10+ Agenda Examples To Make Every Meeting Count
In today’s fast-paced world, effective communication is key. A well-structured agenda provides a roadmap for your audience by outlining the key topics and their estimated time. This helps you manage expectations, maintain focus, and deliver a more engaging experience. In this blog post, we’ll explore the essential elements of an agenda, provide step-by-step instructions for creating one, and go through some of our best agenda template options to help you get a head start on building your agenda.
What Is Agenda In Presentation?
An agenda is a list of items that tells you the structure and content of a presentation. It typically includes the main topics, estimated time for each section and stakeholders. It guides both the presenter and the audience through the flow of the presentation.
Why Use An Agenda In Your Presentation?
Agendas are essential in presentations for several reasons:
1. Organization: They provide a clear structure for your presentation, helping you and your audience stay on track.
2. Clarity: By outlining the key points, you improve understanding and engagement.
3. Time Management: They help you allocate time effectively, ensuring you cover all topics without running over the time limit.
4. Audience Expectations: Agendas set expectations, helping your audience anticipate the content and flow.
5. Professionalism: They add a polished touch to your presentation, demonstrating your preparation and organization.
Types Of Agenda Examples For Presentation
Agendas can be categorized on the basis of layout, format, and context. Here are some types of agenda examples:
1. Horizontal Agenda
In this agenda slide example, items are arranged side by side. You can use horizontal templates like these to visualize the time-based progression of a project.
2. Vertical Agenda
Agenda items are listed one below the other. These are helpful for creating detailed lists of tasks or to depict the order of priority of different tasks.
3. Grid Agenda Example
Agenda items are arranged in a grid-like structure. This agenda PowerPoint slide example shows how you can use a grid slide layout to coordinate schedules within a team or group.
4. Tabbed Agenda
Agenda items are grouped under different tabs. This is perfect for categorizing tasks or events under different headings.
5. Bullet List Agenda Example
You can use bullet points to create a simple and easy-to-understand list of topics or tasks. This presentation agenda example shows how bullet lists are an easy way of showing how to-do lists can be shown clearly. You can also use relevant icons as bullets to keep your design in line with your presentation’s theme.
6. Animated Agenda Examples
Agenda items are animated to draw attention to the point in focus or increase the slide’s visual appeal.
7. Detailed Agenda Examples
Detailed agendas are great for large-scale events or meetings that involve a large number of tasks and participants. In such cases, the agenda is typically quite important to communicate and coordinate among groups or teams.
8. Table of Contents Slide
That’s right! A table of contents is a type of agenda that is particularly useful for meetings or presentations with a large number of topics or subtopics. It also allows participants to easily navigate the presentation if they’re looking for a specific section’s slide.
9. Timed Agenda Examples
In cases where your main aim is to increase efficiency and productivity while managing your time well, you might benefit from using a timed agenda. In these, you can allocate time slots for reach slide or section. This helps you avoid running over schedule while covering all topics.
10. Unconventional Agenda Slide Ideas
It’s never a bad idea to think out of the box when building a presentation that represents creativity and innovation. A good way to do so is by using unconventional presentation agenda examples:
Browse our wide range of agenda slide templates to find the perfect fit for you!
What To Include In An Agenda?
Before we dive into the steps, let’s quickly review what makes up the best PowerPoint agenda slide examples:
1. Date, Time, and Location: Specify the meeting details for attendees’ reference.
2. Attendees: List the names or roles of participants.
3. Meeting Objective: Clearly state the goal or purpose of the meeting.
4. Agenda Items: Outline the topics to be discussed, including the estimated time for each.
5. Action Items: Assign responsibilities and deadlines for tasks arising from the meeting.
How To Write A Meeting Agenda In 5 Steps
Now, let’s move on to the 5 steps to writing a great meeting agenda:
1. Define the Meeting’s Purpose
What do you want to achieve by holding this meeting? That’s the question you should ask yourself to figure out the purpose and primary goal of the meeting. Once you’ve done this, break down this main goal into smaller, actionable items.
