In line with the four types of written communication, presentations can be logically segregated into four distinct types, as shown in the following image:

Informational presentations exist for the purpose of sharing information, and nothing more. Examples include company performance declaration and the news on TV. Presenters are required to communicate slowly and clearly. The flow of information must be logical and sequential, and questions are accepted for further clarification.

Motivational presentations are a different bunch. They exist for the sole purpose of changing an audience's state of mind into doing something constructive. There are a number of motivational speakers touring the world—Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, and Robert Kiyosaki to name a few. In fact, you or your manager could be playing the role of a motivator in your organization. It requires the presenter to be passionate and reasonable about the chosen topic, and at the end of the presentation, the audience must be on their toes to transform into a better person. The motivational presenter must also take in the negative views of the listeners and present a future that has rays of hope embedded within it.

Influential presentations are meant to persuade an audience into latching onto the idea presented. A classic example is that of a salesperson highlighting the positives of a product and the various benefits that behold the consumer. The presenter in this case must be grounded on facts, and must show trustworthiness. Apart from this, he or she must consider the views of the audience (read objections) into presenting the case or making a pitch. Other examples are political rallies and spiritual congregations.

The last type of presentation in vogue in IT organizations is the presentation that promotes discussions. This is perhaps critical in terms of value to the organization as a number of ideas are generated through brainstorming and probing. I have been part of discussions surrounding ways of cost cutbacks, performance appreciation, and other technical solution discussions. The presenter must simply throw open the topic with the known facts and not opinions. The idea is to scoop thoughts and opinions from the audience. The presenter must never reject any ideas on face value, and must welcome all the thoughts that come across.

In the next section, I will discuss the four essential pillars of presentation, and the things that the presenter must do to be effective.