Creators Column

The Presentation Attention Toolbox: 7 Tips to Build Captivating and Persuasive Presentations

Whether you're leading a team meeting, pitching a client, or presenting at a conference, the ability to communicate clearly and confidently can set you apart. Here are the skills you need, according to expert Lorraine K. Lee.

Lorraine K. Lee's Presentation Planning Template

I didn’t set out to become a public speaker. In 2021, I started learning how to present more persuasively because I saw what an incredible impact it made in people's careers. Those who could communicate clearly — especially in high-stakes moments — came across as more confident, more credible, more senior. I wanted that, too.

Presentation skills aren’t just for the stage. They’re one of the fastest ways to build influence in any role.

And yet, many people still dread presenting, especially in virtual settings where attention is even harder to capture and hold. That’s why I wrote Unforgettable Presence. My Presentation Attention Toolbox, a no-nonsense framework from the book, is designed to help you build presentations that engage, persuade, and stick. 

Let’s dig into my top 7 tips.

Seven Tips for Building Captivating Presentations

One

Hook People Immediateley

hook people immediately

You only have a few seconds to make people care. And in a world full of distractions and competing priorities, your opening sets the tone and determines whether your audience will lean in — or mentally check out. 

Here’s how to capture their attention right from the start.

  • Begin at the end

    • Help your audience visualize an ideal future state. When I speak about improving meetings, I’ll often start with:  "Imagine leading a meeting that people don't dread." This works because meetings are universally frustrating — and now I’ve piqued their interest with a better possibility.

  • Get them involved early

    • If you start off with something interactive at the start, you are priming them to be prepared to get involved during your presentation—instead of being a passive audience member. Launch a poll, ask them to jot down some ideas, or ask them to raise their hand in response to a question.

  • Shock them

    • Lead with a bold or unexpected statement to jolt attention. In one of my sessions on video communication, I opened with, “I don’t like video calls.” It caught people off guard and made them curious — they expected me to praise video, and instead, I did the opposite and stated a sentiment they likely felt (to clarify, I believe video can be such a superpower—if they're done well!).

Two

Understand Your Audience

think-do-feel matrix

Relevance is what keeps people listening. Too many presentations fail because they focus on what the speaker wants to say — not what the audience needs to hear. When you actually understand your audience’s real challenges and goals, you can craft a message that resonates — and inspires action.

Here’s how to get better at audience insight:

  • Map out where they are vs. where they want to be

    • Use the Think-Do-Feel Matrix — a tool introduced to me by my mentor Spencer Waldron that helps you to understand your audience's current mindset and the change you want to spark.
    • Ask yourself: What do they think, do, and feel now? What do I want them to think, do, and feel after my presentation?

  • Research your specific audience

    • Don’t assume. If you’re speaking at a company event, ask your manager who will be in the room and what they care about.
    • For external events, talk to the organizer about attendee roles, goals, and challenges. A quick pre-event conversation can completely change how you structure your talk.

  • Make it tactical, not just inspirational

    • Design your presentation around clear, actionable steps your audience can take immediately. I've attended many sessions that share big ideas and leave people thinking, "That sounds great … but now what?" If you want your ideas to stick, make them usable.
When a business leader is in the room, your content should  reflect their world. That means aligning your message to business goals, KPIs, pain points, and strategic priorities — not just your own expertise. The more your presentation mirrors how they think, the more likely they are to act on what you share.

Pro tip: speak your audience’s (business) language, especially if they’re executives. 

Three

Keep Things Moving

Static presentations kill attention.

When nothing changes on screen, our brains naturally tune out and look for something stimulating, like checking email or scrolling social media.

Incorporating intentional visual shifts creates the variety needed to keep your audience focused on your message.

Here's how to create this kind of momentum:

  • Aim for two movements per minute. Change slides, add fade-in bullets, show short videos, or include simple animations at least twice per minute. Every movement gives your audience's brain a small dopamine hit that re-engages their attention and prevents them from slipping into the dreaded “slide coma.”
  • Add a few unexpected elements. Sprinkle in relevant GIFs, stickers, or brief video clips to surprise your audience. These moments of novelty act as attention resets and strategically re-energize your audience throughout your presentation.
  • Think entertainment, not education. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have conditioned us to expect fast-moving content — and the same applies to presentations. It doesn’t need to be flashy — but if it feels too slow to you, it's definitely too slow for your audience. Keep the pace moving and the visuals dynamic.

Four

Create Arresting Visuals

create arresting visuals

Most people are visual learners. If your slides are dense with text, you’re working against how the brain naturally takes in information. Strong visuals don’t just look more polished  — they make your message more memorable.

Here’s how to design visuals that actually stick:

Use icons, photos, or animations instead of text-heavy slides. This pushes you to explain ideas in your own words while giving the audience something visual to anchor the concept.

