How to prepare a great presentation

How can I prepare a great presentation?

1. Have a session with the organiser

   Discuss the following topics:
   – The goal(s) of the presentation
   – Information about the audience
   – What went well with previous presentations
   – What went not so well with previous presentations
   – What the participants already know about this topic
   – What presupositions the participants have about the topic
   – Good examples that are alread lived on this topic within the audience

2. Prepare the journey for the audience

   Based on what you learned at the previous stage, make a list of steps that the participants need to believe to come to the the conclusion you would like to deliver as a conclusion.
   You have been most likely learning on this topic since years and people cannot simply jump to your conclusion in a few minutes. You need to lead them step-by-step to come to the same conclusion as you.

3. Prepare illustrations, personal stories, quotes that support the journey

   People remember more stories, examples life or through videos than the teaching points that you are going to bring them. These illustration are extremely important.

4. Prepare the participation that will help the audience acquiring the message

   If people listen passively, there will not be many results in their life or organisation. Think about activities that you can ask them to do, individually, by pair or as a group, depending on the size of the audience.

5. Prepare the visuals

   Only then, and not before, prepare what visuals (photos, text, videos) will support the mesage that you are going to deliver

6. Bring all these items together and clean-up what is not inline with the message

   Cutting is the name of the game. It is better being shorter and to the point, that adding a lot of points that we enjoy having.

7. Present it life to a small audience and time it

   Present the whole presentation to people close to you the way it will be delivered (for ex. aloud, standing up)

8. Adjust based on the feedback that you receive

   Detailled feedback on the items, the flow and the timing is extremely valuable

9. Practise many many time

   Repeat steps 6-8 many times

10. Be in the room early to experience and practise

    Get early on the location of the presentation, in order to:
    – Meet the organisers to review some aspects of the logistics
    – Participate to sound and light checks
    – Discussion with the multimedia your visuals
    – As soon as the event starts, great participants and get to know them
    – Participate to the previous sessions, so that you get the context. You can also refer to these sessions in your introduction

11. Enjoy it!

    If you are well prepared, you will able to flow with crowd, be confident with your parts and…. enjoy it.
    We wish you great success in your public speaking.