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Steps in Preparing a Presentation

Planning your presentation, step 1: analyze your audience, step 2: select a topic, step 3: define the objective of the presentation, preparing the content of your presentation, step 4: prepare the body of the presentation, step 5: prepare the introduction and conclusion, practicing and delivering, step 6: practice delivering the presentation.

The first step in preparing a presentation is to learn more about the audience to whom you'll be speaking. It's a good idea to obtain some information on the backgrounds, values, and interests of your audience so that you understand what the audience members might expect from your presentation.

Next, if possible select a topic that is of interest to the audience and to you. It will be much easier to deliver a presentation that the audience finds relevant, and more enjoyable to research a topic that is of interest to you.

Once you have selected a topic, write the objective of the presentation in a single concise statement. The objective needs to specify exactly what you want your audience to learn from your presentation. Base the objective and the level of the content on the amount of time you have for the presentation and the background knowledge of the audience. Use this statement to help keep you focused as you research and develop the presentation.

After defining the objective of your presentation, determine how much information you can present in the amount of time allowed. Also, use your knowledge about the audience to prepare a presentation with the right level of detail. You don't want to plan a presentation that is too basic or too advanced.

The body of the presentation is where you present your ideas. To present your ideas convincingly, you will need to illustrate and support them. Strategies to help you do this include the following:

• Present data and facts
• Read quotes from experts
• Relate personal experiences
• Provide vivid descriptions

And remember, as you plan the body of your presentation it's important to provide variety. Listeners may quickly become bored by lots of facts or they may tire of hearing story after story.

Once you've prepared the body of the presentation, decide how you will begin and end the talk. Make sure the introduction captures the attention of your audience and the conclusion summarizes and reiterates your important points. In other words, "Tell them what you're going to tell them. Tell them. Then, tell them what you told them."

During the  opening  of your presentation, it's important to attract the audience's attention and build their interest. If you don't, listeners will turn their attention elsewhere and you'll have a difficult time getting it back. Strategies that you can use include the following:

• Make the introduction relevant to the listeners' goals, values, and needs
• Ask questions to stimulate thinking
• Share a personal experience
• Begin with a joke or humorous story
• Project a cartoon or colorful visual
• Make a stimulating or inspirational statement
• Give a unique demonstration

During the opening you want to clearly present your topic and the purpose of your presentation. Clearly articulating the topic and purpose will help the listeners focus on and easily follow your main ideas.

During the  conclusion  of your presentation, reinforce the main ideas you communicated. Remember that listeners won't remember your entire presentation, only the main ideas. By reinforcing and reviewing the main ideas, you help the audience remember them.

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Most people spend hours preparing a presentation but very little time practicing it. When you practice your presentation, you can reduce the number of times you utter words and phrases like, "um," "well," and "you know." These habits can easily diminish a speaker's credibility. You can also fine-tune your content to be sure you make your most important points in the time alloted.

In addition to planning the content of your presentation, you need to give advanced thought to how you want to deliver it. Do you want to commit your presentation to memory, use cards to guide you, or read from a script? Or, you might want to use a combination of methods. To help you decide, read the advantages and disadvantages of the four delivery methods described below.

Speaking from Memory

A distinct advantage of speaking from memory is your ability to speak to the audience without relying on notes or a script. This allows you the flexibility to move away from the podium and to maintain eye contact with the audience. However, speaking from memory has disadvantages, too. Presentations from memory often sound rehearsed and the possibility exists that you'll forget an important point, present information that's inaccurate, or completely lose your train of thought. If you decide to deliver your presentation from memory, have notes handy to jog your memory just in case!

Speaking from Notes

Many people like to speak from notes. Typically these notes are either on cards or paper in outline form and contain key ideas and information. If you are using an electronic presentation tool, you may be able to include your notes in the presentation itself. The benefit of delivering a presentation from notes is that you sound natural rather than rehearsed and you can still maintain relatively good eye contact with the audience. The down side is that you might not express your key ideas and thoughts as well as you may have liked had you planned your exact words in advance.

Speaking from Text

Speaking from text involves writing your speech out, word for word, then basically reading from the text. As with speaking from memory, an advantage of this method is that you plan, in advance, exactly what you're going to say and how you're going to say it. A disadvantage is that you might appear to the audience to be stiff or rehearsed. You will need to make frequent eye contact and speak with expression to maintain the audience's interest.

Using a Combination of Methods

You may find the best method to be a combination of all three. For instance, experts suggest you memorize the first and last ten minutes of your talk so that you can speak flawlessly and without notes. Notes may be suitable for segments of your presentation that you know very well, for example, relating a personal story. Finally, speaking from a text might be appropriate when you have quotes or other important points that you want to make sure you communicate accurately and completely. You can make a smooth segue to written text by saying something like: "I want to read this quote to you verbatim, to ensure that I don't distort the original intent."

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How to Make Effective Impactful Presentations (Tips & Tools)

Learn how to make a good presentation great - step-by-step with examples. Learn the principles, guidelines & qualities needed to prepare captivating slides.

Dominika Krukowska

12 minute read

Short answer

Short answer: how to make a good presentation.

Start with a surprising statement, a bold promise, or a mystery

Provide context with a bit of background information

Structure your presentation within a story framework

Make every word count, and use as few as possible

Use visuals only to support your presentation text

Use interactive design to make your audience active participants

End by telling your audience what they can do with what they’ve learned

Boring presentations are instantly forgotten. How’s yours?

Lifeless presentations can spell doom for your message, leaving your audience disengaged and your goals unreached.

The price of a mediocre presentation is steep; missed opportunities, unimpressed prospects, and a bad rep.

In a world where everyone has grown to expect a good story, a boring presentation will be instantly forgotten. Like a drop in the ocean.

But not all is lost.

This post will teach you how presentation pros create compelling narratives and leverage the latest tech tools to command attention, drive a powerful message, and get shared like gossip.

Let’s get started!

How to prepare a presentation?

The successful presenter understands the value of small details and thorough preparation like the seasoned chef knows the importance of quality ingredients and careful technique for serving a 5 star dish

But where do you start?

Step-by-step guide for preparing a presentation:

1. Define your objective

Every presentation needs a clear goal. Are you looking to persuade, educate, or motivate? Perhaps you aim to showcase a product, or share insights about a recent project.

Defining your objective early on will guide your content creation process, helping you to focus your message and structure your presentation effectively. Think of your objective as the North Star guiding your presentation journey.

2. Analyze your audience

Next up, who are you talking to? Your audience should shape your presentation as much as your objective does. Understanding their needs, interests, and background will enable you to tailor your message to resonate with them.

Are they experts in your field, or are they novices looking for an introduction? What questions might they have? The more you know about your audience, the more compelling your presentation will be.

3. Research your topic

Once you've defined your objective and analyzed your audience, it's time to delve deep into your topic. Comprehensive research lays the groundwork for a robust, credible presentation.

Don't just scratch the surface – explore different perspectives, recent developments, and key statistics. This will not only enhance your understanding but also equip you with a wealth of information to answer any questions your audience might have.

4. Choose the right delivery format

Finally, consider the best format to deliver your message.

The right format can make all the difference in how your message is received, so choose wisely!

PowerPoint presentations are classic and easy to work with. But PowerPoint and Google slides are not so versatile in terms of their content experience. They're static, packed with information, and all look alike.

Our own presentation maker offers interactive, personalized, and multimedia content experience.

Data from our research of over 100K presentation sessions shows that audiences engage with Storydoc presentations 103% better than PowerPoint.

How to create an effective presentation?

There’s part art and part science in creating high-engagement high-impact presentations.

An effective presentation is the painstaking result of well-organized content, visuals that support and elevate your message, simplifying complex information, and personalizing wherever possible.

I wrote this post to teach you how to do all these, and a few things more.

Ready to learn? Let's dive in!

How to organize your presentation content?

Crafting a compelling presentation is like writing a page-turner.

You need to captivate your audience, maintain their interest, and guide them effortlessly through your narrative.

But how do you transform a heap of information into a well-structured presentation you can’t stop reading? There’s a structure you can follow.

3-step process for organizing a magnetic presentation:

1. Prioritize content

Your presentation should immediately capture interest and demonstrate relevance before moving on to establish understanding .

A) Build interest:

Begin with a strong hook that grabs your audience's attention. This could be an intriguing statistic, a powerful image , or an engaging question. It should stir curiosity and make your audience eager to hear more.

B) Establish relevance:

Once you have their attention it's time to establish why your presentation matters to your audience.

Address your audience's main concerns. Make sure your content directly speaks to these pain points, and address them in order of importance.

2. Build anticipation

A great presentation is like getting a new car – it builds anticipation, takes you on a thrilling ride, and ends with you wanting to share the experience with all your friends.

Start with a compelling problem your audience relates to and follow up with a promise of an amazing way they can solve it. This problem-solution dynamic creates a suspense that keeps your audience glued to your presentation.

3. Use a story framework

Finally, use a story framework to give your presentation structure and flow.

Begin with a big idea that underpins your presentation. Then delve into the problem, showcasing why it needs attention. Present your solution, painting a vision of a better future for your audience.

Weave in concrete examples of how your solution changes lives.

Tell the story of WHO you helped, WHAT the situation was before and after your solution, WHERE and WHEN it happened, WHY it worked and HOW it made them feel.

If you’re writing a business presentation you should follow this with an execution plan that outlines how the solution will be implemented.

Finally, close with clear next steps, guiding your audience on what they should do after the presentation to bring meaningful change into their lives.

Our recommended story framework:

How to design your presentation?

A good presentation is more than just making it look pretty ; it's about communicating your message effectively and creating a lasting impression.

