The “show business” in ‘show and tell’ presentations is slowly making a comeback in corporate America. It is a development that is long overdue. The long, dense, dry text projected onto conference room screens across the country has long passed for the “show business” criteria of executive presentations. The more text and fewer graphics appeared in the presentations, the more the presenter was praised for preparing well.

For the long-suffering audience that had to endure these introductions, there was little reward in the effort except to get to the end of them, where hopefully some signs of life could still be found in the unscripted question-and-answer session. .

So why are we coaches starting to see some signs of progress? Why is it increasingly acceptable to offer shorter presentations with more graphics and less text? Why is it now becoming acceptable to present ideas using some simple images or props, or even, on its own merits, no slides at all?

Call it the rise of the presentation personality or just the maturation of that much-derided but necessary business tool: PowerPoint. Perhaps it simply has to do with the groans that emanate from each executive suite when word leaks out of yet another request to put together, or sit in, one of these old-fashioned presentations.

Whatever the cause, there is growing recognition of another, more successful communication method available to executives; one best illustrated by the energy-infused performance-style presentations of dynamos like Apple’s Steve Jobs.

This new wave of presentation skills shares some common attributes:

1) The audience takes center stage.

Good presenters ask what their audience needs and wants from each presentation. Great presenters focus their presentations on those needs and wants and make the audience an integral part of the presentation. Start with what you know about audience perceptions and assumptions about the topics you are presenting. What does it take for them to invest in something new?

2.) No passion, no introduction.

Each presentation is an opportunity for the presenter to share a passion. If yours is about something else, a mere data transfer, for example, find another way to get it to the people who need it (like hitting the send button). This is the difference between in-person presentations and other ways of sharing ideas. If people are going to invest their time and energy to come and listen to you, you won’t be successful if you just “say.” You must show them your ideas through the passion with which you present them.

3.) Be visual.

Written text projected on a screen is not a “visual”. If you use slides, find a way to represent your ideas that will have a real and instant impact. Never use text to “say” what an image can “show”.

4.) Presentation is performance.

Don’t present what you haven’t practiced or don’t believe in. This is not acting. To make a good presentation, fully commit to your material and ideas before trying to communicate them well to an audience. Take your preparation seriously. And for the love of God, get out from behind that lectern.

5.) Show leadership.

Your leadership reputation improves or decreases with each introduction. Look to hit a home run then, whenever you’re “on stage,” regardless of your perception of the stakes. It may seem unfair, but the leadership skills you display during your presentation will be the ones used to judge all of your work. Even if you don’t have a leadership title yet, your moment in front of the people is critical in determining if and when you’ll be awarded one. Think about what leadership looks and sounds like to you, and infuse your presentations with nothing less.