The EXPLANATION Presentation

The Explanation Presentation is a great structure to use for teaching new ideas, insights and abilities. We use it to teach something new; INFORM (one of the 4 purposes of presentations I have previously written about) about a process or a plan to fix an existing problem.

Insanity consists of building major structures upon foundations which do not exist.

-- Norman Mailer

There are 6 steps here to guide your audience:

1. Firstly, you should set the current landscape - where are we now and where do we want to be? This first step is very important as it highlights our current situation and how it could be improved by implementing the steps outlined in your presentation.

You should also use the power of asking the question to your audience - "do you agree?". It's very unlikely that someone is going to disagree with you here, but even if they do, you have at least engaged your audience.

2. The Roadmap: This is where you explain the route you recommend to reach your objective. This should be clearly set out, and again, asking if the audience agrees with you (they more than likely will!)

3. Our First Step towards our objective. Now that the audience understand where we are and where we want to be, as well as how you plan to take them there, we now unveil our first step - what is the first thing we need to do to achieve this together?

4. Now go on to explain the next few steps which will allow you to edge closer to your shared objective. At this part, you want to encourage your audience to reflect on what you have told them - you should show them what you will have achieved by taking the steps before this and how much better the future looks.

5. REFLECT. Actively use this step to encourage reflection. Again, take them back to your current situation and encourage reflection about how much we will have achieved if your audience follows your proposal. You are also encouraging them to reflect on what they have learned during your presentation, thereby re-enforcing your authority on the issue.

6. The finish! You've now reached your destination! Your audience will have either learned something new, or they will be ready to take action and begin to implement your ideas.

By using this type of structure, you are embedding your ideas in the heads of your audience. It allows them to fully understand how much better things will be once they have followed your steps. It also allows them to see the connections between the steps and why each step is important in the journey to reaching our destination.

Using different structures for different purposes is essential when presenting.

Otherwise, what's the difference between your ideas and the ideas other people present, using ineffective structures?

Do YOU think you would be able to implement this structure in your presentations?

Let me know in the comments below!!!!