Presentation Basics

The objective of a presentation is to make people think, understand other viewpoints and to promote some action to do something. As a presenter, you sell yourself and your ideas. You must first develop the attitude that speaking will give you an opportunity to excel and grow. You are in control of yourself and your material and you are prepared. You will be a great speaker.

PREPARATION TIPS

·      Love your topic.

·      Listen to people. Read books on listening.

·      Prepare a great title. People are attracted to How To titles. Give your audience a benefit. Look at newspaper headlines and see if you can apply grab techniques to your titles.

·      Always look for new ideas. Carry a pad with you and jot down ideas.

Be unique as you study your material. Work on your unique method of presenting the material to your audience. Presenting is a lot like acting—no two are alike.

PRINCIPLES

·      The purpose of a speech is to persuade.

·      Perceptions are more powerful than facts.

·      There is too much information in our brains.

·      People forget fast!

Based on my experience, it takes approximately seven or eight hours to prepare a twenty-minute talk. It takes eight hours for an advertising agency to tape a thirty-second commercial. A rule of thumb among speakers is one hour of preparation for every 1 or 2 minutes of speech.

I like to quote Dale Carnegie who says, “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion.”

J. P. Morgan adds, “A person usually has two reasons for doing something: One that sounds good and a real reason.”

As a speaker with a message to transmit, we need to know as much as possible about the audience.

·      Beliefs

·      Values

·      Knowledge·Experience

·      Interests

·      Attitudes

We must consider where these may be different from our own and shape our message so that our audience can receive it comfortably and accurately.

STEPS

 1. Review your purpose:

Put in writing what the employer wants so that you are in harmony. What do you want to accomplish by giving your presentation? What will the audience “do” because of your presentation?

 2. Review your audience:\

What type of audience will you have? What are their interests and backgrounds?

 3. Prepare your main points:

Will they match your objective? Think about your beginning and summary.

 4. Prepare your research:

Use personal experience, sources such as business journals, newspaper articles and books. Use examples, comparisons, quotations, findings and visuals to support your points.

5. Prepare review and summary:

Outline and organize to see if what you have down organized. Always use your own material

  6. Prepare your script with an opener and closing

7. Practice, practice, practice:

Read loud. Tape-record your voice. Review the tapes until you like how you sound

  8. Improve on what you now have:

Do this speech for someone you know or in front of a mirror. Listen for suggestions. Is it too long or too short?

9. Prepare your visuals:

Be sure these are professional and then practice with visuals.

10. Check your timing, fine-tune and GO!

OTHER STEPS

·    Your library has already done all the work for you. Take out books, journals and magazine articles on your subject. Take advantage.

• Find books in bookstores—old and new—and built your own library. You will be surprised at the interesting, printed information you will find. If you find something fascinating to you, chances are your audience will find it just as fascinating.

·      Locate Trade Publications and newsletters in your field. Subscribe to the ones you enjoy on your topic. For example, if you are speaking on Image, obtain a membership to Image Publications.

·    Collect quotation and proverb books. You enjoy and get ideas from this inspirational source, and they are great for speeches.

·    Subscribe to computer programs that can help you get all the information you need. There are search programs, publisher programs and art programs that are invaluable in helping you in your business. You will soon see how to save dollars on doing things yourself.

·      Join associations in your area. Go to the meetings. Make contacts with people. Ask them what topics were successful? Participate and learn from others. Call organizations such as Speaker’s Bureaus and inquire about some good titles sought after by speakers.