What Is the Most Persuasive Presentation Technique?
By Michelle Bowden, CSP – Author of How to Present and How to Persuade
After more than 25 years teaching people how to present persuasively – from executives to analysts, salespeople to scientists – the question I’m asked most often is:
“Michelle, what’s the most persuasive presentation technique of all?”
It’s a great question. And while there are dozens of techniques that work brilliantly when used together, if I had to choose just one that makes the biggest difference?
It’s empathy.
Now before you roll your eyes and say, “Of course she said empathy,” let me explain why it’s the secret weapon in persuasive presenting – and how you can use it to change the way people respond to you when you present in business.
Most professionals miss the mark
Here’s the truth: most business presenters focus too much on themselves: their content, their data, their message. They open with background or context, launch straight into what they want to say, and hope the audience follows along.
The truth: that’s not how persuasion works.
As I teach in my presentation courses in Sydney, persuasive presenters do the opposite. They start by stepping into the audience’s shoes. They ask:
– What does my audience already believe?
– What are they feeling right now?
– What do they care about?
– What do they need to hear in order to feel interested enough to listen, and then act?
That’s empathy. And it’s not fluffy or soft. It’s strategic.
Why empathy works
Neuroscience tells us that decisions are made emotionally first – then justified with logic. So if you want your audience to say “yes” to your ideas, you must first make them feel seen, heard and understood.
In other words, before you try to shift their thinking, you must connect with where they are now.
This is where my 13-step Persuasion Blueprint comes in. It’s a practical, step-by-step method I teach in my presentation skills training online, designed to help you tailor every message to your audience’s mindset.
When you start with empathy, structure your message for influence, and speak with clarity and confidence – you win hearts and minds.
How to apply empathy in your next presentation
How do you do it?
1. Get clear on your audience’s current state.
What are they worried about? What’s in it for them? What might be causing resistance?
2. Open with a “You-focused” hook.
Instead of “Today I want to talk to you about the Q3 pipeline,” try “You’ve got limited resources, tighter timelines, and a leadership team that wants fast results.”
3. Acknowledge their pain or concerns.
If there’s tension or change in the air, name it. “I know this project has had a rocky start.” That builds trust.
4. Frame your message around their priorities.
This is not about dumbing things down. It’s about framing ideas in a way that makes them care.
5. Use inclusive, respectful language.
Say “you,” “we,” and “together” more than “I,” “me,” or “my view.”
This approach works whether you’re in the room or presenting virtually. And yes, I teach this in detail in my presentation skills course online, too.
Real results from real people
The reason I’m so passionate about teaching empathy in presentations is simple: it works.
One of my clients, a senior leader in financial services, once told me, “Michelle, I used your Persuasion Blueprint structure in a pitch to the board and got the budget approved within 10 minutes. They even thanked me for how clear and easy it was.”
Another client emailed to say, “I used to dread presenting. Now I love it because I finally know how to connect with people properly at the start.”
It’s not magic. It’s technique. And you can learn it.
Ready to present more persuasively?
If you’re tired of blank stares, slow decisions, or people just not getting what you’re saying, empathy is your shortcut to better outcomes.
In my presentation skills training online, presentation courses in Sydney, and presentation skills course online, I’ll show you how to structure your messages for impact, connect with any audience, and speak with power, polish and persuasion.
Because when you present with empathy you don’t just inform.
You inspire. You influence. You make things happen.
Happy Presenting!
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©2025 MICHELLE BOWDEN is an authority on persuasive presenting in business. She’s run her Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclass over 1000 times for more than 13,000 people over the past 26 years and her name is a synonym for ‘presentation skills’ in Australia.
Michelle Bowden is a multi-million-dollar pitch coach to her client list that reads like a who’s who of international business: banking and finance, IT, pharmaceutical, retail, telecommunications plus many more.
Michelle is the creator of the Persuasion Smart Profile®, a world-first psychological assessment tool that reports on your persuasive strengths and weaknesses at work, the best-selling internationally published author of How to Present: the ultimate guide to presenting live and online (Wiley) and her new best-selling book is called How to Persuade: the skills you need to get what you want (Wiley).