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| Tips on Preparing a Successful Presentation |
I still remember the first time I was asked to prepare a commercial presentation for a potential client. On the one hand I was grateful for this amazing opportunity, on the other... I was terrified! That time I had no idea where to start from, how should I prepare myself and the presentation in order to make a great impression and consequently win the contract for the company. Hundreds of successful presentations later I believe that the greatest advice on how to prepare a powerful presentation I got from Abraham Lincoln, who said "If you had eight hours to chop down a tree, spend six hours sharpening your ax"!
A successful presentation is not a coincidence. It is an art, a performance created for a unique audience. The key to success is the careful mix of your personality and the workshop tools available: words, gestures, and interpersonal skills. The presenter has to adopt the clients' perspective and be attentive to their needs, while simultaneously striving to achieve his or her own objectives.
Start from asking yourself four basics questions that will help you to set the objectives for your presentation:
1. Who am I as a presenter?
The primary challenge for the presenter is... self-awareness. Awareness of your own strengths and abilities, as well as the shortcomings. This will allow you to adopt the method of delivery to your own, unique style. You need to feel relaxed in order to create a personal connection with your audience. Unnatural behavior greatly reduces the credibility of the message and thus, has a negative impact on the perception of the presenter and the effectiveness of the presentation.
2. Who is my audience and what arguments should I use?
Another milestone on the road to create a powerful presentation is profound knowledge of your audience. Initially, acting solely as listeners, by the final scene it's them who take over the initiative and make the ultimate decisions. Hence it is vital to know and understand the strategic needs and expectations of your clients, to be able to address them adequately.
3. What is my goal?
For you it may be obvious, but definitely not for many of the presenters I had the pleasure to shadow during their performance! So let me just emphasize it one more time- make it very clear to yourself and to your audience what the key point and objectives of the presentation are. You don't want to leave the meeting with a bitter feeling of unfulfilled expectations.
4. How should I build my presentation?
Simplicity and consistency of the message is always appreciated. A small number of slides, intriguing and evocative words, surprising and applicable metaphors, many examples and creative and aesthetic visuals - this is the recipe for an interesting and engaging presentation which will remain in memory of even the most demanding audience.
Presenting, although described as an art, is NOT a so-called " art for art's sake ". It has an explicit purpose and an individualized audience, and therefore cannot be prepared in advance and used for any occasion. Every presentation should be created as a unique masterpiece of the presenter which triggers and inspires the public!
If you want to know more on how to prepare a successful
presentation that will help you to achieve your objectives, check out
our business training company website and enroll on our "Powerful Presentation" seminar. We are running this course in London!
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