Leadership

Telling a Story Versus Talking Through Slides

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You’ve likely faced the challenge of delivering a presentation that needs to resonate deeply with your audience. It’s a crucial skill—leading others requires not just communicating, but connecting.

One of the first steps to delivering impactful presentations is to prioritize the story you intend to tell. It’s tempting to dive straight into PowerPoint and start building your deck. Many of us do it, but this approach often leads to slides that are overloaded with content, used more as a script than as a tool to support your delivery. This can dilute your core message and disengage your team, board, or stakeholders.

To avoid this, focus on your story before you touch PowerPoint. Ask yourself:

  • What is the outcome I want from this presentation?
  • How can I guide my audience to think, feel, or act in alignment with my goals?

Leaders often face a unique balancing act—they must both inspire confidence and deliver substance. While it’s easy to get trapped in the data, remember that storytelling is what compels people to care about the insights behind the numbers.

Personally, I like to use PowerPoint as a storyboard to map out initial ideas. However, those early versions are always drafts. The final slides only come after I’m crystal clear on the narrative, key messages, and presentation objectives. This process ensures the slides complement my delivery, rather than overshadow it.

Here’s a tip: Once your presentation is ready, step away from your slides. Practice delivering the narrative as if you’re having a conversation over coffee or a casual dinner. If you can clearly articulate the story without relying on the slides, you’re ready to step in front of an audience. If not, revisit it and revise it.

Why does this matter so much? Because powerful storytelling in presentations inspires action and fosters trust. Slides will always be secondary to the message you deliver and the story you tell.

This article originally appeared at WeAreComvia.com and is reprinted here with permission.

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Michael Piperno is a communication coach and executive presence expert. His insights empower leaders to communicate effectively and authentically.

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Leading Virtual Meetings Like a Pro

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Virtual environments can’t fully replicate the richness of in-person interactions, but with the right approach, they can still be engaging and impactful. Effective leaders can refine their virtual presence, communication, and engagement strategies to make their meetings shine.

Here are three essential tips to excel in virtual meetings and workshops:

  1. Polish Your Virtual Presence: Leading effectively online requires you to project confidence and credibility—even more so than when you’re in person. Position your camera at eye level, ensure your face occupies the top two-thirds of the screen, and ensure your face is well-lit to avoid grainy video. Dressing appropriately and maintaining good posture—whether seated or standing—reinforce your leadership presence. Clear audio is also crucial, so invest in a quality microphone or headset to ensure your voice resonates clearly.
  2. Mind Your Facial Expressions and Eye Contact: Your face is one of your most powerful communications tools. Watch your facial expressions — and make sure they match the tone and setting of the meeting. Now, it’s true that eye contact remains an effective tool for commanding attention and building trust, even in virtual settings. And you know what? Not everyone is comfortable making direct eye contact. I personally can’t make full eye contact due to my lazy eye, and one of my friends who is on the autism spectrum struggles with it, too—and that’s okay. We both do our best while also finding other ways to make people feel we are engaged with them. If you can make eye contact, look directly into the camera when addressing your audience. Move participants’ video tiles closer to the camera in Zoom’s Gallery view to monitor their reactions while maintaining eye contact.
  3. Engage, Interact, and Energize: Virtual workshops can feel static if participants aren’t actively involved. Use tools like the Reactions tab in Zoom, chat features, icebreakers, breakout rooms, and live polls to encourage interaction. Guest speakers or co-presenters can also enhance the energy of your session, and a meeting room manager can help manage logistics while you focus on connecting with your audience.

As a leader, you set the tone for your team’s virtual experience. By mastering your presence, creating connection through eye contact and body language, and fostering participation, you can transform virtual workshops and meetings into impactful and memorable experiences.

This article originally appeared at WeAreComvia.com and is reprinted here with permission.

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Michael Piperno is a communication coach and executive presence expert. His insights empower leaders to communicate effectively and authentically.

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Are You Setting Your Team Up for Success?

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How often do you pause to consider if the way you and your team are communicating is helping or actually hindering success?

Here’s the thing: Great communication starts with empathy and intentionality. Before hitting send on your next email or Teams message, ask yourself: “Am I crafting this to suit me or the individual I’m addressing?” Adjusting your communication style to meet the needs of your audience not only clears the path for better results—it builds trust and demonstrates respect.

Know Your Audience, Empower Their Success

You’ve probably seen it before—an overstuffed email or a barrage of messages that overwhelm rather than inform. Let’s break the cycle. Being intentional about how you communicate leads to smoother, more productive exchanges. Consider these examples:

  • Respecting Workflow Styles: If you know that one of your direct reports, Alex, thrives on quick and actionable information, avoid sending him emails with lengthy paragraphs and buried questions. Instead, send concise messages with clearly bulleted requests he can act on immediately. You’ll both benefit from faster results and less friction.
  • Simplifying for Overloaded Managers: If your supervisor, Janelle, seems swamped, think strategically about how you communicate. Rather than sending multiple emails throughout the day, consolidate your updates and questions into one streamlined message—or better yet, schedule a short one-on-one to discuss non-urgent issues.