Good presentation design grabs attention, and leads it to where it’s needed most. It takes your hand and leads you through the easiest and most pleasant path to understanding.

Good presentation design supports your message rather than steals the spotlight. Good design is narrated design.

What is narrated design (Scrollytelling)?

Scrollytelling, where "scroll" meets "storytelling", is an interactive content experience that guides readers through a narrative journey with a simple scroll. It connects text, images, videos, and animations into integrated “scenes” where content is both shown and narrated.

Scrollytelling breaks complex content into digestible chunks and gives the reader control over pace. It has been scientifically shown to enhance engagement, understandability and memorability.

Scrollytelling came up as a central thing when Itai Amoza, our Founder and CEO was building the foundations for Storydoc.

He partnered with one of the world’s leading visualization scientists , prof. Steven Franconeri , to help him bring to Storydoc the means to reduce the complexity, friction, and information overload so characteristic of business presentations.

Scrollytelling is part of the solutions that came up, which led to specialized storytelling slides like our narrator slide (in the example below).

An example of Storydoc scrollytelling:

How to design presentation visuals to support your story

Presentation visuals can be unsung heroes or sloppy distractions.

Visuals can bring your message to life, make complex concepts easy to understand, and engage your audience in ways that words alone cannot. Or… they can sit there looking all pretty and distract you from what’s really going on.

4 elements of great presentation visuals:

Support your message: Your visuals should support your text, highlight your main message, and align with your objective. They should reinforce your points and help your audience understand your message.

Represent your audience: The best visuals are relatable. They should resonate with your target audience and reflect their world of associations. Use images and graphics that your audience can identify with – this can enhance their engagement and make your presentation more memorable. Equally important is using clean images - an effective way to do this is by using tools that allow you to remove your image backgrounds . By eliminating distractions and focusing on your subject, you create images that are more impactful and, therefore, can potentially increase audience engagement.

Introduce your product, outcomes, and clients: Wherever possible, use visuals to demonstrate your product, illustrate outcomes, and represent your clients. This can remove doubt and misunderstanding by letting your audience see (and make obvious) what words sometimes struggle to describe.

Follow your branding guidelines: Your presentation is an extension of your brand, so your visuals should conform to your branding guidelines. Consistent use of colors, fonts, and styles not only enhances brand recognition but also creates a cohesive, professional look.

Here’s an example of a well-designed presentation:

How to communicate complex information?

Did you ever have to read a presentation where you felt like you're lost in a maze of jargon, data, and complex concepts?

Are you giving others this same experience?

Communicating complex information is a common challenge in presentations. But there are ways you can simplify your presentation and reengage your audience.

Here’s how you can get complex information across:

1. Use interactive content

Interactive content is your best friend when it comes to simplifying complex information and getting deeply engaged with your content.

It gets the readers more involved in your presentation by letting them play an active part; like choosing the content route they wish to take and controlling the pace.

It keeps your presentation textually lean - giving readers the choice to expand more details on demand (in tabs, live graphs, sliders, accordions, and calculators).

Beyond that, live graphs can illustrate trends, animations can demonstrate processes, and videos can bring concepts to life.

Calculators, questionnaires, and chatbots provide personalized and specific answers to readers as part of your presentation, without them having to get in touch with you or your team.

Elavating your presentations from static to interactive has been tied to increasing the number of people who read your presentation in full by 41% !

Making interactive used to be hard, but now you can just use Storydoc. Go make your first interactive presentation. It’s easy as pie.

2. Show don’t tell

A picture is worth a thousand words. Because no one will read a presentation with a thousand words, do everyone a favor and use images.

Images can be super effective at communicating complex information and save you a lot of needless text.

In fact, visual representation of data and concepts can often convey what words cannot. Use diagrams, infographics, and images to illustrate your points and simplify the complex.

The goal is to create a visual narrative that complements your verbal one.

3. Narrate your content

Storytelling is another powerful tool for communicating complex concepts.

Whether it's through text to speech AI, video bubbles, or a scrollytelling narrator slide, narrating your content can help guide your audience through the complexity.

By giving your information a narrative structure, you can make it more digestible, engaging, and memorable.

According to Sales Hacker’s data, people remember up to 10% of numbers and 25% of images they see. When you center your presentation around a story, this rises to 60-70% .

4. Use examples and allegories

Examples and allegories help unravel the complexity of ideas.

They scaffold your message with concepts we already know and understand, and can easily imagine in our mind. This makes them less new and intimidating and more familiar.

Critically, the real secret lies in selecting examples that are not just familiar but also deeply relevant—those are the ones that will truly ring with your listeners.

If you tailor the allegory to your audience's world, it is guaranteed to lead to an “aha” moment.

5. Open a line of communication

Finally, invite dialogue. This could be through a chatbot or an option to book a meeting for further discussion. This not only helps clarify any confusion but also encourages engagement and deepens understanding.

For example, finishing your presentation with an interactive calendar to book a meeting instead of a generic “Thank you” slide has proven to boost conversion rate by 27% !

How to personalize your presentation?

Imagine attending a party where the host doesn't remember your name or anything about you. Not a great experience, right? The same holds true for presentations.

In a sea of generic content, personalization can be a lifeline that connects you to your audience on a deeper level. It’s also the single most important predictor of success, getting 68% more people to read your presentation in full .

But how do you add that personal touch?

1. Address reader by name

Just as you wouldn't start a conversation without a greeting, don't start your presentation without acknowledging your audience.

Using your audience's name can make your presentation feel like a personal conversation rather than a generic monologue. It's a simple yet powerful way to engage your audience from the get-go.

2. Use their company logo

Including your audience's company logo in your presentation can make them feel seen and valued. It shows that you've taken the time to tailor your presentation to them, enhancing its relevance and appeal.

Plus, it's a subtle way to reinforce that your message is specifically designed to address their needs and challenges.

3. Add a personal message (video or text)

A personal message can go a long way in building a connection with your audience.

It could be a video message from you, expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity to present to them, or a text message highlighting why the presentation matters to them.

This personal touch can make your audience feel special and more invested in your presentation.

4. Personalize your Call-to-Action

Finally, cap off your presentation with a call to action that speaks directly to your audience.

Swap out the generic 'Contact us' with something that gets to the heart of their needs, something like, 'Let's roll up our sleeves and tackle your [specific issue] at [their company].'

By tailoring your call to action, you show your audience you've truly got their back, that you're not just here to talk, but to make a real, positive impact on their world.

Here’s an example of a personalized slide:

How to measure the effectiveness of your presentation

Imagine if you could peek into your audience's mind, understand what resonated, what fell flat, and what drove them to action?

Presentation analytics is essential in order to guide you on how to fine-tune it for maximum impact.

But how do you get your hands on presentation analytics?

Any presentation you create with Storydoc comes with an out-of-the-box analytics suite , ready to track and provide insights.

We give you 100% visibility into how people engage with your presentations and send you real-time engagement alerts.

Here’s a video explaining how you can track performance with our analytics panel:

4 critical presentation engagement metrics to keep track of

1. Reading time

Storydoc gives you the precise time prospects spend reading your presentation so you can quickly figure out what's hitting the target and what's not.

Are they soaking up every word or just quickly skimming through? This can help you shape your content to hit the bullseye.

NOTE: Keep in mind that reading time alone might not show you a full picture. A better way is to use a smart engagement score that brings together different metrics like time spent and depth of reading. You can get this kind of total score in Storydoc.

2. Reading completion

Another basic metric we track is how many people read your content from start to finish.

This metric is a strong sign of the prospect’s interest and your content quality. It shows you if they're finding the information relevant, but also worth sticking with till the end.

3. Next step conversion rate

This one tracks how many people take the next step after they check out your presentation. This could be filling out a form, setting up a meeting, or downloading more files.

For business presentations, measuring this can show how well your presentation is pushing people further down the sales funnel.

At the top of your analytics dashboard, you can find a tab that shows you how many people clicked on your CTA divided by presentation, date, and location. If you scroll down to the list of readers, next to each person you can also see whether they clicked on the CTA or not.

Here's what it looks like:

4. Number of shares

This metric is particularly important for B2B sales teams . As more people are getting involved in buying decisions, this measure helps you see if and when your content is being passed around inside your prospect’s company.

On the analytics dashboard, under each presentation version, you can find detailed information on how many people read it. So, the higher the number, the more your presentation has been shared internally.

We'll notify you when your presentation has been shared, and who opened it, so you can time your follow-up perfectly to your buyer’s readiness to advance further.

Here's where you can find this information:

Best tool for making an effective presentation

In the realm of presentation tools, classics like Google Slides and PowerPoint offer simplicity and ease, while Canva and Pitch add a dash of design flair and collaboration.

If you're seeking to elevate your presentations to new heights you’ll need to do better than simple PowerPoints or flashy Canvas. Next-gen AI presentation tools like Storydoc are your game-changer.

They break free from the static concept of slides and offer the creation of interactive, immersive content experiences that sweep us along like a good story.

Grab a template - create your best presentation to date

Ever wished for a secret recipe to whip up a killer presentation? We've got something even better! Our interactive presentation templates are your shortcut to success.

Say goodbye to hours of formatting and hello to captivating, interactive presentations, all with a few clicks.

Grab a template and turn presentation woes into wows!

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

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14 effective presentation tips to impress your audience

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Anete Ezera July 15, 2022

An effective presentation can communicate key ideas and opinions, save time, and contribute to your overall success as a business, but good presentation skills don’t come naturally to everyone. In this blog post, you’ll find 14 effective presentation tips you can implement in your next presentation to make it a success. 

