[ScaleX Bite-Size] – Nancy Duarte: The Do’s & Don’ts of Presentations That Actually Land

Nancy Duarte breaks down the biggest mistakes leaders make when preparing presentations—and the simple mindset shift that changes everything. In this clip, she explains why empathy matters more than slides, how message always beats visuals, and why most leaders are using the wrong format for the wrong moment.

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KEY INSIGHTS:

• Empathy is the starting point of every great presentation—know how your audience consumes information

• Slides should never come before strategy; message and delivery matter more than visuals

• Not every meeting needs a PowerPoint—sometimes a whiteboard or diagram is more powerful

• Presentations and “slide docs” serve different purposes and should never be confused

• The messy middle—half presentation, half document—is where clarity goes to die
  
  

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THE CRITICAL LESSON:

Great communication isn’t about prettier slides—it’s about respecting how your audience thinks, listens, and decides. When you design for empathy first, your message lands with far greater impact.

 

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PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR LEADERS:

• Ask first: Who am I speaking to and how will they consume this?

• Clarify whether you’re delivering a presentation or a document—never both

• Build the message before touching slides

• Use simple visuals to anchor ideas, not overwhelm them

• Create separate templates for stage presentations and slide docs
  
  

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ABOUT NANCY DUARTE:

Nancy Duarte is CEO of Duarte, Inc. and one of the world’s leading communication experts. She has advised global brands and leaders for over 35 years, authored six bestselling books, and decoded the structure behind the most influential speeches of our time.

CONNECT WITH NANCY DUARTE:

🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nancyduarte
🔗Website: https://www.duarte.com/

 

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WATCH FULL EPISODE:

🔗 [Link to full Nancy Duarte episode]