LeeHawkins

We’ve all sat through presentations that felt like a slow drip of PowerPoint slides. And yet, once in a while, someone stands up and speaks — and something clicks. You’re hooked. You remember it. You repeat it to a friend later.

So, what’s the difference?
Why do some presentations stay with us, while others vanish the moment we leave the room?

In my experience teaching presentation skills, the most memorable talks share five key ingredients — and you can learn to use all of them.

🎯 1. A Clear Message — Not Just Information

Memorable presentations don’t just dump data or list bullet points. They have a core message — something the audience can take away and repeat in one sentence.

If you can’t summarise your message in a sentence, your audience won’t either.

Watch:
👉 Simon Sinek – Start with Why
Sinek doesn’t talk about marketing theory — he delivers one big idea: “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”

🎭 2. Storytelling and Emotion

Facts fade, but stories stick. A good presentation draws you in with a story you care about, something that makes you feel — whether it’s laughter, surprise, or empathy.

Watch:
👉 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – The Danger of a Single Story
She doesn’t just make a point — she tells powerful, personal stories that bring it to life.

😄 3. Personality and Authenticity

People don’t remember perfect delivery — they remember realness. A memorable speaker is human, open, and often a little vulnerable.

Watch:
👉 Brené Brown – The Power of Vulnerability
Brown’s humour and honesty are what make her talk unforgettable.

⏸️ 4. Pauses, Timing, and Presence

How you say something can be more powerful than what you say. Pacing, pauses, and silence create drama and help your audience absorb key points.

Watch:
👉 Julian Treasure – How to Speak so That People Want to Listen
Treasure uses rhythm, voice, and pause like a musical performance.

A pause lets your message land. Rushing robs it of power.

🖼️ 5. Simple, Visual Support

The best presentations don’t rely on slides — but when they’re used, they’re visual, clean, and memorable.

Watch:
👉 Hans Rosling – The Best Stats You’ve Ever Seen
He transforms dry data into visual storytelling with energy and impact.

💡 Takeaway: You Can Learn This

Being memorable isn’t about talent or luck — it’s about intention and practice. You can:

✔ Structure your message
✔ Tell stories
✔ Be yourself
✔ Use silence
✔ Support your ideas with visuals

Want to get better at presenting? Choose one of the TED Talks above and watch how these techniques come to life — then try using one of them in your next presentation.

Let me know what you think — and if you’d like more tips, reflections, or real examples, follow along here on the blog.

Cheers,
Lee

This first blog post is inspired by a TED Talk I watched years ago — and I keep returning to it, both in my thoughts and in my classes. It’s not exactly a hidden gem; in fact, it’s one of the most watched TED Talks of all time.

I’m talking, of course, about Sir Ken Robinson’s iconic presentation:
👉 “Do Schools Kill Creativity?”

Why this talk still matters

There are two reasons why I keep sharing this video with students.

1. The message: creativity and how we lose it

Creativity is something we all talk about. We want to be more creative, we wonder where our creative spark went, or we assume it’s something only artists and musicians have. But what if — as Sir Ken argues — we’re actually educated out of creativity?

He shares a powerful example of a young girl who couldn’t sit still in class — today, she might be diagnosed with ADHD and medicated. But instead, someone recognised she was a dancer. She went on to found a world-renowned ballet company. The story is funny, moving, and deeply important.

Sir Ken blends personal stories with thoughtful critique, and he backs it up in his books like Creative Schools and You, Your Child, and School. If you’re a parent or educator, both are well worth reading.

But let’s be honest — this isn’t just about kids. It’s about all of us.

2. The delivery: how to give a talk that matters

I recommend this video to my students not just for what it says, but how it says it. Sir Ken Robinson delivers serious content with warmth, humour, and timing that makes you lean in and want more.

He tells stories that make you laugh and pause for thought — and just when you’re caught smiling, he drops a point that hits home. He doesn’t give you an outline at the start or a rigid structure. Instead, he leads you in gently, builds your trust, then challenges you to think differently.

It’s a masterclass in public speaking.

Some personal reflection

Looking back at my own school experience, creativity wasn’t exactly encouraged. The focus was often on ticking boxes, racing through topics, and sorting students into categories. Not because teachers didn’t care — far from it — but because the system didn’t give them much room to do otherwise.

I now see that many teachers were as much victims of that system as students were.

When I talk to my students — teens and adults from all walks of life — I hear similar stories. It makes me wonder: what is the true purpose of education? Is it economic? Personal? Both? Can we really nurture both ends at once?

I’ll let you think about that.

Final thought

If you’ve never seen this TED Talk, I encourage you to watch it — not just as an educator or student, but as someone who was once a child with boundless imagination. And if you have seen it, maybe it’s time to watch it again, with fresh eyes.

Let me know what you think — leave a comment or get in touch.
Cheers,
Lee

🎥 Watch: Do Schools Kill Creativity?

Author: LeeHawkins

What Makes a Presentation Memorable? And How You Can Apply Those Secrets Yourself