Presentations are an integral part of a career in marketing and communications. But presenting is more than just showing an audience a set of aesthetically pleasing slides or notes on a whiteboard and having the ‘gift of the gab’. Presentations require a great deal of thought and planning before you reach the stage of delivery.
Your manager has just informed you that you will be presenting to a group of colleagues and the management team next week. How does this make you feel? Maybe nervous, anxious, fearful or perhaps even terrified! If this is the case, you are not alone. Public speaking has long been identified as people’s number one fear. In many workplaces, however, giving presentations is common, so arming yourself with the tools required to plan, present and refine your presentations will help alleviate some of the stress and take your presentations to the next level.
Good communication skills and techniques are especially important for businesses to work efficiently and productively. Presentations are one way of communicating to an audience, and presentation and communication skills enable us to plan, organise and develop strong business relationships and help us achieve company goals.
Presenting to an audience may be daunting to some, but the good news is that anybody can improve their presentation skills. Preparation and practice can make all the difference.
70% say presentation skills are critical for career success.”Forbes
Before we dive into the details of making presentations, you must first understand the importance of organisational and legislative obligations.
Effective communication can help foster a good working relationship between you and your staff which can, in turn, improve morale and efficiency. Ineffective communication can result in high staff turnover, missed project milestones and in extreme cases, legal issues.
Communication is important in all business environments. Businesses will use policies and procedures to guide key aspects of both verbal and nonverbal communication.
This information is important to understand as it may impact the way in which you need to plan your presentations as well as the different platforms your presentations may be conducted through.
Internal communication policies
Communication policies and strategies are key business practices for ensuring strong communication between both internal and external stakeholders.
A strong communication strategy links communication within the business to its mission, vision and goals. These are essential for any business because they set the foundations of the culture and ultimately, can play a major role in determining the success of the business.
An effective communication strategy should outline the various channels of communication within the business, and determine the channel's intended purpose and the roles and responsibilities of staff in accessing and using them.
In comparison with a communication strategy, a communication policy guides each employee on how to build and maintain relationships with fellow workers and the public.
Internal and external communication directives should help employees and businesses communicate as effectively as possible, thereby gaining the respect of colleagues and customers.
Communication channels
Communication can take place over various platforms and channels. The information in the following table details some of these channels.
| Email is used for messages to staff, clients and other stakeholders. | |
| CLIENT SURVEYS | Client surveys are used to gather information and feedback from clients for a range of purposes. |
| PRESENTATIONS | Presentations are used to present information verbally for internal workgroups such as meetings, inductions or to external clients and stakeholders. Presentations can take place in boardrooms or online, just to name a few. |
| BUSINESS DOCUMENTATION | Business documentation is used to present information formally in written format to staff members such as reports, policies and procedures and other business-related documents. They are also used to present information in written format to clients and other stakeholders such as business correspondence, invoices and other business-related matters. |
| CLOUD-BASED COLLABORATIVE | Used by work groups of staff to collaborate, share and communicate about projects online. A lot of cloud-based collaboratives will often require certain programs or software. |
| WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS | Website and social media channels are used to inform clients of services offered and also used by staff to access policies and procedures. |
| PHONE AND VIDEO CONFERENCING | Used for communication between staff, clients and other stakeholders where communication occurs remotely. Video communication may take place via virtual platforms. Some may include Microsoft, Teams, Zoom, Jami Jitisi, Linphone, and Retroshare. |
External communication policies
External communication policies are used when communicating with clients, customers and other external stakeholders. This policy ensures that all clients and external stakeholders are treated equally. They also outline the mechanisms to address their communication needs.
An external communication policy outlines the following.
- Hours of operation and how clients can connect with the business online.
- Acceptable and unacceptable methods of communication.
- Turn-around times for replies to emails and phone calls.
- Protocols for business-sensitive communications such as invoicing and urgent business matters.
When communicating with external stakeholders such as clients and customers, businesses may also implement a client communication policy specifically to address the communication that occur with people outside of the business.
Codes of practice
Organisations will refer to their policies and procedures to ensure staff are aligned with the expected requirements of their role and legislative requirements. The codes of practice are often referred to as the rules of behaviour when delivering presentations. More specifically, Codes of practice will highlight employee requirements relating to the expected conduct that must be applied in the workplace. The codes of practice support compliance with legal requirements and must be utilised when delivering presentations in the workplace.