Thoughtful adjustments like these can reduce their stress and improve your own clarity.

Your Leadership Challenge

Over the next few days, reflect on at least three communications you send. Ask yourself: Am I setting the recipient up for success? Whether it’s an email, a text, or an in-person conversation, focus on how you can:

  • Adjust your tone and format to suit their needs.
  • Eliminate unnecessary complexity or distractions.
  • Foster a sense of mutual respect and productivity.

The Power of Thoughtful Communication

Setting someone up for success doesn’t mean complicating your approach—it means simplifying it. When you make it easier for others to thrive, you also save yourself time, minimize misunderstandings, and reduce unnecessary frustration on both sides.

This article originally appeared at WeAreComvia.com and is reprinted here with permission.

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Michael Piperno is a communication coach and executive presence expert. His insights empower leaders to communicate effectively and authentically.

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Quick Tip: Executive Presence

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Leadership and executive presence have evolved far beyond traditional stereotypes. I coach a lot of leaders on presence, and I’ll tell you right now that there is no “template” or “one way” to have presence.

You need to do the work to find your authentic way to show up for yourself, and for the people you lead. And guess what? Your way might not look like what you traditionally think about presence.

Body language, eye contact, “charisma” — sure, they can help. But that’s not the whole story. In fact, I firmly believe you can be someone who struggles with certain traditional behaviors that are associated with presence and still have a strong presence that inspires people.

One thing that’s critical is authenticity. It’s the cornerstone of executive presence. And it isn’t about conforming to expectations; it’s about staying true to ourselves while adapting to our roles — and adapting our communications for those we lead.

Want to read more about my thoughts on presence? Check out this article on this post.

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Michael Piperno is a communication coach and executive presence expert. His insights empower leaders to communicate effectively and authentically.

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Leadership Through Their Eyes

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Have you ever considered what it’s like to be on the other end of your communications? Leadership is more than just guiding a team towards achieving goals; it’s also about how you make people feel.

Here are some key aspects to reflect on:

  • Connection: Leaders who build emotional connections with their team foster trust and loyalty. People are more likely to follow and support leaders who make them feel valued and understood.
  • Inspiration and Motivation: Effective leaders inspire and motivate their teams by creating a positive and inclusive environment. This involves recognizing achievements, providing constructive feedback, and showing genuine appreciation.
  • Psychological Safety: When leaders make their team members feel safe to express ideas and take risks without fear of negative consequences, it encourages innovation and collaboration.
  • Empathy and Support: Demonstrating empathy and providing support, especially during challenging times, can significantly boost morale and resilience within the team.

When you pay attention to the human side of things, you can build a team that’s more engaged, motivated, and resilient.

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Michael Piperno is a communication coach and executive presence expert. His insights empower leaders to communicate effectively and authentically.

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Quick Tip: The 6 x 6 Rule

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When designing presentations, the 6 x 6 rule serves as a valuable guideline to keep your slides clear and concise.

While not a strict rule, it’s a great reminder to avoid overcrowding your slides with too much text. Here’s what you need to know:

What is the 6 x 6 Rule? 

The 6 x 6 rule suggests limiting each slide to a maximum of six bullet points, with each bullet point containing no more than six words. This helps maintain focus and clarity.

Why Use the 6 x 6 Rule?

  1. Guidance: It encourages you to distill your message, ensuring that your slides are easy to read and understand.
  2. Engagement: By reducing text, your audience will stay more engaged. They’ll listen to you rather than read ahead of you!
  3. Simplicity: Clean, uncluttered slides look more professional and are easier for your audience to follow.

Tips for Using the 6 x 6 Rule as a Guide

  • Highlight Key Points: Focus on the most critical information you want to convey.
  • Incorporate Visuals: Use images, graphs, and charts to support your points and add visual interest.
  • Be Flexible: Remember, the 6 x 6 rule is a guideline, not a hard-and-fast rule. Adjust as needed to suit your content and audience.

By using the 6 x 6 rule as a guide, you can create presentations that are not only informative but also visually appealing and easy to follow.

It’s a handy reminder to keep your slides from becoming too wordy, ensuring your message is clear and impactful.

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Michael Piperno is a communication coach and executive presence expert. His insights empower leaders to communicate effectively and authentically.

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Is That How I Really Look?

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I used to hate seeing myself on video.

And guess what, most of my clients don’t love it that much, either.

But we are on video almost constantly in this world of virtual meetings and hybrid work environments.

How we show up matters.

I use recorded video a lot when I’m helping someone improve their presentation skills or their executive and leadership presence.

