How can you use metaphors and analogies to make your presentation more memorable to senior stakeholders?

2 How to choose metaphors and analogies for your presentation?

When choosing metaphors and analogies for your presentation, you need to consider three factors: relevance, clarity, and appropriateness. Relevance means that the metaphor or analogy should match your main message and support your argument. Clarity means that the metaphor or analogy should be easy to understand and not confuse your audience. Appropriateness means that the metaphor or analogy should suit your audience's background, culture, and expectations. You should avoid using metaphors and analogies that are too obscure, clichéd, or offensive.

3 How to introduce metaphors and analogies in your presentation?

Once you have chosen a suitable metaphor or analogy for your presentation, you need to introduce it in a way that engages your audience and prepares them for your point. You can use different methods to introduce metaphors and analogies, such as asking a rhetorical question, telling a story, or using a visual aid. For example, you can ask your audience: "Have you ever felt like a fish out of water?" before explaining how you overcame a challenging situation. Or you can tell a story about how you learned a valuable lesson from a mentor who was like a lighthouse for you. Or you can use a slide with a picture of a bridge to show how you bridged the gap between two different perspectives.

4 How to explain metaphors and analogies in your presentation?

After introducing a metaphor or analogy in your presentation, you need to explain how it relates to your topic and why it is relevant for your audience. You can use different techniques to explain metaphors and analogies, such as giving examples, making contrasts, or using repetition. For example, you can give examples of how your product or service is like a Swiss army knife that can solve multiple problems for your customers. Or you can make contrasts between your solution and your competitors' by using a metaphor of a lion and a mouse. Or you can repeat the key words of your metaphor or analogy throughout your presentation to reinforce your message.

5 How to evaluate metaphors and analogies in your presentation?

Before delivering your presentation, you need to evaluate the effectiveness of your metaphors and analogies and make sure they are suitable for your purpose and audience. You can use different criteria to evaluate metaphors and analogies, such as originality, accuracy, and impact. Originality means that your metaphor or analogy should be fresh and creative, not overused or boring. Accuracy means that your metaphor or analogy should be factual and logical, not misleading or inaccurate. Impact means that your metaphor or analogy should be persuasive and memorable, not weak or forgettable.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?