You have an important presentation coming up and your audience is composed of late career professionals who have seen it all. How do you make a lasting impression on them and convey your message effectively? Here are some tips to help you prepare and deliver a presentation that respects their experience, engages their interest, and motivates their action.
Before you design your presentation, you need to understand who you are speaking to and what they care about. Late career professionals have accumulated a lot of knowledge, skills, and achievements in their fields, but they may also face challenges such as keeping up with changes, transitioning to retirement, or mentoring younger colleagues. Research their backgrounds, goals, pain points, and expectations, and tailor your content to address them. Avoid making assumptions, generalizations, or patronizing remarks that may undermine your credibility or offend your listeners.
Late career professionals value their time and attention, so you need to show them why your presentation is worth listening to. Don't waste time with lengthy introductions, irrelevant details, or repetitive information. Instead, start with a clear and compelling hook that captures their attention and curiosity, and state your main idea and purpose upfront. Then, support your argument with relevant and credible evidence, such as data, examples, stories, or testimonials. Emphasize the benefits and outcomes of your proposal, solution, or recommendation, and how it can help them solve a problem, achieve a goal, or improve a situation.
I start with an executive summary which clarifies the objectives of the presentation and address clearly the call to action or the recommendation upfront. I generally use “action titles” for each slide staying strictly in one line only (delivering one and only one message in each slide, with concise statement and to the point) and the content is there just to support the main statement with some relevant data, a chart, or an effective visual and few additional comments. Always put sources on the bottom of the slide to “strengthen” the trust on your data. I recommend to use very lean charts, not very dense, maximum 3 font sizes (big for the main title, medium for the content, small for the sources). Maximum 3 colors palette + black for text
Each word that you speak & each line of yours in the presentation should add value and focus on that core narrative/main idea. If you are presenting data, make it authentic, back it up with evidence. Make it logical, hold the attention of the audience. Bowl them over.
Visuals can enhance your presentation by making it more attractive, memorable, and persuasive, but they can also distract, confuse, or annoy your audience if used poorly. When choosing and creating your visuals, consider the following factors: the size and layout of the room, the lighting and equipment, the readability and accessibility of the text and images, and the alignment and consistency of the design. Use visuals that complement and reinforce your verbal message, not compete or contradict it. Avoid clutter, noise, or gimmicks that may reduce the clarity or impact of your visuals. Use colors, fonts, and graphics that are professional, appropriate, and appealing to your audience.
Even if your presentation is well-designed and well-delivered, you still need to engage your audience and keep them interested throughout. Late career professionals may have a lot of questions, comments, or feedback to share, so you need to create opportunities for interaction and dialogue. You can use different techniques, such as asking questions, conducting polls, soliciting opinions, sharing anecdotes, or using humor, to stimulate their participation and involvement. You can also use pauses, transitions, and summaries to maintain their attention and reinforce your key points. Be prepared to handle any objections, challenges, or criticisms that may arise, and respond with respect, confidence, and evidence.
It’s all about engagement, without it no matter how relevant your topic is, you may lose your audience within a few minutes. Try a variety of engagement techniques by asking questions, utilizing group discussions, and sharing anecdotes, it’s important to find out what it will take to engage this audience.
The last part of your presentation is crucial, as it is your chance to leave a lasting impression on your audience and persuade them to take action. Don't end with a weak or vague statement, such as "thank you for your time" or "any questions?". Instead, end with a strong and clear call to action that tells your audience what you want them to do, why they should do it, and how they can do it. You can also use a memorable slogan, quote, or story to reinforce your message and appeal to their emotions. Finally, thank your audience sincerely and invite them to follow up with you if they have any questions or concerns.
Lembre-se por que você está fazendo uma apresenta??o. Tem que haver algum resultado para a empresa, e ao final deixe claro o que precisa ser feito e quais os próximos passos.