How can you define presentation objectives without common pitfalls?

1 What are presentation objectives?

Presentation objectives are the statements that describe what you want to achieve with your presentation. They are not the same as the topic, the agenda, or the content of your presentation. Rather, they are the outcomes that you want your audience to remember, feel, or do after listening to you. For example, your presentation objective could be to persuade your audience to adopt a new software, to inform them about a new policy, or to inspire them to take action on a social issue.

2 Why are presentation objectives important?

Presentation objectives are important because they help you to focus your presentation on the most relevant and impactful points. They also help you to structure your presentation logically and coherently, and to measure your success and effectiveness. Moreover, presentation objectives help you to connect with your audience and to tailor your presentation to their interests, needs, and preferences. By stating your objectives clearly and explicitly, you can also increase your credibility and authority as a presenter.

3 How to use the SMART criteria?

One of the most common pitfalls when defining presentation objectives is to make them vague, unrealistic, or irrelevant. To avoid this, you can use the SMART criteria to check and refine your objectives. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These criteria can help you to make your objectives clear, realistic, and meaningful. For example, instead of saying "I want to talk about the benefits of our product", you can say "I want to convince 80% of the attendees to sign up for a free trial of our product within a week".

4 How to align your objectives with your audience?

Another common pitfall when defining presentation objectives is to ignore or misunderstand your audience. To avoid this, you need to do some research and analysis before you design your presentation. You need to know who your audience is, what they already know and expect, what they care about and need, and what they can do with your information. By aligning your objectives with your audience, you can increase your relevance and engagement, and avoid wasting time and resources on topics or messages that are not important or useful for them.

5 How to communicate your objectives effectively?

A final common pitfall when defining presentation objectives is to fail to communicate them effectively to your audience. To avoid this, you need to state your objectives clearly and concisely at the beginning of your presentation, and to remind them throughout and at the end of your presentation. You also need to use language and examples that are appropriate and understandable for your audience, and to avoid jargon or technical terms that might confuse them. By communicating your objectives effectively, you can help your audience to follow your presentation, to remember your key points, and to take action on your recommendations.