Codes of practice will highlight employee requirements relating to the expected conduct that must be applied in the workplace. The codes of practice support compliance with legal requirements and must be utilised when delivering presentations in the workplace.
Legislation
Australian government and state and territory government legislation exist to protect consumers, the environment and the community, as well as to promote fair trading and competition.
These laws govern how businesses interact with their suppliers, customers and other businesses. They also outline the rights of businesses and business owners when conflicts arise. Visit Australian Trade and Investment Commission for more information in regards to connecting Australian businesses to the world and the world to Australian business.
Australia has a national statutory framework to ensure that trading is fair for businesses and consumers. This framework is administered and enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
The Australian government legislation, state and territory laws govern consumer protection. A fair-trading office in each state or territory provides advice on business rights and obligations. Visit the fair-trading laws at Business: Fair Trading laws for more information
The following table outlines the important legislation you need to consider when making presentations.
As an employer and employee, you have a responsibility to ensure you are meeting the Australian laws which prohibit discrimination in the workplace. These apply to age, disability, race and sex. When making your presentation it is important that you understand such laws to ensure you are not being discriminatory in any way. Some examples include inappropriate comments or images and making sure to include all participant's activities.
In 1988 the Privacy Act was passed to protect and regulate the collection and use of personal information by organisations. The Act applies to collecting, storing, using and disclosing personal information for employees and customers. If you have asked for audience information before, during or after your presentation you will need to abide by these laws. For example, an audience member discloses information to you, and you share it on your social media without their consent would be considered breaking these laws.
The Copyright Act of 1968 protects the rights of material owners and applies to any copying and using of this material by others. Material can include text, artistic works, music, computer programs, sound recordings and films. If you would like to use or copy material for your presentation you may need to get permission from the copyrighter.
The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) (Act) provides a framework to protect the health, safety and welfare of all workers and others in relation to NSW workplaces and work activities. To do this you must provide a safe work environment by assessing risks and implementing appropriate measures.
Within your role, you may be asked to develop a presentation to motivate your team, educate new employees or deliver good and bad news. Common presentations are motivational or persuasive in nature.
The most important thing about a presentation is to be prepared. Then you can move through your presentation with ease, feel comfortable and engage your audience. A lack of preparation leads to the opposite results. The time you take to prepare will create dynamic presentations that will catch the attention of supervisors and CEOs.
There are four main types of business presentations:
Let us take a look at each of these presentation types in more detail.
| MOTIVATIONAL | Motivational presentations are used to encourage people to take a leap of faith. |
|---|---|
| INSTRUCTIONAL | An instructional presentation is more likely to be an educational or academic presentation. |
| INFORMATIVE | Informative presentations are used to keep people informed, up to date and 'in the loop' about a process, a product or a way of moving forward with a new venture. |
| PERSUASIVE | Persuasive presentations tend to be presentations comparing the current situation to new, futuristic possibilities. |
Picture yourself in a living room having a chat with your friends. You would be relaxed and comfortable talking to them, the same applies when public speaking.Richard Branson Founder of the Virgin Group
Knowledge check
One of the fundamental aspects of delivering a presentation begins in the planning stages of the presentation. You must be organised from the very start.
Being prepared for a presentation covers a variety of different elements such as:
- developing a plan
- topics to be covered
- the purpose of the presentation
- knowing your audience
- the time
- location.
The art of an effective and successful presentation is a subject that has filled the pages of hundreds of self-help and business books. with many of these techniques are available to us.
The following seven techniques are needed when developing a plan to help prepare for presentations.
- Identify the purpose or the objective of the presentation.
- Understand to whom you will give the presentation.
- Prepare and gather the required resources.
- Review the location for set-up equipment and materials needed.
- Identify the personnel needed.
- Source suitable presentation aids.
- Choose suitable delivery techniques.
The following video outlines the importance of preparing a presentation for delivery. One of the key factors in the video includes the use of a script, particularly when a presentation has technical elements along with ways to keep a technical presentation engaging.
By developing a presentation plan or strategy to support your presentation, you can document how you will engage with your audience and environment.
The following six-step plan can help you develop and deliver successful presentations.
- Determine the purpose.
- Identify your audience.
- Assess your location.
- Establish presentation time.
- Develop an outline.
- Practice.
Determine the purpose
The first step in planning a presentation is determining the purpose.
There are two questions to ask in order to determine the purpose of your presentation. These are:
- What is the presentation expected to achieve?
