Some of you will be giving presentations in your jobs in the near future. These presentations may be to inform colleagues of a business plan or to report your findings on a particular matter. If you get very good at it, you may find yourself giving a presentation on behalf of your company to potential clients. Depending on the size of your company, these contracts may be worth thousands, millions, or even billions of dollars. You may not feel comfortable doing that just yet, but with good strategies and enough practice, this may very well be something you can do in the future. Additionally, being an expert in this art will allow you more leverage in your career path, as skilled presenters are in high demand.
Applying the Three-Step Process
You can apply the three-step writing process to the challenge of planning, creating, and delivering presentations.
Planning
Start by defining your purpose and developing a profile for your audience. How will they react? What will be their disposition? You should ask yourself these and other such questions.
Determine your audience' needs and gather all the necessary information to satisfy them. Are they expecting a thorough explanation? Do they need all the small details?
Next, select the right medium or combination of media to deliver your presentation. Consider PowerPoint, notes, handouts, and other supporting material.
The last part of the planning section is to organize your information. Define your main idea and limit your scope in order to be the most effective. Choose between the direct or indirect approach and outline your content.
Write
Adapting to your audience is crucial. Adapt your presentation and environment to satisfy your audience' needs. Be sensitive to their expectations and write with a "you" attitude. Also, establishing your credibility is important in order for them to believe what you say.
The next step is to compose your presentation. Outline an attention-getting introduction, body, and close. Don't forget the supporting visuals and speaking notes.
Complete
Revise your message by evaluating your slides, notes, and other material for errors and irrelevant or unnecessary information. You do not want too much information in a slide. Make sure your notes are legible.
Choose your delivery. Practice, practice, practice to the point that your comfortable and ready to give the presentation like easily.
Verify all the technology stuff is up to par. Make sure the sound is equipment, projector, your USB drive, etc. are functioning properly. Presenting is hard enough without your technology failing.
Last but not least, you need to overcome your anxiety. Take steps to feel more confident and appear even more confident on stage.
Be a Good Presenter
Presenting is a very difficult process for almost everyone. As a matter of fact, I was horrible at it until just recently. However, with these steps you can make your journey to mastering presenting easier and shorter. Good luck!
Planning
Start by defining your purpose and developing a profile for your audience. How will they react? What will be their disposition? You should ask yourself these and other such questions.
Determine your audience' needs and gather all the necessary information to satisfy them. Are they expecting a thorough explanation? Do they need all the small details?
Next, select the right medium or combination of media to deliver your presentation. Consider PowerPoint, notes, handouts, and other supporting material.
The last part of the planning section is to organize your information. Define your main idea and limit your scope in order to be the most effective. Choose between the direct or indirect approach and outline your content.
Write
Adapting to your audience is crucial. Adapt your presentation and environment to satisfy your audience' needs. Be sensitive to their expectations and write with a "you" attitude. Also, establishing your credibility is important in order for them to believe what you say.
The next step is to compose your presentation. Outline an attention-getting introduction, body, and close. Don't forget the supporting visuals and speaking notes.
Complete
Revise your message by evaluating your slides, notes, and other material for errors and irrelevant or unnecessary information. You do not want too much information in a slide. Make sure your notes are legible.
Choose your delivery. Practice, practice, practice to the point that your comfortable and ready to give the presentation like easily.
Verify all the technology stuff is up to par. Make sure the sound is equipment, projector, your USB drive, etc. are functioning properly. Presenting is hard enough without your technology failing.
Last but not least, you need to overcome your anxiety. Take steps to feel more confident and appear even more confident on stage.
Be a Good Presenter
Presenting is a very difficult process for almost everyone. As a matter of fact, I was horrible at it until just recently. However, with these steps you can make your journey to mastering presenting easier and shorter. Good luck!
By Luis Hernandez
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