Imagine you’re in an interview and the interviewer asks you to give a short presentation on a topic you have no clue about. How do you handle this challenge without panicking or embarrassing yourself? In this article, we’ll share some tips on how to prepare and deliver a presentation on a topic you know nothing about.
The first step is to assess the situation and understand the expectations and constraints. How much time do you have to prepare? How long should the presentation be? Who is your audience and what do they want to learn? What are the main objectives and key messages of the topic? What resources and tools do you have access to? By answering these questions, you can set realistic goals and plan your research and presentation strategy.
Initially assess the situation before starting to prepare the outcome of the presentation. It will give you some time in analyzing the duration of the presentation. You will find the pulse of audience and what are they expecting from your presentation. Outline the key objectives and take away from the presentation.
The next step is to research the topic and gather relevant and reliable information. You don’t have to become an expert, but you should aim to understand the basics and the main points. You can use online sources, books, articles, podcasts, videos, or experts to learn more about the topic. Make sure to check the credibility and accuracy of your sources and cite them properly. Also, avoid jargon, technical terms, or complex concepts that you don’t understand or can’t explain clearly.
Now that you have your key outlines in hand, research on the topic and list the pointers you want to highlight about. Understand the basic points clearly as they will give you a strong grip in presenting the entire topic.
The third step is to organize your content and structure your presentation. You can use a simple framework like the PEP method, which stands for Point, Evidence, and Point. This means that for each main point, you provide evidence to support it and then restate the point to reinforce it. You can also use transitions, signposts, and summaries to connect and highlight your points. A good presentation should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
The important step is to organize your content and prioritize which comes first and which has to be given the more time. It will also help in grabbing the attention of audience.
The fourth step is to practice your delivery and improve your confidence and skills. You can practice alone or with someone who can give you feedback. You can also record yourself and watch your performance. You should focus on your voice, body language, eye contact, and timing. You should also anticipate possible questions or objections and prepare answers or solutions. The more you practice, the more comfortable and prepared you will be.
After your content is ready, practice your speech as how you want it to be in the real-time scenario. Record yourself and understand where you are lagging.
The fifth step is to adapt to the situation and be flexible and responsive. You may encounter unexpected challenges or changes during your presentation, such as technical issues, audience reactions, or time limits. You should be ready to adjust your content, style, or pace accordingly. You should also be honest and humble if you don’t know something or make a mistake. You can admit your limitations, ask for help, or refer to other sources.
The sixth and final step is to engage your audience and make your presentation memorable and impactful. You can use various techniques to capture and maintain their attention, such as storytelling, humor, questions, polls, quizzes, or demonstrations. You should also show enthusiasm, passion, and curiosity about the topic. You should also invite feedback, comments, or questions from your audience and thank them for their participation.
Integrity has to be at the top of the list of anything you do. Have a conversation with your supervisor and discuss your lack of knowledge on the topic. If they still want you to do a presentation, find out want needs to be covered and begin researching those elements of the topic. One should do 10X the research and 10X the preparation when compared to the time of presentation. So following the advice of your supervisor will be a critical success factor in presenting the most important aspects of the subject matter.