style allows you to connect with your audience
using role-play and listener interaction. Use this style to sell an idea
or sell a product. The coach-style is a great style to use in a
conference type setting.

Cons: The coach-style of presentation isn't suitable if you're a

naturally quiet person. In this style you don't go into details, instead,
you're communicating the big picture. If you need to get into the
details of what you're presenting, you might want to explore other
styles.

3. Instructor Presentation Style

The instructor presentation method is great to use when you've got

a complex subject to discuss. With this form of presentation high
impact visuals help you get your point across to the audience.

This presentation style is appropriate for anyone who is great at

presenting and is comfortable with their subject. Former U.S. Vice
President Al Gore often used this presentation method. If you want
to use this presentation method, be sure to consider:

Pros: The instructor type of presentation is great if you like to use

metaphors and figures of speech to help you make a point. This
style is also appropriate for people who want to use impactful
visuals to further your points.

Cons: The instructor type of presentation isn't meant for short

presentations. A lot of preparation time will go into making or
finding high impact visuals.

4. Freeform Presentation Style

The freeform presentation method doesn't use slides. This style of
speaking is very impromptu. This presentation style is great for a
presenter who has a short speech and knows their presentation
points well.

Here are some pros and cons of this technique:

Pros: The freeform presentation style is great for an impromptu

meeting where you don’t have much time to prepare. This
presentation style can also be used at networking events.

Cons: With this presentation technique if you don't know your

subject matter very well it can make you seem unorganized.
Freeform presentation style is better if you've got a short
presentation time.

5. Storytelling Presentation Style

The storytelling type of presentation relies on stories and examples
to make points in their presentation. This style is suitable if you've
got a lot of time to present your topic.

This type of presentation style is also appropriate for networking

events and conferences. This presentation technique often has a
question and answer session at the end of the presentation. A
speaker who uses this presentation technique is neuroanatomist
and author, Jill Bolte Taylor.

As you listen to the presentation, take note of the various stories

that the speaker uses. By telling stories from her own life, Taylor
captures the audience's attention. Here are the pros and cons of
the storytelling presentation style:

Pros: The storytelling style allows you to connect with your

audience through stories. With this style of presenting it's okay to
get emotional. The emotion helps you connect with your audience
better.

Cons: The storytelling style is not for you if you don’t have
anecdotes to tell. You also need to leave time for a question and
answer session. If you don’t have time for a question and answer
session, then explore other styles.

6. Connector Presentation Style

In this type of presentation, audience feedback is highly
encouraged. The speaker will try to connect to the audience
through their similarities. This presentation technique applies to
sales presentations.

Some of the pros and cons of the connector presentation style

include:

Pros: This style is great if you want immediate feedback on your

presentation. The connector form of presentation typically includes
a question and answer session with the audience.

Cons: In the connector form of presentation, the speaker must have

similarities with their audience. If they don’t have similarities with
the audience, then they're not connecting with them. This style also
isn't for you if you don’t want immediate feedback on your
presentation.

7. Persuasive Presentation Style

The persuasive form of presentation is where the presenter is trying
to persuade the audience to their point of view. A sales pitch
presentation is an example of a persuasive form of presentation.

In a persuasive speech connecting with the audience through a

similar experience or through emotion helps the audience relate to
the speaker. If you're planning to use a persuasive presentation
style, consider:

Pros: The persuasive presentation style is great if you use your

hands a lot while speaking. This style is also great if you're selling a
product.
Cons: If you don't need to persuade the audience of something,
then you'll want to look into other styles. This presentation style is
for people who are more experienced in presenting sales pitches or
presentations.

8. Interactive Presentation Style

The interactive presentation method requires the speaker to interact
with the audience in some way. The presenter can connect with the
audience by passing out speaker notes or an outline before the
presentation.

The speaker could also interact with the audience by using a

whiteboard or host a webinar. This style helps keep the audience
engaged with what the speaker is saying.

Here are the pros and cons and this presentation technique:

Pros: The interactive style of presentation lets the speaker pass out
copies of their slides beforehand. This allows the audience to follow
along with the presentation and fully absorb the information. It also
gives the audience a place to jot down a few notes or questions.

Cons: The interactive presentation style is better with complicated

subjects. If your subject matter is too simple the audience may not
have anything to discuss.

9. Lessig Presentation Style

The Lessig presentation style was created by Lawrence Lessig, a
professor of law and leadership at Harvard Law School. This
presentation method requires that the presenter only spends fifteen
seconds on each slide. If there's text on the slide it's the speaker’s
exact words.

This style of presentation is great if you've got to present to a large

audience. The rapid pace of this presentation style can keep the
audience focused and engaged.
As Lessig speaks, you'll see how quickly he moves through the
various slides. Also, notice the slides that contain what he says,
word-for-word.

Pros: The Lessig style of presentation is great for a presentation

where you've got a lot of talking points to get through in a short
period of time.

Cons: The Lessig style is for experienced presenters. If you don't

have a lot of experience presenting you may want to try a different
style. This style is also not for you if your presentation requires
charts and graphics.

10. Educational Presentation Style

The educational type of presentation is for a speaker who is
teaching the audience. Use this style if you're demonstrating a new
product. You can teach the audience about the new product you're
selling or offering.

Pros: The educational presentation style is fitting if you've got

videos and other visuals to show your audience. You also can put
extra information on the slides that you may not verbally discuss.

Cons: It may take a while for the audience to listen to you. If you've
got more than one subject to discuss it can be too confusing for the
audience.