| Would you Like Help in Preparing Your | | | | one? ... |
| Presentation? | | | | Are they technically aware? ... etc ... etc ... |
| Whether it’s presenting to your manager, a | | | | Now answer each of these questions in turn and |
| team of colleagues, or pitching for new business | | | | then brainstorm more questions to ask yourself |
| the success of any presentation is dependent on | | | | about the audience until you have a good mental |
| structuring a clear message and delivering that | | | | picture of who you will be presenting to. |
| message with confidence and conviction. | | | | Rule Number 3 - Provide a clear structure for |
| But how do you ensure that your presentation | | | | your message |
| has a good structure with a message that is clear | | | | Your presentation should have a |
| enough for your audience in the first place? | | | | • Beginning ... • Middle ... • End |
| • Do you sometimes feel you dont know | | | | The beginning and ending are when your audience |
| where to start? • Do you sometimes put off | | | | concentration is at its highest – don’t |
| preparing until the last minute? | | | | waste these opportunities. Use them to |
| • Do you put off preparing as you're just too | | | | communicate your key message – introduce |
| nervous to think about it? • Would you like to | | | | at the beginning and reinforce it at the end. |
| have a more logical structure to your | | | | Use the beginning to build rapport with your |
| presentations? | | | | audience – let them know what’s in it for |
| Read on if you'd like to do something about it | | | | them – so that they have a motivation to |
| today | | | | listen to you. |
| Whether it’s presenting to your manager, a | | | | Make your ending strong – leave the audience |
| team of colleagues, or pitching for new business | | | | with a final thought or call to action that will leave |
| the success of any presentation is dependent on | | | | a lasting impression on them. |
| structuring a clear message and delivering that | | | | Use the "Power of Three" |
| message with confidence and conviction. But how | | | | Although the audience concentration may drop off |
| do you ensure that your presentation has a good | | | | a bit in the middle of the presentation, you can |
| structure with a message that is clear enough for | | | | counteract this by keeping the structure clear and |
| your audience in the first place? | | | | focused. |
| Rule Number 1 - Be clear on what you want to | | | | Try to limit yourself to three key sections in the |
| achieve | | | | main part of your presentation. Each section is like |
| The first question you have to ask yourself is:- | | | | a mini presentation and should have a beginning, |
| What am I ultimately trying to achieve by giving | | | | middle and end. In doing this you will keep |
| this presentation? | | | | ‘lifting’ the audience concentration and |
| Ever been put in that survival situation where | | | | your presentation will be clear and easy to follow. |
| your line manager asks you to deliver a | | | | • Three is a magic number • We tend to |
| presentation to his/her peers on your current | | | | remember things better when grouped into |
| project? But hopefully you want to do more than | | | | threes • And that's true for both presenter |
| just survive – you also want to impress? | | | | and audience! |
| It might be that you want them to agree to | | | | That's one of the main reasons politicians for |
| continue funding the project for another 3 | | | | example use a this technique a lot. Just listen to |
| months, or that you would like more support | | | | some of them being interviewed or giving a |
| from some of their direct reports. | | | | speech and you'll hear them use it time and time |
| Maybe it’s a presentation to your team on | | | | again. Phrases like "there's three points I'd like to |
| some recent organisational changes or just | | | | make here" ... or "good for business, good for the |
| bringing them up to speed with some specific | | | | country and good for Europe" ... or "Education, |
| business issues. Whatever the topic, you really | | | | Education, Education" ... |
| need to be clear on what you want to achieve | | | | Its not only limited to the politicians though. |
| from this opportunity at the highest level - ie | | | | Advertisers use it all the time - by grouping |
| know your primary goal - or key message. | | | | benefits into three punchy words or phrases eg |
| Once you've got that in mind you can start to | | | | "Quality, Value Choice" is one well known |
| think about your audience. | | | | catchphrase. |
| Rule Number 2 - Know your audience | | | | Our context is slightly different - in that we're |
| The more you know about your audience the | | | | splitting up the presentation into three sections. |
| better. You will then be able to design your | | | | Then splitting each section into three subsections |
| presentation with them in mind and thus be in a | | | | etc but we can also use these "power phrases" |
| much better position to achieve your overall goal. | | | | when we need to. |
| Some questions to consider are:- | | | | Now put it to the test Like most things you have |
| Who are they? ... How many will there be in the | | | | to take some action to make progress. It's all |
| audience? ... | | | | very well sitting here and reading this page - but if |
| Do you know them well? ... What expectations | | | | you dont try and apply what you've just read |
| are they likely to have? ... | | | | you are wasting your time. |
| What preconceptions are they likely to have? ... | | | | So decide what you want to achieve from your |
| Have they asked to attend? ... or have they been | | | | presentation; try and understand your audience as |
| told to attend? ... | | | | much as possible; and finally design your |
| Will they be hostile? ... or will they be receptive?... | | | | presentation making use of the power of three. |
| Will they want a detailed account? ... or a high level | | | | |