Whether you’re preparing for an important presentation at work or school, or you’re looking for ways to generally improve your presentation skills, you’ll find these presentation tips useful. We’ve gathered a list to help you impress your audience from the get-go. You’ll find tips for creating and presenting your slides, talking in front of an audience, and other effective presentation techniques to help you stand out. 

Most common presentation mistakes

Before we list our top effective presentation tips, let’s explore the most common presentation mistakes. If you’ve made one or more mistakes in this list, you’re not alone. Most people have made at least one mistake. However, what’s important is to be aware of these errors and try avoiding them next time.

#1 A poor start

One of the most common mistakes people make is undermining the importance of the first few minutes or seconds of their presentation. 

Let’s say you’ve practiced your key talking points meticulously and gone over your slides a million times, but when you’re in the spotlight and need to say your first line, do you know exactly what to say to wow the audience? 

The start of your presentation is crucial. Not only because how you start sets the tone for the rest of your presentation, but also because people generally require around 8 seconds to decide whether they find the subject interesting enough to keep listening. Starting your presentation with a captivating intro is even more important than you think. To ensure you start off right, read our guide on how to start your presentation . 

#2 Lack of preparation

Yes, even though it’s clear that you should prepare before giving a presentation, it’s still a common mistake amongst presenters. Preparing content and talking points is an obvious start, but there are other steps that you might be overlooking.

Before you even join a meeting or walk into a room where you’re going to present, consider the technical requirements and get familiar with the equipment. If you’re presenting online, make sure to test-run your presentation and the visual aids you’re going to use. The last thing you want is a broken video link, poor audio, or a weak connection when you’re presenting. 

Also, consider the questions your audience might want to ask you about the topic. Think about how you’d answer those questions, or do even further research to really impress the audience with your answers. 

Explore other ways to prepare for a presentation to feel even more confident when presenting.

#3 Losing track of time

It’s great to feel passionate about your topic. However, you’ll have to consider your audience’s level of interest and knowledge. Some details might seem fascinating to you, and you’d like to talk about them for hours, but for your audience, too much information will drain their energy and lose their attention. 

Therefore, make sure to keep track of time. Also, consider your audience’s interests. A concise presentation is always better than a long one with a ton of information. Plus, you’ll have a higher chance of keeping your audience’s attention throughout the presentation. 

Effective presentation tips

Now that we’ve looked at some of the most common presentation mistakes – let’s dive into effective presentation tips that’ll help you excel in future presentations. 

#1 Tell a story

Stories connect, inspire, and empower people. Telling a story can entice action, help understand an idea, and make people feel connected to the storyteller. It’s also one of the most effective presentation tips. A study by organizational psychologist Peg Neuhauser found that a well-told story is easier to remember than facts, which makes it a highly effective learning technique. 

With that in mind, telling a story when you’re presenting can engage your audience and make it a more memorable experience. You can either share a personal story or a historical event, just make sure to have a clear connection between the story and the topic you’re presenting. 

#2 Work on your body language

Body language can make a huge difference in how your presentation is perceived. It’s one of the presentation tips you definitely shouldn’t overlook. 

Body language says a lot about a person’s confidence level, emotions, state of mind, and even credibility. For the audience, it’s a way to understand what the person is saying and how interested they are in the topic. 

Therefore, work on your body language to better convey the message you’re trying to communicate. Practice in front of a mirror before your presentation and be conscious of your hand gestures and facial expressions. 

#3 Understand your audience

Before crafting your presentation, you must know who you’re speaking to. Understanding the interests, demographics, professional background, and other valuable information of your audience is crucial in making your speech successful. 

If you’re speaking at an event, contact the organizers to get more information about other speakers and the audience. If you’re presenting at work, you may already know your audience fairly well. Use this information to your advantage and create content you know they’ll resonate with.

#4 Use high-quality visuals

What’s one of the most effective presentation techniques? Use of visuals. They play a crucial role in your presentation. However, only high-quality visuals will make a good impression and effectively communicate your message. Use high-quality visuals like images, videos, graphs, maps, and others to really land your point. 

Using visuals is a great way to convey your ideas as they’re easier to process than text. If you’re not sure where to find great visuals, check out our blog post on presentation visuals for five free resources.

P.S. the Prezi library holds a variety of images, videos, GIFs, stickers, and other visuals, including different charts and maps to spice up your presentation. It’s all available in your dashboard .

#5 Use data visualizations

Do you want to showcase statistics or other datasets in your presentation? Use data visualizations to make your data stand out and impress your audience. 

There’s nothing more boring than a bunch of data presented in a flat way. If you want to tell a story with your data, use interactive infographics or slides enriched with eye-catching visuals. Showcasing data will make your ideas appear more trustworthy and credible. 

Prezi Design offers a range of templates to choose from. You can start creating data visualizations from scratch or choose a template and edit the data there. 

#6 Make it engaging with interactive elements

It’s not easy to deliver an engaging presentation. People can easily get distracted or try to multitask, especially in the virtual environment. Sometimes, it’s difficult to focus on the speaker and the written text. Other times, the content just isn’t impressive enough to hold the audience’s attention. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

You can make your presentation more engaging for everyone by including interactive content like graphs and charts. With interactive data visualizations, you’ll make the data discovery process more engaging and exciting for your audience. 

Your audience will be able to hover over data points and click on certain icons or datasets to discover information on their own. Interactive visualizations will make the presentation more memorable and impressive. 

As you can see in the example below, you can discover different data by engaging with the infographic. 

#7 Stay consistent with fonts and color styles

You want your presentation to look visually appealing and highlight essential information. To make that happen, stay consistent with font styles and color schemes throughout your presentation. 

Use one or two fonts max to make the text easy to read and understand. Also, use a carefully selected color scheme that’s not too distracting. If you’re using Prezi Design, you can easily copy and paste styles by right-clicking on your data visualizations and selecting “copy styles.” This makes it easier to stay consistent and saves time when picking matching colors. 

#8 Structure your presentation properly

Before creating your presentation, think about its structure. What’s the main idea you want to convey? Use that as your starting point, and only include information that adds value to the narrative. 

Plan out the first topics carefully to properly introduce your argument. Add the essential information in the middle part of your presentation. Lastly, close your presentation with a summary of the main points and leave your audience with an afterthought. Also, plan when you’re taking questions and for how long. 

For more insight, watch this tutorial on how to structure your presentation:

#9 Practice your public speaking skills

Public speaking may not be your forte, but you can get better with practice. Don’t decline a great opportunity to share your ideas with a larger audience just because you feel nervous speaking in front of a group of people. 

One of the best ways to improve your public speaking skills is to practice in front of your family or friends – people you feel comfortable with. Also, focus on the topic you’re presenting and get excited about the idea you want to convey. This way you’ll appear more confident and feel less nervous about public speaking. 

Explore other public speaking tips from Jessica Chen, the founder, and CEO of Soulcast Media: 

#10 Show your slides next to you on-screen

If you’re presenting on Zoom or in a virtual meeting , think twice before you share your screen. The days of hiding behind slides are over. People want to see and connect with other people, not sit through another run-of-the-mill screen share. To do that, use Prezi Video to showcase all your content right next to you in your video feed. 

As a result, your presentation will look more engaging than a traditional virtual presentation . Also, your audience will have the chance to read your body language and follow along with what you’re saying even better. 

If you already have your slides prepared, don’t worry – you can easily integrate them into Prezi. 

See Prezi Video in action and check out our video templates to get started.

#11 Calm down before presenting

Being in front of an audience can feel nerve-racking. However, there are ways to calm down before presenting that will make you feel more centered and confident. The last thing you want is all your hard work to go to waste just because of stress. 

Try breathing exercises or a five-minute guided meditation before presenting. The trick is to remove all distractions and focus on the present moment so you’re not overthinking right before starting your presentation. Also, be fully prepared and know exactly what to say and when which will help you feel more collected. If you want to discover other ways to feel and look more confident, read how not to be nervous before a presentation . 

#12 Use transitions and animations 

Add movement to your slides with transitions and animations. You’ll make your presentation more visually appealing and engaging. However, be careful not to overwhelm your audience with your choice of transitions and animations. 

Choose a transition that matches your presentation visually and use it throughout your presentation. Consider what animations will be relevant to your audience and select a few to add to your slides. Don’t overdo it. Keep the focus on the message you’re trying to convey, and use animations to only support that message. 

#13 Be enthusiastic 

When you’re in a room with a positive and enthusiastic person, you can’t help but feel uplifted as well. High-energy people have this effect on others. Most importantly, a lot of people tend to mimic people’s behavior and mirror their energy when they feel a connection or relate to them. That’s called the chameleon effect . 

When you’re presenting, you want your audience to feel curious about what you’re presenting. You may also want to leave your audience feeling uplifted, interested to know more, or inspired. To have that effect on others, try to convey those emotions when presenting. Practice your speech, slow down your narration at times, or take a pause after you’ve delivered a statement, and use different presentation techniques to present your project and really drive your points home. 

#14 End your presentation in a memorable way

The first few minutes of your presentation are crucial for captivating your audience’s attention. However, don’t underestimate the importance of ending your presentation as powerfully as you started it. 

The way you end your presentation will play a crucial part in how your audience will remember it. You want to make a memorable impression by closing your presentation with a summarizing statement, a rhetorical question, a call to action, or another impactful way. Discover 10 ways you can end your presentation in our guide.  

There are a lot of factors to consider when creating and delivering a presentation. You want your slides to look professional and visually appealing while conveying your main points. You also want to look and sound confident even if you’re nervous about public speaking. Whatever your concerns may be, remember that preparation is essential. Practice and dedication are the keys to giving a successful presentation . Make sure to follow these effective presentation tips to excel in your future presentations. If you’re interested in creating a captivating presentation with Prezi, contact us to learn more or try it for free . 