And even for those who despise it, they admit it’s totally worth the discomfort.

Try it. Record yourself giving a talk or presentation and watch it back. What do you see? What do you hear?

I’ll bet you’ll find at least one or two things you didn’t know you needed to improve upon.

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Michael Piperno is a communication coach and executive presence expert. His insights empower leaders to communicate effectively and authentically.

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Your (Likely) Underutilized Leadership Superpower

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What’s the most underused leadership tool?

I argue it’s listening.

We are bombarded with messages every day from brands, employers, colleagues, clients, friends, and family members.

With so much coming our way through our screens, it’s understandable that we begin to tune out the noise—anything that we don’t deem worthy of our attention.

Yet attention is what you need when you want to motivate, inspire, teach, or persuade.

And guess what? You won’t earn anyone’s full attention if you’re not willing to give them yours.

Start with being a better listener. Here are 5 tips to help:

  1. Put that smartphone away and make a commitment to actively listen.
  2. Listen more than you speak.
  3. Listen to what’s not being said and notice the person’s body language and tone.
  4. Be open to a different perspective.
  5. Try your best not to let your natural tendency to formulate your responses before someone is finished speaking get in the way. Hear them out.

Attention is the hottest currency out there today. Make your people feel that they matter by giving yours to them. People who feel seen and heard are more likely to be engaged, and to stay.

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Michael Piperno is a communication coach and executive presence expert. His insights empower leaders to communicate effectively and authentically.

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The New Rules of Executive Presence: Beyond Outdated Notions

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Leadership and executive presence have evolved far beyond traditional stereotypes. I coach a lot of leaders on presence, and I’ll tell you right now that there is no “template” or “one way” to have presence. You need to do the work to find your authentic way to show up for yourself, and for the people you lead. Your way might not look like what you traditionally think about presence.

Let’s explore how modern-day leaders can cultivate a powerful presence that inspires and influences others.

Personal Brand vs. Executive Presence

Personal Brand: Your personal brand is your unique identity—the way you market yourself both within your organization and to external prospects and clients. It’s about confidently communicating your passions, value, and distinctive qualities. A strong personal brand establishes your abilities and capabilities in the minds of others.

Executive Presence: Executive presence goes beyond personal branding. It’s the intangible quality that makes you a leader others want to follow. It’s a blend of character, attitudes, and behaviors that demonstrate your commitment to your beliefs, values, and the success of those around you. When you possess executive presence, you look, sound, and act like a leader in the eyes of your team.

Perception Management, Not Manipulation

Both personal brand and executive presence involve managing perceptions, but they are not manipulative tactics. Instead, they require deep self-awareness. Knowing your passions, values, and authentic purpose allows you to communicate and connect genuinely with others. Remember, a leadership title doesn’t automatically grant executive presence; it’s earned through consistent actions and behaviors.

Authenticity Matters

Here’s where outdated notions of presence fall off the rails. People can sense when it’s all an act. Learning how to perfect body language, eye contact, “charisma” — sure, they can help. But that’s not the whole story. In fact, I firmly believe you can be someone who struggles with certain traditional “behaviors” that are associated with presence and still have a strong presence that inspires people.

Authenticity is the key. Being authentic is the cornerstone of executive presence. And it isn’t about conforming to expectations; it’s about staying true to ourselves while adapting to our roles — and adapting our communications for those we lead.

The New Rules

  • Transparency and vulnerability build trust. Share your challenges and growth experiences openly.
  • Truly listen to others. It’s a sign of respect and empathy. And minimize those darn distractions that take your attention away.
  • Adapt swiftly to change. Flexibility and agility are essential.
  • Be digital savvy. Mastering digital communication is crucial.
  • Champion inclusion. Create an environment where everyone feels valued.

The Bottom Line

Modern leadership and executive presence transcends outdated norms. It’s about authenticity, adaptability, and genuine connection. As leaders, let’s redefine presence and inspire those around us to do the same.

This post was inspired by a new workshop I am co-creating with a colleague as well as a recent HBR article that’s worth the read.

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Michael Piperno is a communication coach and executive presence expert. His insights empower leaders to communicate effectively and authentically.

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New Insights in the Core Strengths Platform

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If you’ve experienced the SDI 2.0 assessment with us, you know how powerful the relationship intelligence and communication tools are. And they’re getting better!

There is a new and improved feature in Compare called Insights. You can use them to:

  • Get personalized suggestions to prevent conflict and adapt your style to others.
  • Endorse tips to encourage others how to work best with you; and see what others have endorsed so you can honor their work style.
  • Add up to 30 teammates for an expanded view of how to build stronger relationships at work.

Log in to the Platform to use these new features today!

Want to help your people reach their highest potential and be at their collaborative best?
Let’s talk about our interpersonal and workplace relationships programs.

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