How do you effectively present your project recommendations?

1 Know your audience

Before you design your presentation, you need to understand who your audience is, what their needs and expectations are, and how they will use your recommendations. Research their background, interests, goals, challenges, and preferences. Tailor your message, tone, and style to suit their level of knowledge, authority, and influence. Anticipate their questions, concerns, and objections, and prepare your responses. Use language and examples that resonate with them and avoid jargon and technical details that might confuse or bore them.

2 Define your purpose

Your presentation should have a clear and specific purpose that guides your content and delivery. What do you want your audience to know, feel, and do after your presentation? Do you want to inform, persuade, or inspire them? Do you want them to approve, support, or implement your recommendations? Write down your main goal and the key benefits of your project for your audience. Use this as your central message and focus throughout your presentation.

3 Structure your content

Your presentation should have a logical and coherent structure that helps your audience follow your argument and understand your recommendations. A simple and effective structure is the problem-solution-benefit approach. Start by introducing the problem or opportunity that your project addresses, and why it matters to your audience. Then, present your recommendations as the best solution to the problem or opportunity, and explain how they will achieve the desired outcomes and benefits. Finally, summarize your main points and call your audience to action.

4 Use visual aids

Visual aids can enhance your presentation by making it more engaging, memorable, and persuasive. They can help you illustrate complex or abstract concepts, show data or evidence, and highlight key points or benefits. However, you should use visual aids sparingly and strategically, and avoid cluttering or distracting your audience with too many or irrelevant images, charts, graphs, or animations. Choose visual aids that support your message and audience, and use simple and consistent design principles. Make sure your visual aids are clear, visible, and readable for your audience.

5 Practice your delivery

Your delivery is as important as your content in making a good impression and convincing your audience. You should practice your presentation several times before the actual event, and get feedback from others if possible. Practice your voice, body language, and timing. Speak clearly, confidently, and enthusiastically. Use pauses, emphasis, and variation to keep your audience's attention. Maintain eye contact, gesture naturally, and smile. Avoid filler words, slang, or jokes that might offend or confuse your audience. Manage your time and pace yourself.

6 Handle feedback

Your presentation is not over until you have addressed your audience's feedback. You should invite and encourage questions, comments, or suggestions from your audience, and listen attentively and respectfully. Acknowledge their feedback and respond with facts, examples, or stories that support your recommendations. If you don't know the answer, admit it and offer to follow up later. If you encounter resistance or criticism, don't get defensive or argumentative. Instead, try to understand their perspective and address their concerns with empathy and professionalism.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?