Whether we're speaking in a team meeting or presenting in front of an audience, we all have to speak out from time to time.
We can do it well or we can do it poorly, and the outcome strongly affects the way people think about us. This is why public speaking causes so much anxiety and anxiety.
The good news is that with thorough preparation and practice, you can beat your stress and perform exceptionally well. This article explains how.
How to prepare for a presentation
- When preparing for your presentation, you should first ask yourself:
- Who asked you to give this speech or make this offer?
- What is your relationship with him and what is his role? For example, is it your boss, a colleague, or an acquaintance?
After completing this question, answer the following questions as much as possible.
- Who are you going to speak to?
- How will you perform your presentation?
- When will you give this presentation?
- What exactly are you going to talk about?
- Why were you asked to give this presentation?
By answering these questions, you will be able to devise a solid plan, and you will be able to easily fit your speech with your target audience.
Preparing an appropriate presentation helps you maintain the audience's attention.
1- Let's start with the first question: "Who".
Who are you going to talk to? Are you going to talk to a group of 200 people, 20 people, or 5 people? How you present your presentation will vary based on the number of audience.
You should also focus on how well the audience knows your topic.
Are they beginners or experts? Are you going to address experts in the field of technology? Or a crowd of principals or students? After selecting the audience, you will be able to choose your vocabulary appropriately.
The worst thing about attending a presentation is for the speaker to think that the audience has the same knowledge and background as him.
This will inevitably lose the listener, lose his focus and stop listening to the speaker.
2- The second question you should ask is “how”.
How will you perform your presentation? Will you be presenting it face-to-face, remotely or online? Will it be live or recorded? You should also think about the equipment that will be available to you.
Will you have a microphone? Will you attach it to your clothes or hold it in your hand? Will you be able to use slideshows? Will you have a projector? Will a remote control be available or do you have to bring the device yourself?
How you use hand gestures changes based on the answers to these questions, and you'll also know if you're able to take notes.
See: 3 Basics and Tips of Business Writing
3- The third question is “when”.
When will you give this presentation? And most importantly, how long will your presentation be? Will it last two hours, an hour, or five minutes? Determining the date and duration of the show helps you know how much time you have to prepare.
4- The next question is “what”.
What exactly are you going to talk about? It may seem obvious, but it is important to prepare a well-structured speech. This means not discussing side details outside the topic.
5- Finally, the most important question is “why”.
Why were you asked to give this presentation? Why are you the best person to do this job? Are you an expert in the subject at hand? Do you have an experience you can share?
You may have some of the qualities that make your presentation lively, such as a sense of humor. The point is to know why you chose to make the offer. Is it to inform, educate or inspire the audience?
Important information for effective preparation
Write down all of that information. The answers to these questions will help you inspire ideas and help you craft your draft. Here's a trick you can use to get started. Create two columns; before and after".
Under the “Before” column, write down all the things you think your audience already knows before attending your presentation.
Under the After column, record all the information you want your audience to gain from your presentation.
Then create a column in the middle connecting these two columns. This column will contain the content of your presentation.