2. Identify Key Topics
The next step is brainstorming relevant discussion points. Base this on the needs of participants and the multiple goals of the meeting. Once you have a list of topics, prioritize them.
3. Assign Time Allocations
To make sure everyone attending has appropriate expectations regarding the length of the meeting, you can set time needed for each topic based on its complexity and how long you expect the discussion to last. Make sure you allocate time fairly to create a balanced agenda.
4. Draft the Agenda
It’s time to list all your topics in a logical order. You can start with introductory items, gradually moving on to more complex discussions. Also include any additional details like essential information and time allotted.
5. Review and Distribute
Once the first draft is ready, be sure to proofread the agenda. This helps you identify and eliminate any errors and inconsistencies. Share your agenda with your participants so they can prepare for the meeting.
How to present an agenda in a presentation?
Start by stating the purpose of your presentation and then outline the key topics that you’ll be discussing. This creates a smooth flow for your audience.
What is the difference between an agenda and a table of contents?
Although they might seem identical, there is a difference between an agenda and a table of contents. While an agenda outlines exactly which topics will be discussed in a meeting or presentation, a table of contents lists down the chapters, sections, and even their page numbers within a document. When used as part of a presentation, a ToC is considered a type of agenda that also includes additional details.
Is the agenda and outline the same?
No, an agenda and outline are not the same. The former acts as a plan for a meeting or presentation, while the latter is a structured overview of a written work. Creating an outline is an important step when working on a paper or essay.
Should I distribute the agenda to my audience beforehand?
Yes, you should ideally share your agenda with your audience before your meeting or presentation. This helps them be ready with questions, know exactly which topics to expect, and follow along with the topics discussed in the meeting or presentation with ease.
Are there templates available for creating effective board meeting agendas?
Yes, SlideUpLift has a vast collection of templates to guide the creation of effective board meeting agendas, ensuring a structured and streamlined approach to governance.
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Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials Guide to Create a Table of Contents in PowerPoint
Guide to Create a Table of Contents in PowerPoint
Table of Contents (TOC) are commonly used across various forms of writing. Microsoft Word is one of the most commonly used Word processors by authors, researchers, analysts, etc. It provides a built-in feature to help generate Table of Contents both automatically and manually. Many presenters might need a similar option to create a table of contents in PowerPoint to help them present and switch between topics with ease. In this article, we will show you the various methods for creating a Table of Contents in PowerPoint.
What is a Table of Contents in PowerPoint?
Table of Contents is also called TOC or Agenda Slide . This is a list usually found at the start of a piece of writing, with titles for chapters or sections, along with their respective page numbers. In PowerPoint, presenters sometimes use interactive Table of Contents to switch between slide objects using clickable TOC links. Other presenters might opt for an unlinked TOC to simply explain the contents of the presentation or piece of writing under discussion in the presentation (e.g. a research report or book). Even if you aren’t discussing a publication, you can use a Table of Contents to link your slides to make them easier to navigate and to present information regarding the outline of your presentation deck .
How do you Present a Table of Contents in a PowerPoint Presentation?
Needless to say, the table of contents will be presented at the start of a PowerPoint presentation . The most common use is right after the title slide or basic introduction of the topic. There are two main methods you can use to present a Table of Contents in PowerPoint. You can either use an automatic table of contents linked to respective slides or an unlinked TOC. This will help to organize your slides better in PowerPoint.
Unlinked Table of Contents in PowerPoint
An unlinked TOC can be used to briefly explain the PowerPoint table of contents to introduce the key parts of the presentation. In this case, the TOC can be used as an introduction or reference before moving on to the presentation topic.
Automatic/Interactive Table of Contents in PowerPoint
If you want to use an automatic table of contents, you can link respective slides to each part of the TOC. For example, clicking on chapter/section 1 in the TOC might lead to the relevant slide with more details regarding it. Similarly, when discussing the second chapter/section, you can return to the main slide, explain its relevance and click on it to switch to the respective slide with more information.
