presentation-outline

name	presentation-outline
description	Structure compelling presentations and slide decks — from pitch decks and keynotes to board reports and training sessions.
version	1.0.0
author	Gnostor Community
license	MIT
metadata	{"hermes":{"tags":["presentations","slides","pitch","business","powerpoint","keynote","storytelling"]}}

Presentation Outline

Build presentations that make an argument, not just report information. Every slide should exist for a reason.

When to Use

• "Outline a presentation about..."
• "Structure a pitch deck for..."
• "I have a board meeting on [topic] — help me structure the deck"
• "My presentation is too long / unfocused / boring"
• "Create a [training / keynote / workshop] outline"

What I Need

• Topic and key message: what the audience should believe or do after
• Audience: who they are, what they know, what they care about, what they're skeptical of
• Goal: inform, persuade, sell, train, inspire
• Length: number of slides or time available
• Context: internal vs. external, formal vs. casual

Structural Principles

1. One message per slide — if you can't say the slide in one sentence, split it
2. Bottom line up front — tell them what you're going to prove before you prove it
3. Argument first, evidence second — lead with the claim, follow with support
4. The "so what" must be explicit — never make the audience infer the point

Presentation Archetypes

The Pitch Deck (investor / client)

1. Problem — the gap in the world
2. Solution — what you do
3. Why now — market timing
4. How it works — product/service
5. Traction — evidence it works
6. Market size — the opportunity
7. Business model — how you make money
8. Team — why you're the ones to do this
9. Ask — what you need

The Strategy Presentation (executive / board)

1. Situation — where we are
2. Problem / Opportunity — what's at stake
3. Options considered — alternatives evaluated
4. Recommendation — what we propose
5. Evidence — why this is right
6. Plan — how we execute
7. Risks — what could go wrong and mitigations
8. Decision needed — specific ask of this audience

The Training / Workshop

1. Why this matters — relevance to the audience
2. Learning objectives — what they'll be able to do
3. Core content — structured by complexity (simple → complex)
4. Applied examples — show before tell
5. Practice / exercise — make it active
6. Summary — key takeaways
7. Resources — where to go next

The Keynote / Talk

1. Hook — story, question, or surprising fact
2. Stakes — why this matters
3. Main idea — the one thing
4. Evidence — 3 supports
5. Implication — what changes if this is true
6. Call to action or closing image

Deliverable

• Slide-by-slide outline with title and 2–3 bullet points per slide
• Narrative thread: what the presenter says between slides
• Design notes: which slides need data visualization, which need images, which need just a headline