After 25 years of working with presenters everyone thinks they need better slides.

They don't.

They need better stories.

I've produced and supported thousands of presentations, from CEOs to celebrities, and the ones that stick with you aren't the ones with the fanciest graphics or the most bullet points. They're the ones that tell you something you remember weeks later.

Why Stories Win

Think about it. When someone asks you about your weekend, you don't give them a list of facts. You tell them a story. You set the scene, introduce the characters, and walk them through what happened.

The same principle applies to presentations. Your audience's brains are wired to remember stories, not stats.

The presenter who shares a personal failure before explaining their solution gets more engagement than the one who leads with data . The speaker who tells you about the client who almost gave up before their breakthrough is more memorable than the one reading off performance metrics.

What Makes a Story Work

After watching what works and what doesn't, I've noticed a few patterns.

Your audience needs someone to root for. Whether it's you, your client, or your customer, give them a character they can connect with. Real people with real problems always beat abstract concepts.

Conflict is magnetic. The smooth success story is boring. The one with obstacles, setbacks, and moments of doubt? That's the one people remember.

Personal beats perfect. Share your own experiences. The time you messed up. The moment you almost quit. The breakthrough that changed your life. Authenticity creates connection in ways polished case studies never will.

How to Actually Do This

Start with structure. Every good story has a beginning that sets the stage, a middle that develops the conflict, and an end that resolves everything. Your presentation needs the same thing.

Use visuals that support your story, not distract from it. I've seen too many presentations where stunning graphics actually competed with the narrative. Your visuals should guide attention, not demand it.

Get your audience involved. Ask questions. Take polls. Make them part of the story instead of just observers. When people participate, they invest.

The Design Part Matters Too

I've spent decades helping people create presentations that actually work. The storytelling is crucial, but the design can't be an afterthought.

• Choose images that reinforce your narrative

• Use consistent colors and fonts that don't fight for attention

• Create visual hierarchy so your audience knows where to look

• Use white space - your slides don't need to be packed with information

The best presentations appear effortless because the design supports the story rather than competing with it.

What I've Learned

People forget facts, but they remember how you made them feel. They forget statistics, but they remember the story behind the numbers.

Tell your story. Make it personal. Give your audience something to care about.

In a world of endless information, the presentations that break through aren't the ones with the most data. They're the ones with the best stories.