3 Types of Presentation Structures Every Speaker Needs to Know

People often shy away from public speaking because they feel they won’t be able to communicate their ideas effectively.

This can be due to a lack of confidence, or because they don’t know about or how to choose the right presentation structure for their audience and content.

Another common challenge is not knowing how to use a presentation structure to its full potential. People often make the mistake of thinking that a presentation structure is just a template to fill in with information.

However, it’s much more than that.

A good presentation structure will help you to organize your thoughts, focus on your key points, and deliver your information in a way that is clear and concise.

It can be tough to know which presentation structure to use, and even tougher to put that structure into practice.

In this article, I’ll introduce you to three main types of presentation structures and show you how to choose the right one for your audience and content.

So don’t worry, by the end of this article, you’ll be a pro at using presentation structures to deliver an effective presentation.

What is a presentation structure and why should you use one?

A presentation structure is a pre-determined plan for your talk that helps you to stay on track and ensure that you cover the key points that you want to make. Using a structure can help to make your talk more effective by ensuring that it is clear and well-organized. Additionally, using a structure can help to keep your audience engaged by providing a clear progression that they can follow. And the most important reason to use a structure is that ensures that your audience understands you!

The three main types of presentation structures

There are many types of structures that you can use for your presentation, but I’ve narrowed it down to three of the most commonly used structures.

1. The Problem-Solution Structure

This structure is often used when you want to address a problem that your audience is facing and provide them with a solution.

The problem-solution structure is effective because it allows you to gain the attention of your audience by highlighting the problem, and then showing them how your solution can help to solve it.

2. The Cause-Effect Structure

The cause-effect structure is used when you want to explain how something works or the reasons behind something.

This structure is effective because it helps your audience to understand the logic behind your argument and see the bigger picture. Additionally, this type of structure can be used to highlight cause and effect relationships that your audience may not be aware of.

3. The Chronological Structure

The chronological structure is often used when you want to tell a story or provide an overview of a process.

This structure is effective because it helps your audience to follow your argument easily and see the progression from one stage to another. Additionally, this type of structure can be used to build suspense or create a sense of urgency.

How to choose the right presentation structure for your audience and content

Now that you know the three main types of presentation structures, you need to know how to choose the right one for your audience and content.

Here are some things to consider when making your decision:

1. Who is your audience?

Are they experts in the field? Or are they complete beginners?

2. What is the purpose of your presentation?

Are you looking to inform your audience? Or are you trying to persuade them to take action?

3. What type of content are you working with?

Is it complex information that needs to be explained in detail? Or is it simple information that can be summarized quickly?

4. How much time do you have for your presentation?

Do you have a lot of time to go into depth, or do you need to keep it short and sweet?

5. What is your personal style?

Are you more comfortable delivering a fast-paced talk, or do you prefer a slower, more methodical approach? 

Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you should have a good idea of which structure will be the best fit for your presentation.

If you’re still not sure, don’t worry! In the next section, I’ll give you some examples of how to use each type of structure so that you can see them in action.

Examples of how to use each type of presentation structure

1. The Problem-Solution Structure

Imagine that you work for a company that sells products online. You’ve been asked to give a presentation to a group of potential investors about the problem that your company is solving and how your solution is the best one on the market.

In this case, using the problem-solution structure would be a good choice. You would begin by highlighting the problem that your company is solving (e.g., the difficulties that people have when trying to find products online), and then you would show how your solution solves that problem better than any other option on the market.

2. The Cause-Effect Structure

Imagine that you’re giving a presentation about climate change. You want to explain to your audience the causes of climate change and the effects that it has on our environment.

In this case, using the cause-effect structure would be a good choice. You would begin by explaining the different causes of climate change (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, etc.), and then you would show how those causes lead to various effects on our environment (e.g., rising temperatures, melting glaciers, etc.).

3. The Chronological Structure

Imagine that you work for a company that is launching a new product. You’ve been asked to give a presentation to a group of potential customers about the product and how it works.

In this case, using the chronological structure would be a good choice. You would begin by giving an overview of the product and how it works, and then you would provide a step-by-step explanation of how to use it. This would help your audience to understand the product and see how it can benefit them.

Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to presentation structures. When choosing a presentation structure, you need to consider who your audience is, what the purpose of your presentation is, and what type of content you’re working with. Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you should have a good idea of which structure will be the best fit for your presentation.

I hope this was helpful.

Best,

Roberto Monaco

Do you have any questions about choosing the right presentation structure? Join me at my upcoming 2 1/2 day workshop where I’ll be teaching you how to deliver presentations that engage and persuade your audience. Click here to sign up now!