Elevating presentations with Prezi AI

Embrace the innovation of Prezi to bring your presentations to life. With its unique platform, Prezi AI offers more than just visually appealing templates; it provides an immersive narrative experience, engaging your audience with a story-driven approach. By integrating Prezi AI , our platform’s capabilities are further enhanced, offering intelligent design suggestions and optimizing content layouts to ensure your presentations are not only beautiful but impactful. This integration is a perfect example of effective presentation techniques in action, using technology to create a more engaging presentation.

Interactive elements: transforming passive listening into active engagement

Prezi revolutionizes the way information is presented by incorporating interactive elements that invite audience participation. With Prezi AI, these features become even more accessible, suggesting ways to make your presentation more engaging through clickable areas, zoomable images, and dynamic visualizations. This level of interaction encourages exploration, making your message more memorable and transforming a standard presentation into an effective presentation.

Adding a personal touch in digital presentation with video

Prezi Video stands out by seamlessly integrating your content alongside your video feed, bridging the gap between traditional presentations and personal engagement. This feature is crucial for those looking to follow presentation tips that emphasize the importance of connecting with your audience on a more personal level. Prezi AI enhances this experience, ensuring your content is displayed in the most effective way possible, making your virtual presentations feel as though you’re directly conversing with your audience.

Mastering presentation artistry with Prezi

The journey to becoming a skilled presenter involves continuously refining your approach and embracing tools that elevate your ability to communicate effectively. Prezi, enriched with Prezi AI, is one such tool that transforms ordinary presentations into captivating experiences. By leveraging these advanced features, you can deliver presentations that are successful, memorable, and truly unforgettable, embodying the essence of tips for presentation mastery.

Whether you’re an experienced speaker or preparing for your first presentation, Prezi equips you with the tools to succeed. Engage your audience, tell compelling stories, and deliver your message with confidence and creativity. Following effective presentation tips and exploring how Prezi AI can transform your next presentation is a step towards mastering the art of impactful communication. Delve into the features and begin your journey to presentation mastery today.

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Plan a Presentation for Success – 8 steps

September 03, 2023

Too many people, when they hear the word presentation, reach for their computer and switch to PowerPoint. That’s because they feel they are making progress by making slides.

They pull information together, they lay out slides and admire their handiwork. only then do they try to tell a story., this is not the right way for planing your presentation..

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” Alexander Graham Bell

What to do instead: Plan you presentation using a story, a script and a plan

The process for presentation planning should be more like that of movie making. When you make a movie you only start filming at the end of the planning process. Before filming you must have a story, a script and a plan.  It should be the same when planning a presentation.

The better you plan a presentation, the easier it is to be successful. At first, it may feel frustrating that you are not writing slides. You may spent hours staring into space or doing research. But investing in proper presentation planning will pay back many times over.

In the end by planning your presentation properly you will spend less time writing PowerPoint slides. You will spend less time editing and you will spend less time searching for a way to link the sections of your presentation together. You’ll also discover that practising and rehearsing is easier. You’ll learn these skills with our presentation coaching .

“There are three things that are important for a film. Number one is story, number two is story, number three is story. Good actors can save a bad script and make it bearable, but good actors can’t make a bad script good – they can just make it bearable.” Mark Strickson, TV producer & actor

Your 8 Step Presentation Plan

Let’s explore each of these presentation planning steps, one by one.

1. Start by using the AIM approach in your presentation plan

What is the first step in planning a presentation? AIM is an easy-to-apply first step so that your presentations are easier to prepare.

What typically goes wrong. Most people create presentations without proper planning. They start writing slides before they have decided what they really want to say.

Why is it important to plan a presentation?  Without an effective presentation plan you waste time and energy.   

What to do instead. Use AIM. Start with a blank sheet of paper and write the three letters A.I.M. across the top. In each of these columns start writing what you know about A: Audience , I: Your intent , (or Purpose) and M: your take-away Message .

See the next three paragraphs for more detail on A, I and M.

“Proper planning prevents poor performance” James Baker, former US Secretary of State

Learn how we can help – schedule a free consultation now

2. Presentation planning : Who’s your AUDIENCE and what do they need?

Shortcut Summary : Your audience, not you, should be centre of attention in your presentation. The better you understand your audience, the better your talk will be.

What typically goes wrong : When people give presentations about their latest project, they talk about their latest project. If they are reporting quarterly results, they report quarterly results. If they are speaking about their new business, they tell the audience about their new business. If explaining a new piece of regulation, they talk about elements of that regulation.

The problem with this approach is you are not including your audience in your talk. And if you don’t include your audience, your audience will be disengaged.

Why does this matter?  Audiences are selfish. They like being talked about.

What to do instead. Your talk should be about what your subject means for the audience. For example these are good titles for a presentation:

• “What you can learn from our latest project.”
• “Our quarterly results and what they mean for your department next quarter.”
• “How our new business can make you money.”
• “What the new regulations mean for you and your clients”

To do this, you must understand your audience. That means asking questions about them and getting under their skin. For example, some questions you may have could include:

ABOUT BACKGROUND

• Who is coming to this talk?
• What common reference points can I use?
• What experiences have they shared?

ABOUT MOTIVATION

• Why are they coming?
• What problems do they have?
• What do they need and want?
• What will make life easy for them?

ABOUT EXPECTATIONS

• What would they like me to talk about?
• What would victory feel like for them?
• What will make them sit up?

ABOUT CONNECTING

• What can I say that will show them I am on their side?
• What stories will resonate?
• How can I add value?

ABOUT EMOTIONAL POSITION

• What frame of mind will they be in?
• What should I avoid talking about?
• What will make them feel good?
• What can I say at the start to win them over?

ABOUT MAKING IT EASY FOR THEM

• What specific language should I use?
• How should I position what I am talking about for this audience?
• What phrases will resonate?

The more you learn about your audience, the better you know them and the better you can plan your talk for them.

“Designing a presentation without an audience in mind is like writing a love letter and addressing it: To Whom It May Concern.” Ken Haemer, presentation designe r

• Before any talk, analyse the audience.
• Research them.
• Make sure you really know them and their needs before you start planning what to say.

C all us today and discuss how our presentation skills coaching can show you the best way to plan your presentations. You’ll save time and same money.

3. How to plan a presentation – INTENT: what are you trying to achieve?

Summary : Decide early the intent or purpose to your talk. This will help you direct your efforts to achieve your goals.

What typically goes wrong : “I’m going to talk about…” is a typical answer to the question “Why are you doing this talk?” But talking about something is of no use to anyone. It is pointless.

For example these are bad intents:

• “I’m talking about our new project”
• “I’m talking about the new regulations”
• “A pitch about our new fund”
• “An introduction to ABCX co”
• “Monthly board report”

Why does this matter? For a talk to work it requires a clear purpose. When you know your purpose you can harness your talk to achieve just that.

What to do instead : Decide your intent. For example, when I asked a Chief Financial Officer recently what was the intent of his presentation, he was clear: he said that he “Wanted to look like the next CEO of this business.” This clear purpose made it easy to help him prepare what he said, how he said it and how he positioned himself.

More examples of a good intent:

• A Lawyer, when giving a talk about new regulations , was clear that she wanted “to help companies use the new regulations to run better, more profitable businesses”.
• An HR director who was introducing a new expense system was clear that her intent was to “get people to use the new system by next month so they can get paid faster and with less effort.’
• A fund manager who was pitching a first time fund to new investors had a clear intent of “getting onto their radar screens and securing a second meeting”
• A company looking for a trade buyer had crystallised their intent into “creating excitement about the potential value of buying this business and demonstrate the risk of others buying it.”
• An accountant at a well known firm had the intent with his monthly board reports to “Get them to recognise the value my team adds.”

Having a clear intent will make it easier for you to plan your presentation. Identifying that intent is also one of the harder parts of planning a talk.

“A talk is a voyage with purpose and it must be charted. The man who starts out going nowhere, generally gets there.” Dale Carnegie

• Be absolutely clear on the intent of your talk.
• Summarise your intent in one line
• Use your intent as your North Star to guide everything you say and how you say it.

4. What’s your one big take-away MESSAGE?

Summary : Your presentation needs a take-away message . This means one simple message so when someone asks “What was that talk about?” a listener can confidently answer.

What typically goes wrong : Many presentations have titles such as:

• “Quarterly strategy report”
• “Project X”
• “Manufacturing update”
• “Annual results”

These are all topics, not messages

Why does this matter? These titles don’t help the audience. They only tell them something they already know. With a topic title you miss the opportunity of preparing your audience and getting them in the right mindset to be ready for your talk.

What to do instead : Identify a message that summarises your talk that you can use as its title. Keep improving the title until it properly captures what you want to say. For example:

• “Our strategy remains on track”
• “Launching Project X by December could double revenues next year”
• “Manufacturing: three problems we must address”
• “Profits up 5% this year despite Covid headwinds”

Then test your title on other people. Check if it generates the reaction you want.

“If you can’t write your idea on the back of my calling card, you don’t have a clear idea.” David Belasco, theatre producer

Next Steps in planning a presentation

• Decide the title of your talk early.
• Check it generates the reaction you want.
• Use this to build the rest of your talk.
• Re-test your message against A.I.M.

Learn how to plan you presentation for success Call us today and discuss how our presentation coaching can show you the best way to plan your presentations. You’ll save time and same money.

5. How to plan a presentation – What are the three parts of your talk?

Summary : Your brain Is naturally tuned to hearing things in sets of three . If you can break your presentation into three parts then it’s more likely to be a success.