- What outcome(s) do the organisers and the audience expect?
These outcomes will shape your presentation because your presentation must be designed to achieve the objective and deliver the desired outcomes. For example, you might be asked to talk to a group about workplace health and safety. The information you need to deliver is technical in nature and important for the staff to understand. You know that your presentation, therefore, needs to be engaging but knowledgeable, as your audience requires this knowledge to complete their work safely.
For possible topics within marketing and communications presentations, revisit your 4Ps of marketing; product, price, promotion and place as well as company presentations such as branding, team structure, company goals, values and strategy. Keep these at the forefront of your mind as they will help shape the purpose.
Identify your audience
In addition to determining the topic to be covered and the purpose of the presentation, you must also identify who the target audience is. The audience may be made up of a particular demographic such as a work team or a mixed demographic for public presentations.
Prior to your presentation, you may need to research your audience if you do not know who they are or speak to the organiser. In some cases, you may be asked to deliver a presentation to the team within your workplace. In these situations, it is likely you will be given a brief from senior management. This brief will include what they want you to present to the team and to whom you will be presenting it.
Many businesses have different internal stakeholders working in various areas, such as those working in administration, IT, designers, or a team of marking specialists. It is important, to know which of these stakeholders you are delivering a presentation to in order to deliver meaningful communication that is tailored to them.
Have a look at the following video to understand some simple methods of understanding your audience well enough to prepare a presentation that will keep them interested, engaged and leave them motivated in the end.
Identify resources needed
People use a shopping list before they buy their groceries to make sure they gather all the supplies needed for supper. Identifying and organising resources prior to a presentation works similarly, where a checklist may be used to ensure you are prepared for the planned presentation.
Presenters can develop a checklist to record all the tools required before, during and after the presentation.
The following table is an example of a checklist that outlines potential resources that you may require for a presentation.
| Resource needed | Yes/No |
|---|---|
|
Personnel Consider: Do you need more hands to help set up for your presentation? This consideration will enable you to concentrate on giving a great presentation while having help rather than running around trying to do everything. This may include an assistant to help on the day (hand out presentation notes, usher in people etc) or a tech-savvy person to set up technology, lighting and sound required.) |
|
|
Presentation accessories |
|
|
Presentation equipment Consider: If your presentation requires the use of a laptop, you must also prepare other items such as batteries, extension cord, extra appropriate cables and tape. It is best not to assume the venue will already have these. It is better to be over-equipped than under. |
Developing a checklist to suit your own presentation’s needs will support the preparation process. Not all presentations will be delivered the same, therefore not all will require the same resources. Carefully consider what you need and add them to your own checklist.
Hot Tip! If you do not have a tech-savvy person, then have their contact information handy for any last-minute surprises.
Assess your location
In some cases, it can be helpful to arrange to see the venue before the event. You may tailor your presentation differently if your audience is seated in a lecture-style auditorium as opposed to a café seating plan. Ensure that you have access to audio-visual technology, if need be, connectivity to power or the internet and even if you have the ability to dim the lights when watching a video segment. If you require printed information for your presentation, ensure that you either bring it along or ask the venue to provide copies for the audience.
It is important to find out where your presentation will be held, the location or address of the building as well as the resources that you will have available.
Location information
By this stage, you should know the location where the presentation is being held, now you will need to determine what the venue has available for use.
The following table outlines the amenities that need to be considered when delivering a presentation at a venue.
| LIGHTING |
If the room has curtains or blinds. This is relevant if you intend to use visual aids so that you can ensure the correct ambience for your presentation. |
|---|---|
| POWERPOINTS | The availability of PowerPoints and if an extension lead is required for any equipment you intend to use. |
| SIZE | The size of the room. |
| SEATING ARRANGEMENTS | The seating arrangements (for example, theatre-style, with rows of seats or roundtable). |
| FACILITIES | The availability of parking facilities so you do not have a long walk carrying any equipment you might need to take. |
| NOISE LEVEL | The likelihood of outside distractions, for example, noise from another room. |
| EQUIPMENT | The availability of equipment, for example, microphone, laptop, projector and flip chart. |
Online presentations
In a technologically evolving world and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, working remotely has become the norm for many businesses, as such, many presentations are seen to be done online.
