Presentations

---
name: presentations
version: "1.0"
description: Structure and design guidance for executive presentations. Covers slide structure using the pyramid principle, chart selection, executive slide templates, and common pitfalls.
tags: ["presentations", "slides", "visual", "executive"]
---

# Presentations Skill

## When to use this skill

Use when a task deliverable is a presentation (pptx, pdf) or when you need to structure slide content for an executive audience.

## Slide structure: the pyramid principle

Every slide tells one story. Apply this hierarchy:

1. **Headline** (top): The single key insight or conclusion in one sentence. This is what gets remembered.
2. **Supporting points** (middle): 2-4 bullets that prove the headline. Each bullet stands alone.
3. **Data / evidence** (bottom): Charts, tables, or quotes that support the bullets.

If you cannot state the slide's insight as a single sentence, the slide is not ready.

**Example:**
- Bad headline: "Revenue Performance Q3"
- Good headline: "Revenue exceeded target by 4%, driven by two enterprise deal closures in August"

## Chart selection guide

| Data type | Recommended chart |
|-----------|------------------|
| Trend over time (single series) | Line chart |
| Trend over time (multiple series) | Line chart with distinct colors, max 4 series |
| Part-to-whole (few categories) | Pie or donut (max 5 slices) |
| Comparison across categories | Horizontal bar chart |
| Ranking | Sorted horizontal bar chart |
| Correlation or scatter | Scatter plot |
| Financial performance vs target | Bullet chart or bar with reference line |
| Initiative status | Traffic light table (Red/Amber/Green) |
| Risk assessment | 2x2 matrix (likelihood vs impact) |

Avoid 3D charts, dual-axis charts (unless absolutely necessary and clearly labeled), and pie charts with more than 5 slices.

## Executive slide templates

### Executive Summary slide
```
HEADLINE: [Key insight in one sentence - max 15 words]

- [Bullet 1: most important result or decision] [supporting number]
- [Bullet 2: second most important result]      [supporting number]
- [Bullet 3: key risk or concern]               [severity]
- [Bullet 4: Q+1 outlook or forward implication]
- [Bullet 5: decision required or next step]

[Optional: one supporting chart on the right half]
```

### Financial Summary slide
```
HEADLINE: [Financial result vs expectation in one sentence]

[4-panel layout]
| Revenue           | Gross Margin      |
| $X.XM (+X% vs T) | XX% (-Xpp YoY)   |
|-------------------|------------------|
| EBITDA            | Cost vs Budget   |
| $X.XM (XX% mgn)  | $X.XM (+X%)      |

Key driver: [1-2 sentences on what drove results]
Watch item: [1 sentence on the biggest financial concern]
```

### Initiative Status slide
```
HEADLINE: [Overall status in one sentence - X of Y initiatives on track]

| Initiative         | Status | Owner   | Next Milestone        |
|--------------------|--------|---------|----------------------|
| [Initiative name]  | GREEN  | [Name]  | [Milestone + date]   |
| [Initiative name]  | AMBER  | [Name]  | [Milestone + date]   |
| [Initiative name]  | RED    | [Name]  | [Milestone + date]   |

Status definitions: GREEN = on track | AMBER = at risk, mitigated | RED = off track, needs intervention
```

### Risk Matrix slide
```
HEADLINE: [Top risk in one sentence]

[2x2 matrix]
         | Low Impact  | High Impact |
High Prob| [Risk name] | [Risk name] |
Low Prob | [Risk name] | [Risk name] |

Top risk narrative: [2-3 sentences on the highest-priority risk and current mitigation]
```

### "So What?" / Decisions Required slide
```
HEADLINE: Three decisions are needed before Q4 launch

Decision 1: [Decision question]
  Options: [A] or [B]
  Recommendation: [Option] because [one reason]
  Owner: [Name]  Deadline: [Date]

Decision 2: [...]

Next steps:
  - [Action] — [Owner] — [Date]
  - [Action] — [Owner] — [Date]
```

## Presenter notes format

Add presenter notes to every slide with:
1. What to say in the first 10 seconds (the hook)
2. Any figure or fact that needs verbal elaboration
3. Likely question and suggested response

## Common pitfalls to avoid

- **Burying the lead**: Never start a slide with context or background. Start with the conclusion.
- **Too many bullets**: Three bullets with substance beat seven bullets that blur together.
- **Charts without headlines**: A chart title like "Revenue Q1-Q3" tells nothing. Use "Revenue grew 12% YoY despite Q2 headwinds."
- **Inconsistent data**: Ensure every number in the deck reconciles with every other number. Contradictions destroy credibility.
- **Missing "So what?"**: Every section must connect to an implication or action. Facts without interpretation are noise.
- **Over-designed slides**: Clean, consistent, minimum decoration. The data is the design.