Interactive Table of Contents in PowerPoint can also enable the presenter to switch back and forth between topics using clickable links. This might be required when you need to go back and forth to explain related aspects of a topic. For example, slide 6 might have something relevant to slide 3, where you might need to go back and show previously discussed information for the purpose of further deliberation by the audience.
How Do You Create a Table of Contents in PowerPoint?
Now that we have discussed how Table of Contents can be used and presented in a PowerPoint presentation, let’s take a look at the various methods you can use to create them.
Automatically Generating a Table of Contents in PowerPoint
You can generate an automatic table of contents by linking various slides or even another document or webpage to your TOC. The most common methods for creating an automatic table of contents in PowerPoint includes linking various slides in the form of clickable links at the beginning of the presentation.
Automatic PowerPoint Table of Contents Example
In our automatic PowerPoint table of contents example, we have created a TOC right after the title slide. You can start with a blank page and give a title to your TOC. The most obvious title would be to simply call the slide ‘Table of Contents’.
To create an automatic table of contents in PowerPoint, go to the Insert tab in the Ribbon menu and select Link -> Insert Link. This will provide you with the option to add a title and link.
To link to existing slides, head over to the ‘Place in the Document’ option to see the list of slides you intend to link to. Select the slide you want to add and click Ok. This will create a link to the slide in your list. Clicking on the link in Slide Show mode will lead automatically to the connected slide.
Once you have linked all slides, switch to Slide Show mode in PowerPoint and preview your list. You can also click to see if the titles are properly linked. The linked content can also be stylized using options from the Ribbon menu.
Using Outline View to Fetch Table of Contents
If you wish to quickly grab the outline of your slide deck to generate an the table of contents based on your slides titles, you can go to View -> Outline View and copy your table of contents. You might want to collapse the menu using the right-click context menu in order to easily copy the slide titles.
Paste the outline in PowerPoint, highlight each section and link to the respective slide via the Link option from the Ribbon menu in the Insert tab or via the Link option from right-click context menu.
Or just place the text in the placeholders of the table of contents design selected.
Create a Table of Contents using PowerPoint Zoom Feature
Since PowerPoint 2019, there is a new way of building a table of contents. You can create a landing page, which highlights each section, using a thumbnail of the slide. Also, check how to create sections in PowerPoint .
In the Insert Ribbon menu, select the “Zoom” feature and click in the “Slide Zoom” option.
A popup window will open with the slides of the presentation. Select the slides you want to add to the table of content.
Insert the thumbnail, and arrange them according to the layout of your presentation. When you play the presentation, you will be able to navigate to the slide through the Zoom feature.
Creating a Link to Switch Back to Table of Contents Slide
To be able to switch back and forth between slides, it is recommended to create a link to be able to switch back to the table of contents from any of the linked slides.
You might be on slide 4 and now need to go back to your table of contents to show the list again and click on slide 9 to switch to it. In such a case, it will be convenient to have a link or button that switches back to the TOC slide.
You can create a table of contents link on required slides through the same method, by generating a link on each slide via Insert -> Link -> Insert Link. You can add this in a subtle way to your slides, such as at the bottom of each slide.
You can add the link to a PowerPoint Shape , or text field, depending on the design of your slide.
Manually Creating Table of Contents in PowerPoint
Manually creating a table of contents in PowerPoint is another method by which you can generate a list of your slides. This does not require linking to the outline.
Manual Table of Contents Example
You can either go to View -> Outline View and copy your table of contents or type each slide title to create a manual table of contents.
How to Customize a Table of Contents PowerPoint Slide?
Once you have a manually created or linked table of contents in PowerPoint, you can also customize it.
Ribbon Menu Options
To customize the table of contents you can use text and shape styles in PowerPoint via the Ribbon menu. You can also highlight key parts of your content and use the Tab key or bulleted lists to list subtopics underneath main topics or chapters.