What typically goes wrong : Many presentations are like shopping lists: covering multiple topics and jumping from one idea to the next.

Why does this matter? In the end, a huge amount of information has been transmitted but little has been received.

What to do instead : Less is more in a presentation. Help your audience by giving them a structure. A three part structure is one of the most useful planning shortcuts that you can use.

Once you are completely clear about your intent and your message, start developing a three part structure for your talk. For example, if I wanted to give a talk that shared advice on how to present, I would consider using one of the following structures:

• Mistakes other people make / Tips you can use / How to become a great speaker
• How to define your messages / How to structure your talk / How to deliver your talk
• What bad looks like / what good looks like / what you can do differently

“ In writing and speaking, three is more satisfying than any other number.” Carmine Gallo, author

• Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
• Liberté, égalité, fraternité ;
• A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play;
• Stop, Look and Listen;
• Faster, Higher, Stronger;
• Veni, vidi, vici ;
• “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”
• Find your three part structure early.
• Use the structure to focus your efforts and guide your planning

6 . Presentation planning – What is your story?

Summary: Use a story to underpin your talk. No matter how dry your subject, when you use a story you will make it more memorable and more effective.

What typically goes wrong As an expert, a typical presenter wants to share knowledge.

For example: A few years ago, I helped a lawyer give a talk to investors. This audience consisted of private equity executives who sat on their investee company boards. The subject was the 2006 Companies Act and the Duties and Responsibilities of a Company Director. A dry subject.

In her first draft, she reviewed sections of the Act and highlighted problems that directors may face. For example, “Section 172 of the Act, sets out your overarching duties as a director. You must act in the way you consider, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole.”

As you can imagine, it was not the most exciting of talks.

Why does this matter? A precise talk may not be an interesting talk. Your job as a presenter is to make the talk interesting and easy for your audience.

What to do instead Find a story that fits what you want to talk about.

For example, for the investor director talk above, we decided to title the talk “How to keep your nose clean and yourself out of jail” Then the talk was based around a series of situations that anyone in the audience might face. She did not refer to any particular section of the Companies Act at all. Her text was:

“Imagine this situation. You turn up for a board meeting. You are a 10% shareholder and you are a director. At that board meeting the CEO announces that the company is near bankrupt and needs more funding. What should you do? Do you absent yourself, having a connected interest. Or do you declare your interest as a shareholder? Or do you carry as normal assuming business as usual?”

By framing it as a story you involve your audience and you make it easier for them to process what you say.

“Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form.” Jean Luc Godard, film director

• Find stories to tell, narratives to bring your facts to life.
• Tell the story behind the numbers.
• The dryer your subject matter, the more important stories become.

7. How to plan your presentation – Have you asked WHY?

Summary : ‘Why’ comes before ‘What’ comes before ‘How’

What typically goes wrong : When a speaker knows a subject well, it is easy for them to assume knowledge and talk about the nuances of what they know. I often describe this as the ‘How’ of a subject.

For example, when speaking about a new engine you have developed, you might say that you made the pistons more accurately, that you mix petrol more precisely and you have added a new technique of managing engine performance.

Why does this matter? This is one of the most common mistakes that experts make when giving talks. They spend too much time explaining HOW something works, rather than explaining WHAT it is they are talking about and WHY it is important.

What to do instead : “We have designed a more efficient car engine that will get 100 miles to the gallon.”

“Start with Why” Simon Sinek

• Ask yourself “So What?” to everything you say
• Check that you are clear why the audience will be interested.
• Imagine someone in the audience asking “What’s in it for me?” (WIIFM)

8. How to plan a presentation – Can you give a 90 second summary of your presentation?

Summary : The best way to plan your presentation is by speaking a c 100-200 word summary of your presentation. This summary will test the rigour of your thinking, the clarity of your ideas and the robustness of your plan.

What typically goes wrong : The average poor presentation meanders from topic to topic and is more like a data dump than a well organised talk. It is rich in information but poor in story, structure and planning. It will be hard to summarise that talk easily.

Why does this matter? Lack of planning = Lack of story = Hard for your audience.

What to do instead : Create a short summary of your talk to test your thinking

• You can use your summary early in your presentation planning to test your ideas.
• If you are working with colleagues you can share your thinking using your summary.
• If you are planning a presentation for someone else, you can share your summary to test their reaction.
• If someone else is preparing your presentation, you can use a summary to check they are on track.

Creating a summary is one of the most powerful ways to plan a presentation and will save you a huge amount of wasted time.

“If you can’t write your message in a sentence, you can’t say it in an hour.” Dianna Booher, Autho r

Next Steps for Presentation Planning

• Test your ideas with a short summary.
• Use a critical audience.
• If it is not tight enough, keep refining your summary.

Summary – how to plan a presentation for success

Start by planning, not by writing. This may feel counter intuitive, but you’ll make progress faster.

How do you plan a presentation for success? Try these steps:

• Use AIM as the first stage of preparing any talk
• A – Audience: Analyse your audience and understand their needs
• I – Intent: Be clear on the single purpose of your talk.
• M – Message: Decide your one take-away message from your talk
• Decide the three parts of your talk
• Create and perfect a 90 second summary of your talk before fleshing it out
• Answer the WHY questions in your talk before the WHAT or HOW questions.
• Imagine your audience asking So What? and What’s in it for me? throughout.
• Check your talk summary against your Audience, Intent and Message.

NEXT STEPS TO COMPELLING PRESENTATIONS Call us today and discuss how our presentation coaching can show you the best way to plan your presentations. You’ll save time and same money.

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20 Tips For Preparing An Effective Oral Presentation

Don’t mind the informal me, I just seem to love that ‘down-to-earthness’ – I personally believe that such disposition is a better facilitator of effective communication.

Without much ado, I am going to share with you some ideas on what I can safely call most people’s nightmare (next to examinations, of course) – An oral presentation.

Organizations and other platforms have also come to discover the essence of an effective oral presentation. How it can move an employee from a zero state of mind to an excited state of mind after a brief but powerful presentation.

Businesses are not left out too as it has become a core value that has to be portrayed to convince potential clients about a business idea.

Read this: How to manage your time effectively

Essentially, oral presentations are nothing to be scared of.

They add some kind of depth to the learning experience.

Not having this depth is what we should be scared of. Self-expression is just one of the core pillars of assessing how much and how well a student or presenter has assimilated the content of instructional material.

Overall, some of the most faced challenges associated with oral presentations are content and stage management which shall be discussed broadly here.

Whether you are a student, employee, professional or businessman , you sure need this skill to make a good impression.

Enjoy these tips, internalize them and start putting them into good practice. At the end of this write-up, you will discover the peculiar challenges of stage fright, how to deal with it and a few tidbits on presentation etiquette.

1. Know the content

Nothing breeds confidence like competence and nothing breeds competence like preparation . Being vast in and thoroughly familiar with whatever the subject of a presentation will, in no small way, reinforce your sense of having something genuinely interesting to offer.

With this in place, the presentation ceases to be a mere talk or some kind of recital. It indeed becomes an active engagement of the audience on a journey of discovery. All you need do is just visualize yourself as a tour guide or a curator in a museum.

All you need do is to relate antecedents, history, origins, facts, figures and aspects of the subject matter in such a way as to stimulate their imagination.

You lead the audience on, not exactly projecting yourself but helping them see what needs to be seen. You wouldn’t want to go to the stage and destroy the expectations of people eagerly waiting to listen to you.

2. Define the purpose of the presentation

A presentation isn’t just a list of random facts. It makes a specific point, just like laboratory reports or essays.

Without a clear purpose in mind, your presentation will most likely be a jumble of unorganized factual information, putting your audience in the dark about your true intent.

What is the most important message you want to convey to the audience? Consider this to be the idea or theme of your presentation.

Your presentation’s goal(s) could include, but are not restricted to, trying to inform, inspire, or persuade.

Remember that what you say as well as how you say it must be consistent with the presentation’s goal.

3. Be natural

The mistake a lot of presenters make is thinking that great presentations are all about big vocabulary and sophisticated terms.  

May I indulge you in a different perspective – great presentations are all about presentations done in the most natural way. Be calm, relax and flow effortlessly .

Do your presentations like they are your daily routines. Help your audience feel like – “yes, I agree with what he is talking about”.

Rather than trying to charm the audience with a sophisticated style, be more committed to capturing their imagination through simple cues and vivid expressions.

There is a child in everyone, no matter how old. If possible, add a little humour here and there but try not to overdo it. Ensure you stay on track.

Read this: How to ask questions smartly

4. Invoke curiosity

This aspect is what makes your audience hooked until the end of your presentation. They want to know where you are headed. They can’t risk being distracted until you finish. All you need do is reawaken that curious infant in the brief moment of your presentation.

It is for this reason that presentations adopt visual aids and graphical tools. The world-famous PowerPoint computer application also goes hand in hand with projectors – large screens for a clearer, broader view.

Where else is such pervasive attention given to pictures and descriptive tools apart from a kindergarten? Such applications show that there is a childlike nature in every man. Invoke it!

Read: How To Celebrate Failure For Success

5. Get your audience involved

Get your audience involved in your presentation. Don’t stand behind a lectern all through, tale a brisk, confident walk and project your words into the minds of your audience. Don’t let the lectern come in between you and the audience.

Try to get your audience out of their seats, laughing, raising hands or even standing by your side to make an analysis. Getting your audience to laugh is not as difficult as you might think. For example, you might try, “Ladies and gentlemen, I was told to announce something very critical to the success of today’s event. Even though I don’t think it’s my place to begin my presentation with an announcement that has nothing to do with my topic.”

