This week, I attended a presentation that really drove home one of the most common and costly mistakes we see at The Presenter Studio: a lack of structure. The speaker had interesting ideas and a clear passion for the subject, but they never quite got going. The talk drifted. There was no rhythm, no momentum, and no clear message. As an audience member, it was hard to stay engaged because we were all waiting for it to start making sense — and that moment never quite came.

When we work with clients, we always talk about structure being the backbone of a great presentation. It gives your content shape. It guides your audience through the story. And, crucially, it respects their time and attention.

One of the first things to think about is your opening. A lot of people take far too long to get started. They spend precious minutes introducing themselves, explaining what’s coming, or thanking people. But in today’s world, people want to get into the content quickly. If you think about any good TV show, it doesn’t meander at the top. It hooks you straight away. It draws you in with something interesting, then gets on with the story, the competition, or the drama.

Your presentation should do the same. A snappy, focused intro can set the tone and establish your authority. But it should be just that — a start, not the main event.

From there, your structure should take your audience on a clear journey. This might sound simple, but it’s something a lot of people forget. Without a roadmap, even the best content can feel confusing or disjointed. Structure creates flow. It helps people follow your ideas and understand how each part of your talk connects to the next.

It also helps you manage time. One of the biggest signs a presentation lacks structure is when it overruns or ends in a rush. Structure gives you natural time markers. It tells you when to move on, where your turning points are, and how to land a clear, memorable ending.

Another benefit of structure is that it allows you to lead rather than list. Presentations can easily become a series of bullet points or facts. But people don’t want information dumped on them. They want to be guided. Structure lets you build a case, tell a story, or deliver a message in a way that’s easy to absorb and enjoyable to follow.

So next time you’re preparing a presentation, ask yourself:

Am I starting strong?
Is there a clear flow to the content?
Does each section serve a purpose?
Am I keeping to time?
And most importantly — am I leading the audience through an experience?

If you’re unsure, it might be time to rethink how you structure your talk. Because when the structure is strong, everything else falls into place.

If you want help creating structured, confident, and compelling presentations, take a look at our presentation skills training. You’ll find more information at https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training.