Contrary to a face-to-face delivery method, this method is usually given over the internet, via audio or video, usually using software aids, such as Microsoft PowerPoint. Technology can simplify things for us, however, when it comes to online presentations it has its own list of disruptions. The following are some key points to help you ensure your presentation runs smoothly:
- check your internet connection
- practice using the online platform and become familiar with what you can do, for example, sharing your screen, muting the mic
- log in early and ensure all is working correctly
- dress as if you were going into the office
- eliminate background distractions, keep the area behind you clean and try to find a quiet room to present in
- use a good quality microphone and headset
- use good lighting and keep a nice distance from the screen.
According to Harvard Business Review, 80% of presentations are now delivered remotely.1
The following video provides you with a quick tutorial on how to share your screen in Microsoft Teams.
Types of resources that will be required when delivering your presentation in an online format may include:
- distributed emailed information such as handouts, print out of presentation slides with an area where the student can write notes during the presentation
- laptop charger
- laptop
- headset
- extension cord
- lighting
- feedback forms to distribute via email after the presentation
- visual aids such as presentation slides that include a range of graphics and images.
If you are delivering presentations online it is best practice to use virtual platforms such as Teams or Zoom. Online delivery may require you to record the presentation. Presentations are usually recorded if the presenter is providing training to staff- so it can be viewed later.
The following video provides you with a quick tutorial on how to record using Microsoft Teams.
Be mindful, that each recording function will vary depending on the online platform you are using.
Presentation Methods
Presentation methods can be implemented into a presentation to achieve different outcomes. Be mindful that not all the presentation methods are applicable in an online environment.Let us take a look at a few of the presentation methods that can be used to enhance your presentation and target the learning objectives.
Case studies
Case studies can be used within presentations as a method to offer participants a realistic scenario that they can relate to, typically in a work context.
Verbal presentations
This presentation method refers to when the presenter talks to participants but has little to no interactions with participants. This method is typically used when passing on information to others where there is no requirement for them to contribute to the content, for instance, showcasing a new product. Verbal presentations can be supported with training aids such as visual aids, workbooks, presentation slides, equipment and other resources to help convey key messages.
Role plays
Role plays are a presentation method that allows everyone to actively participate in a simulated scenario. They can also give an opportunity for the participants to be presented with content relating to real-life scenarios that will provide them with practice opportunities.
Group discussions
This is the preferred presentation method. It gives participants the opportunity to discuss the content being presented, share ideas, experiences, and stories and provides opportunities for brainstorming among all participants. It is also a good opportunity for the presenter to see if they have engaged the audience and to gather if they have understood the information being presented.
Establish presentation time
It is always important to find out what time of the day your presentation will be scheduled and how long you have to present. Presentations must be succinct, well-structured and interesting. Ensure you include breaks if a presentation is longer than 30 minutes and leave time for questions
The time of the day that your presentation is scheduled will affect what you can do and how you might organise your presentation.
Let us take a look at the times of the day you should consider in order to allow for the best possible presentation delivery.
Click on each of the following headings to learn more.
People are most alert in the morning, the best time to make a presentation. Long presentations, ensure you give people a break. If it is nearing lunchtime, attention will wane as they get hungry.
People can feel a bit snoozy after lunch, plan for audience interaction and participation, and even move if the presentation allows for it. Discussion and groups are excellent ways to foster networking.
People are there because they want to be not because they have to be. Get to the point, make it relevant and add as much value as you can in the short amount of time possible.
Timeframe
The key to establishing a good timeframe is to firstly understand the communications objectives. This will allow sufficient time to deliver the information in a clear and concise form and without rambling or overwhelming the audience with unnecessary content. Do not drag on a presentation that could have been delivered in half the time.
For each topic, presentation slide or content delivered, you can estimate how long it may take to present it. A good tip is to time yourself when you are practising, ensuring you can keep to the schedule.
Ensure that the established timeframe does not make your rush the presentation and that it can keep to the schedule comfortably. You do not want to have an unhappy audience when you go overtime.
Here are some tips to help stick within your timeframe:
- Allocate the time you will spend on each topic throughout the content, for example, from 11:00am – 11:03am- will focus on housekeeping. 11:03am-11:08am- will focus on the topics to be delivered and so on.
- Keep an eye on a nearby clock to ensure you are tracking well for time, if you are delivering online, you can set up a timer on your presentation or laptop.
- You can ask your audience to keep questions until the end, if you are happy for them to ask questions during the presentation then allocate time for this in the overall presentation.
- Arrive at your presentation early so that you have enough time to prepare resources, aids, materials, laptop etc. and you can start on time.