“Anyway, I’ve been asked to tell you that in the event that you laugh too hard, don’t cause a stampede or fart too loud.” 😆 

Get free tips and tricks that will help you to achieve success faster 😉

6.  Gesticulate

If you can request a cordless lavaliere mic, pls do, so that you can be as flexible with your hands as possible. A handheld mic might become tiring if your presentation takes a while.

Your audience will only remember 30% of what they hear & see but 70% of what they do will stick to them forever.

7. Project your words

Two things that can make your projection so vivid and impactful are a clear voice and clarity of communication. Try to emphasize the last sound of each word which will help you to sound very polished. This may sound odd to you when you start but eventually sound normal as you get used to it.

8. Take a pause

I cannot stress this enough. Take your time to pause! It kinda helps your audience to brainstorm, evaluate and re-evaluate. You shouldn’t say more than six to eight words at a time without a pause. As longer sentences reduce readability, longer spoken words also reduce absorption.

Use a full voice, then pause. Think of great speakers that utilized a full voice and paused. They did efficiently well. Such presentations drop some value within you.

9. Use acronyms

After you have written all the words on index cards, try to think of an acronym or Slang abbreviation that has every point you want to talk about. Use this strategy to keep your presentation in order.

For example, you may have written on a marriage/relationship index card – ask, support, kiss . Think of the first letter in each word and arrange them to ASK or any other word of your choice.

ASK will keep you on track this way:

A – Ask what he thinks

S – Support his opinion first

K – Kiss him when the discussion ends

You must have practised what you will say about each word beforehand. You will only use the acronym to keep track which the audience has no clue about. They will only think you are so perfect! If your oral presentation takes time and involves longer acronyms, you could keep your index card(s) on you just in case you get lost. 

10. Give life to figures

The best way to do this is to put a ‘Point’ of mind-gripping information (pictures, graphs, a phrase or table, flow charts, diagrams or a statistic) on some slides and speaking to them.

While the audience is fixated on that slide, all you need do is try to make them see the aspects of the slides that are hidden. Hence, you help to make their imagination make up for the rest of the story.

Such information is alike in features such as introduction, plot build-up, themes climax/anticlimax, a hero and his trials/triumph and so on.

And like a good storyteller or the mythical Pied Piper, the story or the music as the case is, becomes the object of the audience’s attention. The presenter is merely an intermediary.

11. Face the object

Sure, it is not bad to feel weird for a moment. Gain your confidence back by becoming the audience for a moment.

Face the presentation with your hands towards the slide, board or what have you? Making this brief move takes a whole lot of burden off as you see that you do not have to be the audience’s object of attention for a while.

You can use this moment to stealthily move from your weak points to your strong points as you gain your confidence back .

Not all presentations have to be a serious one looking like a board meeting. It doesn’t have to be a brainstorming session to close a million-dollar deal. Smile if you can.

In fact, you should smile. It will reduce any pressure you might be feeling. You never know how powerful a smile can be until you smile at a confused child who looks at you and then returns the smile.

While you smile, make good eye contact with them and gesticulate as often as possible. This will create a good impression on your audience and make them connect with you easily.

Read this: Amazing facts about your handwriting

13. Intrigue them with stories

Whether it’s a story your grandfather told you or a story you learnt while growing up, people would love to listen. Stories are interesting ways to give your audience a light mood.

Who doesn’t like the taste of a little icing on the cake or peanuts in the chocolate? Just something a little bit different to ease the whole seriousness of the atmosphere.

Professional speakers are becoming professional storytellers ,  primarily stories about themselves or someone they know so well . If you can tell a story about each word or topic on your cards or slides, your speech will have a better flow.

14. Take corrections politely

One mistake people do is to try to show that they know better than their judges.

Judges, examiners, instructors or even a member of your audience can come into your presentation abruptly. Prepare your mind ahead for this and don’t fidget.

A simple “Noted, sir” “sorry, I skipped that” or “thanks for the feedback” would go a long way in determining your final presentation score.

Be courteous and mindful of harsh emotions as you face arguments or opposition. A wrong approach in dealing with this can ruin everything you have started. So be cool with everyone.

As a matter of fact, who you are and who the audience perceives you to be is a measure of the weight of your words.

Hence, it is safer to use universally acceptable codes of conduct and principles of etiquette that will put you in the good graces of the audience.

15. Define your target audience

The audience’s reaction is the only way to judge a good presentation. What do they currently know about your subject matter?

What are their perceptions about your subject matter: will they accept whatever you say, or will you have to persuade them to change their views? Do they have a good command of the English language?

An effective oral presentation requires much more than simply presenting your ideas or giving a presentation. It is all about clear communication and connecting with the audience.

Preparation is required to create that type of presentation. You must learn about your target audience to tailor your message.

If you’re talking to experts in your field, for example, you don’t have to explain all the terms you’re using but if you expect your audience to disagree with your assertions, it’s a great idea to provide additional illustrations and go into greater detail when presenting the evidence.

You can outline your presentation with your audience in mind to explain your main points and maintain a logical flow. The more you understand your target audience, the better you will be able to communicate with them.

16. P redict your audience’s thoughts and tell them

If you’re lucky enough to predict what is on their minds, you’ll get almost 100% attention from your audience. This lowers the barriers between you and them.

They’ll say “hey, he’s so clever hahaha”. Wow, you’re absolutely right! Tell them you know what they are thinking and answer a question they haven’t yet asked you.

17. Practice your presentation beforehand

You should start with yourself first. Talk to yourself, then move on to talking to a friend or small group of friends. When you build more confidence, start by speaking for free to become more professional.

You could begin by speaking to associations and clubs. Your audience may give you more networking opportunities when they enjoy your free presentations. There are business owners in your audience or people who work for businesses looking for speakers.

In fact, t here is much more to learn while you practise. By the time you become well-known, you can start charging a token or your prices can even become non-negotiable. 😉 

18. Explore every possible detail about your subject matter

To prepare an effective oral presentation, you must thoroughly understand your subject matter, which means knowing far more than you will present.

There is no such thing as too much research. The more familiar you are with your content, the more settled and confident you will feel when presenting it to a group.

Take notes as you read about your topic. Then organize your notes for your presentation. The most straightforward structure is an outline.

In most cases, a concise outline will serve as a good template for presenting your topic. The introduction, body, and summary make up a concise outline.

• Introduction

In the introductory part, you must provide a concise context for your discussion. This is where you describe the problem or issue that the presentation will solve.

You want to immediately grab people’s attention, stimulate their interest, and get them pondering about your topic. That is what creating engaging content is all about.

The bulk of your presentation. It provides specific examples to back up your main point. This is where you add important facts, statistics, and details to your discourse.

Make certain that your material is presented articulately, with each point connected to another and clear progressions.

To summarize, highlight the previous points briefly. Use keywords from your introduction to restate your argument.

Take note of transitory phrases or words like “in summary.” Appreciate the audience for their time and, if the presentation format allows, gladly accept their questions.

A clear structure helps to support a clear and focused message, and it prevents you from jumping from concept to concept, which can make it difficult for your audience to grasp your presentation.

Having this in place, the presentation is no longer just a discussion. It truly becomes an active participation of the audience on a discovery journey. All you have to do is relate the subject’s antecedents, background, facts, statistics, and features in a way that stimulates their curiosity.

19. Use visual aids to supplement your content

It is easier to deliver an oral presentation when you employ visual aids. Visual aids, such as PowerPoint slides or printed handouts, provide structure to your presentation and assist the audience in comprehending the key points.

Since the majority of information is deemed and grasped visually, you may need to resolve this in your presentation by including a few visuals.

This would help the audience follow your discourse and possibly discuss a few of your points after the presentation is finished.

A good visual aid , as obvious as it may seem, must remain visual. Visuals can be bulleted lists or outlines, diagrams or figures, or pictures that depict crucial points that would be difficult to explain orally. Visual aids should be used to supplement, not compete with, your presentation. Use them only when they are necessary or beneficial.

20. Anticipate questions and prepare thoughtful answers in advance

A key component of preparing for an effective oral presentation is anticipating questions and creating thoughtful responses beforehand.

It demonstrates that you are knowledgeable about the subject and that you gave the subject some research. It also helps establish credibility and demonstrate your knowledge.

Additionally, it might assist you in remaining composed and assured throughout the presentation, especially if you are posed with unexpected questions. A few strategies for getting ready for questions are as follows:

• Researching your topic thoroughly: This will enable you to answer any questions that may come up about your subject matter.
• Identifying key points of confusion: Think about what aspects of your presentation may be most difficult for your audience to understand and prepare answers accordingly.
• Practicing your responses: Rehearse answering potential questions so you are more comfortable and confident when answering them during the presentation.
• Being open to feedback: Encourage your audience to ask questions and be open to feedback , even if it is critical. Take the opportunity to address any misconceptions or confusion that may have arisen during your presentation.
• Be prepared for the unexpected: Sometimes, the questions you get may be totally out of the blue, be prepared to answer those as well.

In summary, your oral presentation is highly related to your motion, posture, gesture, gesticulation, eye contact, pausing effect, response to applause and so on.

The evolving nature of education has seen many lecturers and teachers adopt oral examinations as an integral part of grading students’ performance.

That is apart from lines of study such as Medicine (Viva) and Law (mock trials) that already have oral-related content as a part of their continuous assessment.

It also affords the teacher the opportunity to do more than just teach but to also be a kind of ‘coach’ that nurtures not only the content but also the delivery of knowledge . As a teacher myself, I do subscribe to this method of teaching; after all, was it not Einstein that said – If you cannot explain it simply, then you do not understand it all.

