Presentations have 2 possible functions. They exist either to inform/educate or to convince/persuade/seduce. 

I describe persuasion presentations as "Pitching" and cover them in more detail here. They sometimes overlap - but not always. The point I am trying to make here is that you have to know what you want to achieve - persuasion or information. Or one to substantiate/build the case for the other....

Presentations that are designed to inform or educate can be split into 2:-

• those that convey information or knowledge (Data)
• "How to" training courses that pass on a skill or an ability

Presenting facts, data, findings or research are the most common form of presentation in the business world. Often supported (or dominated and hijacked!) by PowerPoint, they generally take place after a relationship of some sort has been established with the audience. Most people have some experience of this type of presentation and this experience is generally negative.

Major applications of presentations:

• teaching or training
• presenting work conducted to date (progress reports, research findings)

Being boring in either case is bad news and inefficient. Great teachers or trainers work incredibly hard to get their message across and to make them "sticky" so that they are remembered - and accessible or ACTED on - long afterwards.