- Remember you are the timekeeper, which means you need to manage not just your own time during the presentation, but the time spent on others also. For example, you can prepare the audience members by telling them, that there are five minutes allocated for questions- any unanswered questions can be emailed and you can respond at a later time.
Develop an outline
To truly be prepared for a presentation, it is crucial to document everything for your presentation to run smoothly on the day. This document may include the following:
- the presenters contact information
- the name of the presenter
- what purpose of the presentation
- the audience attending the presentation
- when will this presentation be delivered? For instance, day and time
- where will this presentation be delivered?- location, parking and how to get there
- how will this presentation be delivered? Will it be online, face to face?
- what resources and presentation aids will you need? For instance, laptop, speakers, microphone, projector etc.
- what are the evaluation techniques you will use during the presentation to determine audience engamement and understanding? Communication techniques may need to be adjusted.
This document is shared with the organiser/s or anyone involved in set-up before the presentation to alleviate any miscommunication and ensure that nothing is forgotten and information is relevant to the learning outcomes and key objectives.
Practice
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. This could not be more applicable than when it comes to presentations. Practising is the number one way to help with your confidence on the day of the presentation. A common question is "how long should I practice for?" this could look different for everyone. The important thing to focus on is not how long, but rather, how you feel when you are practising it. You want to get to the stage where you are not thinking about what to say next, you know each slide, you feel comfortable and the presentation flows. Other helpful tips for practice include:
- Spread out each practice time over a number of days and not the day or night before.
- Revisit any presentation notes, highlighting keywords or sentences that need to be delivered
- Start off on your own reading out loud and then, if possible, in front of a group otherwise record yourself and watch it back
- Practice at the location or somewhere similar
- When practising, try to use the resources and aids you will use on the day.
Knowledge Check
Research has proven that people learn differently. Understanding and applying this knowledge to your presentations will make it more meaningful and the message is more likely to be retained by a larger number of people, rather than, if you design your presentation to only suit one or two learning styles.
This has nothing to do with raw ability or talent, but the fact that we are all wired in our own unique way, which affects our learning style. Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence theory, known as the seven learning styles, is an expanded form of Neil Fleming's VARK model. The model is comprised of visual, reading, writing and kinaesthetic forms of learning. Gardner expanded the theory to cater to auditory, mathematical, social and solitary learners.
Let us take a look at what each style encompasses. Click on each of the following headings to learn more about each learning style.
People who learn this was attuned to visual images, photographs, charts, videos, films and other visual formats. Their brain is more fully engaged when they attach a visual image to the information.
People who are solitary learners prefer to learn on their own. They tend not to perform as well when they work in teams.
People who are social learners love to seek out others to connect with. They enjoy bouncing ideas off other people and enjoy the social aspect of being with others.
These learners seek out opportunities to learn through music, rhyme, poetry, stories and other auditory means of gaining new information. For thousands of years humans learned only through storytelling, so this is an ancient way of learning.
People who learn this way tend to need ways of accessing items such as books on tape, listening to speeches and writing down notes to remember what they learned.
People who learn this way are attracted to movement. Many athletes are physical learners, as are dancers and other movement specialists. They learn by moving their body in new and different ways.
People who learn this way are attracted to the numbers and logic of that world. They love a good debate where they can test their logical ideas on each other. Engineers, scientists, biologists, chemists and astronauts often fall into this category.
Learning styles in business
Understanding individuals’ learning styles in business is crucial in a fast-paced corporate environment, such as marketing and communications where timelines and finances have been allocated to campaigns. To gain the full potential of the employees, identifying learning styles within the business is integral. Once this has been established, appropriate training can be allocated to suit their style.
It is important to be mindful of time wasted on ineffective training costs money and slows production. When employees are trying to learn a new task, mismatches in training methods and learning styles can make completing tasks difficult.
The same should be applied to presentations, you want your audience to take in as much information as possible and the best way to do this is to cater to each learning style within your overall presentation.
The following table provides suggestions to help your presentation cater to learning styles:
| Visual | Photos, props/aids, graphs, diagrams, animations and videos |
|---|---|
| Auditory | Sounds, music, allow for questions & answers |
| Reading/writing | Supply notes, give paper to write notes, have goals to achieve from your presentation. |
| Kinaesthetic | Allow for breaks, incorporate activities that require standing/moving, ask for volunteers. |
Let us take a short break from the reading. Watch the following video to learn more about how learning styles can help or hinder your ability to learn new information.