In oral presentations, especially ones that adopt projected information, the words you speak are more important than the words you display.

However, the pictures you use are just as important as the words you speak. In no place is the saying truer – a picture is worth more than a thousand words.

Therefore, being in a position where you have to present your own perspective, with your own words and in your own style goes a long way in shaping your intellectual capabilities . It also builds self-confidence in those that eventually master it.

I wish you a hitch-free and mind-blowing experience in your next oral presentation. 😉 . Which of these tips has helped you tremendously?

Share with love!

Post Author: Ikeoluwa Ogedengbe

24 replies to “20 tips for preparing an effective oral presentation”.

Wonderful post! Putting these suggestions into practice will make anyone a ‘better’ presenter! Multiple thumbs up!

Sure, they will. Thanks for reading!

Thanks for this post, I believe it will help me gather more confidence in public speaking.

All the best in your next public speaking engagement, Josephine.

Love this post! I have a fear of public speaking so this checklist is so helpful! Thanks for sharing!

I’m glad you love it, Lissy.

Cool, just cool. I like it.

Thanks, Yeahme.

Thank you these are great tips! I have always had a lot of self confidence but always struggle with imposter syndrome so I get so nervous before public speaking!

Aww, I am sure these tips and a lot of practice will take the nervousness away.

This reminds me of my speech 101 class in college. I definitely with these tips — especially the one about knowing the content. Nothing prepares you more than knowing what you are talking about.

That’s absolutely right!

I used to work for a company that offered feedback for corporate leaders on presenting and I agree with everything you say. Bringing your personality into a presentation or speech can make a huge difference but it can take practice to get comfortable enough to bring that energy.

Yes, practice does a lot to make one perfect. Thanks for your input, Sarah.

This is a very helpful post. I wish I had read this when I was still a student. I didn’t like oral presentations and this could have given me a better perspective.

Awww, You may pass on the message to young students to ensure they get it right early.

Great read. Very helpful for my upcoming convention. Thanks for sharing.

I’m glad this helped. I wish you a splendid convention, Allison.

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Happy to help.

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How to prepare and deliver an effective oral presentation

• Related content
• Peer review
• Lucia Hartigan , registrar 1 ,
• Fionnuala Mone , fellow in maternal fetal medicine 1 ,
• Mary Higgins , consultant obstetrician 2
• 1 National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
• 2 National Maternity Hospital, Dublin; Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin
• luciahartigan{at}hotmail.com

The success of an oral presentation lies in the speaker’s ability to transmit information to the audience. Lucia Hartigan and colleagues describe what they have learnt about delivering an effective scientific oral presentation from their own experiences, and their mistakes

The objective of an oral presentation is to portray large amounts of often complex information in a clear, bite sized fashion. Although some of the success lies in the content, the rest lies in the speaker’s skills in transmitting the information to the audience. 1

Preparation

It is important to be as well prepared as possible. Look at the venue in person, and find out the time allowed for your presentation and for questions, and the size of the audience and their backgrounds, which will allow the presentation to be pitched at the appropriate level.

See what the ambience and temperature are like and check that the format of your presentation is compatible with the available computer. This is particularly important when embedding videos. Before you begin, look at the video on stand-by and make sure the lights are dimmed and the speakers are functioning.

For visual aids, Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Mac Keynote programmes are usual, although Prezi is increasing in popularity. Save the presentation on a USB stick, with email or cloud storage backup to avoid last minute disasters.

When preparing the presentation, start with an opening slide containing the title of the study, your name, and the date. Begin by addressing and thanking the audience and the organisation that has invited you to speak. Typically, the format includes background, study aims, methodology, results, strengths and weaknesses of the study, and conclusions.

If the study takes a lecturing format, consider including “any questions?” on a slide before you conclude, which will allow the audience to remember the take home messages. Ideally, the audience should remember three of the main points from the presentation. 2

Have a maximum of four short points per slide. If you can display something as a diagram, video, or a graph, use this instead of text and talk around it.

Animation is available in both Microsoft PowerPoint and the Apple Mac Keynote programme, and its use in presentations has been demonstrated to assist in the retention and recall of facts. 3 Do not overuse it, though, as it could make you appear unprofessional. If you show a video or diagram don’t just sit back—use a laser pointer to explain what is happening.

Rehearse your presentation in front of at least one person. Request feedback and amend accordingly. If possible, practise in the venue itself so things will not be unfamiliar on the day. If you appear comfortable, the audience will feel comfortable. Ask colleagues and seniors what questions they would ask and prepare responses to these questions.

It is important to dress appropriately, stand up straight, and project your voice towards the back of the room. Practise using a microphone, or any other presentation aids, in advance. If you don’t have your own presenting style, think of the style of inspirational scientific speakers you have seen and imitate it.

Try to present slides at the rate of around one slide a minute. If you talk too much, you will lose your audience’s attention. The slides or videos should be an adjunct to your presentation, so do not hide behind them, and be proud of the work you are presenting. You should avoid reading the wording on the slides, but instead talk around the content on them.

Maintain eye contact with the audience and remember to smile and pause after each comment, giving your nerves time to settle. Speak slowly and concisely, highlighting key points.

Do not assume that the audience is completely familiar with the topic you are passionate about, but don’t patronise them either. Use every presentation as an opportunity to teach, even your seniors. The information you are presenting may be new to them, but it is always important to know your audience’s background. You can then ensure you do not patronise world experts.

To maintain the audience’s attention, vary the tone and inflection of your voice. If appropriate, use humour, though you should run any comments or jokes past others beforehand and make sure they are culturally appropriate. Check every now and again that the audience is following and offer them the opportunity to ask questions.

Finishing up is the most important part, as this is when you send your take home message with the audience. Slow down, even though time is important at this stage. Conclude with the three key points from the study and leave the slide up for a further few seconds. Do not ramble on. Give the audience a chance to digest the presentation. Conclude by acknowledging those who assisted you in the study, and thank the audience and organisation. If you are presenting in North America, it is usual practice to conclude with an image of the team. If you wish to show references, insert a text box on the appropriate slide with the primary author, year, and paper, although this is not always required.

Answering questions can often feel like the most daunting part, but don’t look upon this as negative. Assume that the audience has listened and is interested in your research. Listen carefully, and if you are unsure about what someone is saying, ask for the question to be rephrased. Thank the audience member for asking the question and keep responses brief and concise. If you are unsure of the answer you can say that the questioner has raised an interesting point that you will have to investigate further. Have someone in the audience who will write down the questions for you, and remember that this is effectively free peer review.

Be proud of your achievements and try to do justice to the work that you and the rest of your group have done. You deserve to be up on that stage, so show off what you have achieved.

Competing interests: We have read and understood the BMJ Group policy on declaration of interests and declare the following interests: None.

• ↵ Rovira A, Auger C, Naidich TP. How to prepare an oral presentation and a conference. Radiologica 2013 ; 55 (suppl 1): 2 -7S. OpenUrl
• ↵ Bourne PE. Ten simple rules for making good oral presentations. PLos Comput Biol 2007 ; 3 : e77 . OpenUrl PubMed
• ↵ Naqvi SH, Mobasher F, Afzal MA, Umair M, Kohli AN, Bukhari MH. Effectiveness of teaching methods in a medical institute: perceptions of medical students to teaching aids. J Pak Med Assoc 2013 ; 63 : 859 -64. OpenUrl

5 Factors That Must Be Considered When Preparing for a Presentation

Master the art of impactful presentations with our guide on the top 5 essential factors to consider during preparation, ensuring effectiveness and audience engagement. Presentations can be nerve-wracking, but they don't have to be. With the right presentation tips, anyone can learn how to prepare a presentation that is effective and engaging. In this post, we'll discuss the 5 factors that you should consider when preparing for a presentation.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand your audience's knowledge level and interests for a tailored approach.
• Clearly define your central message to maintain focus and clarity.
• Utilize appropriate visual aids to enhance understanding and retention.
• Practice your delivery for confidence and effectiveness.
• Time your presentation to fit within the allocated slot.
• Bonus: Leverage an AI presentation maker like Sendsteps.ai for efficiency.

Tip 1: Understanding Your Audience

The first step to preparing for a presentation is to understand your audience. Who are they? What do they already know? What do they want to learn? By understanding your audience, you can tailor your message to their interests and needs.

Tip 2: Defining Your Message

Once you understand your audience, it's time to define your message. What do you want your audience to take away from your presentation? What key points do you want to convey? By defining your message, you can ensure that your presentation is focused and effective.

Tip 3: Choosing the Right Visual Aids

Visual aids can be a powerful tool in any presentation, but it's important to choose the right ones. Consider using charts, graphs, images, or videos to help illustrate your message. Just be sure to keep your visuals simple and easy to understand.

Tip 4: Practicing Your Delivery

No matter how well you prepare, delivery is key to an effective presentation. Practice your delivery until you feel confident and comfortable with your material. Consider recording yourself or practicing in front of a friend to get feedback.

Tip 5: Timing Your Presentation

Finally, it's important to time your presentation. Be mindful of the time assigned to you and make sure that your presentation fits within that time frame. You don't want to run out of time or go over your assigned time.

Bonus Tip: Use an AI Presentation Maker

Preparing a presentation can be time-consuming, but it doesn't have to be. Consider using an AI presentation maker to streamline the process and make it 10x faster. With an AI presentation maker like Sendsteps.ai(/en/ai/), you can create an effective presentation in no time.

To gain further knowledge about AI, check out our latest blog that offers tips and tricks for crafting presentations using AI.

In conclusion, preparing for a presentation requires careful consideration of your audience, message, visual aids, delivery, and timing. By keeping these tips in mind, you can create an effective presentation that engages your audience and leaves a lasting impression. And don't forget the bonus tip - an AI presentation maker can make the process even easier and more efficient.