Use large fonts so your content is easy to read, stick to 2-3 colors to avoid visual clutter, and focus on one key point per slide. If you can't explain one slide in 30 seconds, it probably needs to be broken into two.

Whether someone’s in the back of the room or watching on their phone, your slides should work at a glance. Use scale, contrast, and layout to guide the eye to the most important information. Your visuals should support your words, not compete with them.

Five

Vary Your Voice with the 3 P's

vary your voice with the 3 p's

Your voice does more than deliver information — it sets the energy in the room. That’s why vocal variety is so powerful. The 3 Ps — Pitch, Pace, and Pause — make all the difference. These elements allow you to sound more confident, engaging, and persuasive, even through a screen.

When you use the full range of your voice, you shift from simply sharing information to truly captivating your audience.

Here’s how to master the 3 P’s:

  • OPO-Claude AI Guide-1b

    Vary your pitch

    Use your vocal range intentionally. Go higher when you're excited about a point, and lower when you want to sound serious or grounded. Avoid uptalk at the end of sentences — it’s an instant credibility killer. Pitch variation keeps your delivery interesting and helps key messages land.

  • ChatGPT Image Jun 12, 2025, 11_38_52 AM

    Control your pace

    Speed up to build energy and momentum. Slow down to emphasize key points or shift the tone. A flat, unchanging pace makes it sound like you’re getting through the material — not leading it.

  • OPO-Claude AI Guide-3b

    Embrace strategic pauses

    Silence is a powerful tool. It creates suspense, gives your audience space to process, and shows confidence. You don’t need to rush to fill every gap. Sometimes the most persuasive moment is the one you don’t say.

    Pro tip: don’t forget about Power. While the core 3 Ps are Pitch, Pace, and Pause, there’s a fourth one I sometimes include: Power, or your volume. Use it intentionally. Speak louder to energize or emphasize; soften your voice to draw people in. Like all the Ps, variety here keeps people listening.

Six

Use Purposeful Body Language

body language

Six

Use Purposeful Body Language

Before you say a word, your body is already speaking. Especially in virtual settings—where the camera limits what people see—posture, gestures, and facial expressions carry even more weight. Intentional body language is the difference between looking polished and coming across as distracted or disengaged.

Here’s how to show up with intention:

Standing helps you project more energy and confidence. If you must sit, scoot to the edge of your chair and sit up straight to avoid looking passive. Good posture also helps you breathe from your diaphragm — giving you you access to a richer, more authoritative tone.

Use gestures for emphasis and keep your hands in frame throughout your talk. Research shows that when you show your hands on camera, you appear warmer, more personable, more energetic, and even more trustworthy.

Look directly into your webcam or just below it, instead of at your screen. It creates the impression of genuine eye contact with your audience. This simple adjustment makes a huge difference in how connected and engaged you appear.

Pro tip: Smile more than feels natural. On video, energy gets muted. What feels “too much” to you often looks just right on screen. A warm, animated expression helps you break through the digital barrier and actually land your message.

Seven

Close With Strength

close with strength

How you end your presentation matters just as much as how you begin. The final moments are what your audience remembers and what determines whether they take action. A strong close reinforces your key messages and gives your audience clear direction for moving forward.

Here’s how to land with impact.

  • Recap your key points

    • Use grouping in your presentation (like three core themes), and build in quick recaps after each section.
    • Close by repeating the big ideas one more time. Even the most attentive audience needs reminders, and repetition helps your message stick.

  • Ask for commitment

    • Have your audience write down one thing they're going to implement after your session. When people commit in writing, they're much more likely to follow through.

  • Control the final moment

    • Even if you end with Q&A, prepare a closing statement that brings the session full circle. That way, you’re not ending on a random comment. You’re ending on your terms, with energy and intention.
    • Pro tip: invite follow-up. Make it easy for people to reach out afterward, especially those who may not feel comfortable speaking up in the moment. Sharing your contact info or a next step encourages continued engagement, especially from introverts who process privately before they respond.

Lorraine-3

These 7 Steps Help You Build an Unforgettable Presence

Public speaking is one of the biggest career accelerators available, but it’s also one of the most avoided. That’s exactly what makes it so powerful. Most people shy away from the discomfort. When you don’t, you stand out.

These 7 tools offer a clear, practical framework for capturing attention and inspiring action, especially in today’s virtual-first world. The skills you build won’t just apply to big moments — they’ll show up in everyday meetings, team calls, and high-stakes presentations. 

With these tips in mind, you’ll speak with more clarity, confidence, and presence every time.

Want to dive deeper? Check out my bestselling book on all things presence, communication, and public speaking: Unforgettable Presence.