Readymade PowerPoint Templates
You can use readymade templates to create a table of contents that appears stylish and eye-catching. Using a readymade PowerPoint template can save you time in stylizing your content. Look our suggestions at the list at the end of the article.
Final Words
Using a table of contents for your PowerPoint slides can be a great way to introduce the key parts of your presentation. While using TOC can be necessary when discussing a publication, you can even use it to make your presentation easy to understand and to organize the content for each section, topic, and subtopic. Using a PowerPoint Table of Contents template can also be a good way to visualize the different parts of your presentation to make it easier for your audience to follow your topic.
In case you are using an automatic table of contents, linked to respective slides, they can be an easy way to switch between various topics and subtopics without the need to manually sift through slides.
1. Pre Built Table of Contents from 1 to 7 Items
The Pre Built Table of Contents from 1 to 7 items are a PowerPoint Slides that will allow you to specify your Table of Contents in a didactic way. They are composed of a main circle and 7 points in which you can add each of your main contents in your presentation.
Use This Template
2. Four Items Table of Contents with Icons
In the same way, the Four Items Table of Contents with Icons allows you to add your main headlines in a single slide and add icons to graphically represent your Table of Contents. With the different color scales it offers you can chromatically represent the different topics of your PowerPoint Presentation.
3. Table of Contents Annual Report PowerPoint Slide
If you are looking for a more formal way to present your Table of Contents, the Table of Contents Annual Report PowerPoint Slide is an excellent option. It will allow you to add and link your main contents in a single slide in a professional way. It is perfect for business and investment presentations.
4. Table of Contents With a Photo Placeholder
On the other hand, the Table of Contents with a Photo placeholder will allow you to present your main contents in a graphic and aesthetic way. It contains a specific space within the slide to add an image that matches your PowerPoint Presentation.
5. Numbered Two Column Table of Contents Template
If you are looking for simplicity in your PowerPoint presentations, the Numbered Two Column Table of Contents Template is an excellent choice. It will allow you to set your Table of Contents in two numbered vertical rows with different colors.
6. Table of Contents Template Colorful Canvas Four Options
Following the line of simplicity, the Table of Contents Colorful Canvas Four Options is a more advanced option than the previous one. You will be able to create your Table of Contents automatically or manually with an excellent preset design.
7. Table of Contents Template Cropped Numbers Design
On the other hand, the Table of Contents Template Cropped Numbers Designs is an option with a different design from the rest. It allows you to present your Table of Contents numbered in a very aesthetic and attractive way.
8. Table of Contents Template with Header and Comments
In contrast to the previous one, the Table of Contents Template with Header and Comments is a formal and professional option. Very used for didactic presentations where it is intended to present and deepen in several topics.
9. Table of Contents with Shapes Background
The Table of Contents with Shapes Background is a minimalist and attractive option. It seeks to present in a simple way the table of contents through different shapes and colors. It is a great option for marketing and design presentations.
10. Diagonal Design Table of Contents Template Slide Design
The Diagonal Design Table of Contents Template Slide is an option made for graphic presentations. In this Table of Contents Presentation Slide you can add an image accompanied by a color palette that matches your brand.
11. Gradient and Photo Background Table of Contents
If you are looking for aesthetics over formality, the Gradient and Photo Background Table of Contents is the perfect option. It allows you to add an attractive background image to your table of contents to give a unique and professional aesthetic touch to your PowerPoint Presentation.
12. Petals Design Table of Contents Template
The Petal Design Table of Contents Template is a didactic option, similar to a mind map template, with five petals representing each of your specific topics and differentiated by colors.
13. Horizontal Options Table of Contents Template
Finally, the Horizontal Options Table of Contents Template is a professional option for setting up a table of contents in a PowerPoint presentation. It provides the possibility to add a brief description on each of your main topics and differentiate them with unique colors.
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