Communication
HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations
Nancy Duarte
4.0 (9600) 8 min read 5 key ideas
A presentation design expert's framework for building persuasive, story-driven presentations that move audiences to action.
Key takeaways
- Persuasive Presentations Follow Story Structure, Not Just Data Delivery
- Establish Clear Contrast Between Current Reality and Future Possibility
- Visual Design Should Support, Not Compete With, Your Narrative
- Understand Your Specific Audience's Needs Before Designing Your Presentation
- Rehearsal and Delivery Complete the Persuasive Presentation Process
Action checklist
- Define the single core message of your next presentation before building any slides
- Cut one unnecessary slide or point from your next presentation
Final takeaway
Duarte's closing invitation: apply the book's complete framework — audience understanding, narrative structure, supportive visual design, and practiced delivery — as an integrated process for creating and delivering genuinely persuasive presentations, rather than focusing on any single component in isolation.
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