Anyone here ever struggled to convince someone of something you knew was crucial for them to understand? If so, you aren’t the only one, and this circumstance is especially frightening to encounter in the workplace—particularly those moments when we need to secure executive buy-in.
Forget about turning up the charm! Today, we’re going to walk through how to deliver a presentation in a high-stakes, fast-paced, results-driven environment: get ready to turn up the confidence and show our alignment with organizational priorities. This blog will explore eight key strategies any of us can employ in order to provide a compelling executive presentation and capture corporate buy-in.
1. Start with the Bottom Line (BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front)
Executives don’t have time for long build-ups—practice efficiency and get straight to the point.
Familiar with elevator pitches? Know how to answer their biggest questions within the first 60 seconds:
“What are you recommending?”
“Why does it matter?”
“What action needs to be taken?”
Structure:
State the conclusion first, then provide an explanation.
Example: “We need to invest $X in automation to reduce costs by 20% [CONCLUSION!]. Here’s why… [EXPLANATION!]”
2. Align with Executive Priorities
If we distill executive priorities to their essence, senior leaders care about:
Revenue growth
Cost savings
Risk mitigation
Competitive advantage
As such, link the endgame of your proposal to their strategic goals:
Instead of saying: “We need new software because our process is outdated,”
Try: “This software will cut operational costs by 25%.”
3. Keep It Simple
No one knows how to see the forest for the trees like executives—they’re big-picture thinkers! While I’m not recommending we scrub our presentations of all supporting details, try limiting supplementary information to only what is necessary for audiences to understand your vision.
If you have a PowerPoint, use bullet points, short sentences, and clear visuals—avoid text-heavy slides!
Remember the 10-20-30 Rule:
10 slides max
20 minutes of speaking
30-point font size (for accessibility)
Want bonus advice? If leaders want more details, they’ll ask—make sure to have a data appendix prepared and on hand!
4. Be Data-Driven but Story-Led
While quantitative data tends to garner attention, qualitative data—narratives, anecdotes—turns presentations from routine to memorable. Executives trust numbers but remember stories!
Use key data to validate your argument, then provide a supportive anecdote:
Instead of: “We need to expand marketing efforts,”
Say: “A 15% increase in ad spend resulted in a 40% boost in conversions. [NUMBERS!] Consumers reported… [ANECDOTE!]”
When in doubt, show ROI—how will this initiative save money, reduce risk, or increase revenue?
5. Anticipate & Address Objections
Executives will challenge your assumptions—be ready.
Think like an executive prior to your presentation—what objections would you have? How would you counter them?
Have backup slides with additional data for tough questions!
6. Use the Rule of Three
The old saying goes that our brains process information best in groups of three—use this framing for presentation structure:
Three key takeaways
Three supporting arguments
Three-step implementation plan
Remember: Keep the message focused—the more ideas we present, the greater the risk our key points get diluted and dismissed!
7. Engage, Don’t Just Present
Few people enjoy being talked at for hours—or even minutes!—on end, and executives are no exception. Make presentations interactive!
Consider asking strategic questions to spark discussion:
How does [x] relate to [y]?
What are your hesitations right now?Where does anyone need clarification?
8. Close with a Call to Action (CTA)
There’s no better way to make a presentation memorable than to conclude with a specific next step. After all, presentations aren’t just about informing—they’re about driving action!
Closing frameworks:
“I need your approval today to move forward.”
“We’re asking for a $X investment to increase market share by 12%.”
“With your approval, we can dive straight into [x] to result in [y].”
Remember: Support is more likely when we give executives a clear decision to make!
How about we channel clarity, concision, and confidence with a short recap? To win executive buy-in…
Start with the conclusion—foreground the endgame, then provide explanation.
Speak their language—tie proposals to revenue, cost, risk, or growth.
Keep it simple—avoid unnecessary details.
Back data with narratives—numbers build credibility, and stories seal the deal.
Prepare for tough questions—anticipate objections and address them.
Make it interactive—talk with rather than at.
End with a clear ask—what do we need executives to do next?
Remember: while these tips can go a long way to securing executive support, perhaps the greatest advice I can offer is to simply trust yourself. No one knows your presentation like you do—channel that confidence, and with time, practice, and strategy, results will fall into place!
Building Leaders. Breaking Limitations.
Dima Ghawi is a catalyst for leadership transformation, guiding professionals and organizations to shatter limitations, embrace growth, and lead boldly. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential.
Ready to break the limitations that holding you back? Connect with Dima at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.
