Persuasive presentation skills go beyond clear structure and strong arguments. Many professionals deliver presentations that make perfect sense on paper—yet somehow fail to truly connect. The information is correct, the logic is solid, and still the audience remains untouched. In this article, I explore why logic alone is not enough, and how adding emotion, storytelling and presence helps professionals lift their presentations from “correct” to genuinely impactful.
Aristotle already knew the answer
According to Aristotle, every powerful presentation rests on three pillars:
- Logos – strong information and sound arguments
- Ethos – you, the speaker, and your credibility
- Pathos – the ability to touch and move your audience
Many presentations do logos well.
Some manage ethos.
But pathos is where the magic happens.
Breathing life into your message
Pathos is about making the abstract concrete.
It’s about appealing to the senses, using images, examples, and stories.
Describe the problem (the drama).
Paint the solution (the longing).
Make it tangible—so your audience doesn’t just understand, but feels it.
A real-life moment
Last week, I was interviewing a client.
He showed me his slides, complete with carefully written text underneath.
He read one long, well-crafted sentence.
It sounded nice—but it didn’t quite land.
So I asked him:
“What do you really mean by this?”
Instantly, he went off script.
He looked me in the eyes.
His voice changed.
His whole body became part of the message.
“With this design,” he said,
“we don’t want to create a space.
We really want to create a place for people.
A place where they feel at home…”
That was the moment.
He stopped speaking from his notes—and started speaking from soul.
And suddenly, it struck a chord.
The extra layer that makes all the difference
What had been a “nice” presentation became something meaningful.
Not just understandable—but memorable.
He had breathed life into it.
Want to do the same?
Ask yourself this one simple question:
What do I really want my audience to realize?
Find that core truth.
Speak from there.
And lift your presentation beyond the ordinary.
Good luck—and shine ✨
Would you like to develop your persuasive presentation skills and learn how to truly connect with your audience? Learn more about my Presentation Skills Training for Expats and Dutch Professionals here.