Knowing your audience will play a fundamental role in the delivery of an effective presentation. We will be looking at learning to:
- understand your audience
- analyse your audience
- prepare an audience analysis
- decide what topics are important to cover.
Let us begin with how you can analyse your audience by asking the following three questions:
- To whom will you be speaking?
- What do they need to hear?
- Who is your audience?
These three questions need to be answered in order to move forward with your presentation.
Hot tip! Always aim to create a presentation that your audience wants to hear!
You need to know your audience: are they customers, colleagues, suppliers, industry specialists, managers or work teams? Make sure you speak directly to them and use their language. Do not try and impress people. Simply communicate with them. An audience's learning style will directly relate to how they absorb information.
Before you give the presentation, ask yourself the following questions. This table serves as a checklist to refer to when getting to know your audience:
| What is the demographic of your audience? | What is the age, cultural and language backgrounds, literacy and numeracy skills, etc. of your audience? |
|---|---|
| What is their professional background? | |
| What learner styles are there? | |
| Are there any special needs or requirements? | |
| Will you need a sign language interpreter? | |
| Do they have a background knowledge? | Do they have any background knowledge of the topic or subject being presented? |
| What opinions do they have of your topic? | |
| Which side will they sit on emotionally? | |
| What are their needs or concerns? | What type of questions are they likely to ask? |
| Which topics will they care about? | |
| What are their needs or concerns? | |
| Is your space user friendly? | Is your space accessible? |
| Is there an accessible bathroom nearby? | |
| Have you planned for a break? | Have you planned for a break so that people can stretch, and grab a coffee and a snack? |
Preparing an audience analysis
Conducting an audience analysis will enable you to understand your target audience. The AUDIENCE acronym outlined in the following graphic illustrates the steps for conducting an audience analysis:
The following video will provide you with tips in business and workplace communication, public speaking, presentation and other speech and communication skills.
Decide what to cover
We are now getting into the complex stages of planning; deciding what to cover. Once you have established what content you will be covering you will be able to structure and organise the presentation accordingly.
Here are three great questions to use as a guide in deciding what content to cover and help organise information for your presentation. Divide your content into the following three areas:
- What must people know?
- What should people know?
- What could people know?
The amount of information you cover is determined by how much time you have as well as what information needs to be delivered. Try not to overwhelm people with things they do not need to know. If there are little extras you want them to know, you can always include a hand-out with key takeaways and additional resources.
A simple presentation may include the following:
Housekeeping
Many presenters add this to the start of their presentations to teach audience members of the expected etiquette during the presentation, times for breaks, turn mobile phones off, and where the bathrooms and exits of a building are. If delivering online, the presenter may explain the functionalities of their online presentation such as raising hands, comment box, sharing their screen etc.
Introduction of audience members
This is not always needed depending on the audience that the presentation is aimed at. However, this stage of a presentation may include some icebreaker games to get to know your audience, their experience, their skills and knowledge, their purpose for attending the presentation etc. It is also a technique to get to know enough about the audience to determine how you can tailor the presentation to their needs.
Presenting the information
This can be broken down into topics but should address the focus points of the presentation to ensure it meets the delivery outcomes.
Time for questions and discussions
Allowing time during the presentation for everyone to participate and contribute with their ideas during discussions and brainstorming sessions will enhance the learning experience. Allowing sufficient time for questions during or after the presentation can also help in clarifying any information for a clear interpretation of the information being delivered.
Conclusion
This stage can be a summary of what has been learnt during the lesson.
Keep it simple, direct, practical, interesting and fun! Remember to inject a little humour into your presentation as well, this creates a memorable experience for the audience and will often ignite their attention.
Develop an outline
Developing an outline ensures your information is ordered in a logical sequence of delivery.
- Bullet or number points
- Write down the points as bullets or numbers.
- Pick three
- Scale the points down to the three most important points or topics you must cover.
- Flow logically
- Each point or topic should be completed before you begin another and should flow into each other logically
- Create understanding
- Try to remember that people need to understand one topic before starting another.
Think about how your audience is able to grasp ideas best and tailor your presentation to suit this. These could be things such as handouts, models or samples that help explain your key points.
If you are presenting as part of a team, make time to discuss ideas with your team so that you know you are going in the right direction. This will help you to write a more effective outline.
Knowledge Check
Work through the following three (3) activities. Click the arrows to navigate between the tasks.