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What are the crucial factors to consider when preparing for a presentation.

When preparing for a presentation, it's essential to understand your audience to tailor your content, define a clear message to maintain focus, choose effective visual aids to support your points, practice your delivery for smooth execution, and time your presentation to fit the allocated duration. Additionally, using an AI presentation maker like Sendsteps.ai can significantly streamline the preparation process, making it more efficient and effective. By focusing on these key aspects, presenters can create engaging and impactful presentations.

How to effectively balance visual elements and text in a presentation?

Balancing visual elements and text in a presentation involves ensuring that visuals complement the spoken or written content without overwhelming it. The visuals should aid in illustrating key points and concepts, while the text provides necessary explanations or details. This balance helps in keeping the audience engaged without causing information overload.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when preparing a presentation?

Avoiding common mistakes in presentation preparation typically includes steering clear of overly complex or cluttered slides, excessive use of animations or transitions, and inadequate rehearsal. Presenters should also avoid making the content too dense or failing to tailor the presentation to the audience's needs and interests.

How to engage and maintain the audience's attention throughout the presentation?

Engaging and maintaining audience attention in a presentation can be achieved through various strategies. Interactivity, such as asking questions or using audience response systems, helps keep the audience involved. Storytelling, relatable examples, and a clear, enthusiastic delivery also play crucial roles in keeping the audience interested and focused throughout the presentation.

Anouk Baltus

Anouk’s passion for presenting started when she was very young: from voluntarily giving presentations in primary school to winning a speaking award with a self-written and presented speech. This adoration comes to life while working for Sendsteps. A passion for giving and writing speeches turned into writing blogposts about these subjects to help others find their passion in presenting.

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How to Prepare for a Presentation: The Top Tips and Strategies

Master the art of presentation preparation with our detailed tips and strategies on How to Prepare for a Presentation and make an impact. Whether you're a seasoned presenter or just starting out, this resource is packed with essential tips. Read this blog to get an understanding of how you can conquer nerves and command a room.

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Addressing a large audience? Nervous about needing to present for the first time? You don't have to be! All you need to do is learn How to Prepare for a Presentation! Lucky for you, it is pretty simple, and we are here to help.

Presentations are a fundamental in both personal and professional endeavours. The ability to effectively communicate ideas, engaging audiences and crafting well made presentations is truly a valuable skill. 

Whether you need to deliver a business proposal, share the findings of your research or simply giving a speech, a well-crafted presentation will be your friend in need.

If you are looking to learn How to Prepare for a Presentation, you are in the right place. This blog will share insights with you on the tips and strategies for you to learn How to Prepare for a Good Presentation.

Table of Contents  

1) Tips and Strategies on How to Prepare for a Presentation 

      a) Understand your audience 

      b) Define your objective 

      c) Research and gather information 

      d) Organise your content 

      e) Manage your time

      f) Design visual aids   

      g) Practise and rehearse   

      h) Prepare to engage the audience   

      i) Enhance delivery skills  

      j) Manage nervousness and anxiety

     k)  Take inspiration from professional speakers

     l) Utilise technology

    m) Plan to pace your presentation

    n) Have a backup

2) Conclusion

Tips and strategies on How to Prepare for a Presentation

Explore the tips and strategies recommended below to enhance your ability to present well. Make sure to read till the end as every tip and strategy mentioned is extremely valuable to upgrade your Presentation Skills.  

Understand your audience 

Identifying your target audience in a Presentation is crucial for captivating the attention of your listeners. Think about their age characteristics, interests, and previous knowledge concerning the subject. If you have information about your readers’ habits and preferences, you can target them very easily. Understanding your audience involves:

a) Identifying audience demographics: Think about age, sex, degrees, and work history. It will allow you to identify the right kind of tone, the level of technical information and examples for your Presentation.

b) Assessing audience interests: Find out what are the preferences and interests your audience. Do they prefer statistical data or are they attracted to stories and examples? This can help you connect with your audience on a different and deeper level to maintain their attention.

c) Adapting to their knowledge level: Determine how much information the audience already knows. Are they not beginners, intermediate or advanced users? This is useful so that you do not confuse them with complicated ideas or bore them with simple concepts. Adjust your content to their level of knowledge and ability, while still offering value to them.

Define your objective 

It is very important to clarify your goal/intention when developing a Presentation as it contributes to addressing the issue at hand. undefined

a) Set specific goals: Determine the goal that you wish to attain through the Presentation. Does the purpose of a text serve to educate, persuade, or motivate a reader? Objectives will assist you to organise your content and also with the objectives in mind you will be able to direct your delivery to the desired result.

b) Decide on the main message: Determine the central idea or main point of your communication. What message about your product do you want them to take away? This is the main message that you will be using to carry the Presentation and it will help you keep a sense of focus throughout the Presentation.

c) Align objectives with audience needs: How does your audience contribute to the realisation of your objectives? What value will they derived out of your Presentation? You can achieve this by ensuring your plans and expectations meet their needs to improve their participation or help you make a difference.

Research and gather information 

How to Prepare for a Presentation step is to make a lot of research. Good preparation of the presentation also involves finding and collecting necessary information. You may also refer to different Presentation Skills interview questions and answers in order to boost your confidence and to enhance the Presentation Skills. To conduct effective research, you need to cater to the following aspects:

a) Explore diverse sources: Refer strictly to books, journals, websites, and online resources from reliable and respectable sources. Make sure that the material that you are collecting is accurate, current, and appropriate to the subject at hand.

b) Collect data, facts, and examples: Make sure your strong arguments are backed up by evidence. This proof can help enhance your arguments, increase credibility, and deliver crucial insights to your audience. Statistics, case studies, stories, and quotes by experts can be used to add value to your content.

c) Take notes and organise information: When conducting your research remember to write notes that contain important information and key points. Use to categorise your notes by themes, subtopics, and the Presentation structure. This will help you later when you have to structure your work.  

Organise your content 

In order to facilitate the understanding process by the audience, it is crucial to structure the content of a Presentation in a way that it is logical and easy to follow. Effective organisation involves:

a) Creating a logical structure: Plan to organise the information in a clear outline or structure for the Presentation. Open the presentation with an opening that captures attention then move on to section or chapter titles with the main ideas. Finish with a final point or last sentence that ties back to your point.

b) Using headings and subheadings: Subdivide your content into subsections using header levels. These are like road signs that take you along different paths when you want to read different issues or concepts. Headings also makes the task of referring back to a particular section of your speech easy for your audience.

c) Ensuring smooth transitions: Transition will be done by introducing new ideas or concepts from one section to the other. Avoid leaving your Presentation disconnected with the sole use of nouns to connect ideas. This enables your audience to have coherence of your thoughts and avoids unnatural jumps in the argumentation process.

Manage your time  

Keeping track of the time is very important while delivering a presentation. You are only allowed to hold your audience for an allotted time frame, and you need to make sure you get your message across. You can manage your time better by:

a) Wear your watch: It is recommended to wear a watch for all formal gatherings to keep track of time, or in case an attractive individual asks you the time. Check your watch from time to time to be sure you're on track with the time frame.

b) Keep it short: Make sure your presentation is short and effective and not unnecessarily long and confusing. The longer you take to explain the lesser time you have left. 

c) Plan your presentation in phases: Divide you presentation in phases and allot certain amount of time to each section. Practice delivering the presentation in that pace. This will help you be aware if you are on track or not. 

Design visual aids 

Visual aids can enhance the impact and understanding of your Presentation. Consider the following when designing visual aids: 

a) Choose appropriate visuals: Select visual elements that support and reinforce your content. This could include charts, graphs, images, videos, or infographics. Ensure that the visuals are relevant, high-quality, and easy to understand. 

b) Simplify complex information: Visual aids are particularly effective in simplifying complex information. Use visuals to present data, comparisons, or processes in a visually appealing format. This helps your audience grasp complex concepts more readily. 

c) Balance visuals and text: Find the right balance between visuals and text. Avoid overcrowding slides with excessive text, which can overwhelm and distract your audience. Use concise bullet points or keywords to complement the visuals and aid in comprehension. 

Practise and rehearse 

Practise and rehearsal are essential for delivering a confident and polished Presentation. Consider the following when practising: 

a) Rehearse your content: Familiarise yourself with the content and flow of your Presentation. Practise delivering each section, ensuring a smooth transition between ideas. Pay attention to your pacing, articulation, and clarity of speech. 

b) Time your Presentation: Practise timing your Presentation to ensure it fits within the allocated time. This helps you avoid rushing through important points or exceeding the time limit. Adjust your delivery as necessary to ensure a well-paced Presentation. 

c) Seek feedback and refine: Seek feedback from trusted individuals who can provide constructive criticism. Incorporate their suggestions to refine your delivery, eliminate unnecessary filler words, and enhance the overall impact of your Presentation. 

Unlock your full potential as a Presenter with our Presentation Skills Training – join now!

Prepare to engage the audience 

Engaging your audience throughout the Presentation helps maintain their interest and active participation. Consider these strategies and Elements of Presentation to engage your audience effectively: It is also important to understand various elements of presentations. Consider these strategies to engage your audience effectively: 

a) Interactive elements: Incorporate interactive elements such as rhetorical questions, quizzes, or brief activities to encourage audience participation. This stimulates their thinking and keeps them actively engaged in the Presentation. 

b) Address audience concerns: Actively listen to your audience and address their queries or concerns promptly. Encourage questions and create a safe environment for open discussion. This demonstrates your expertise and builds rapport with your audience. 

c) Tell stories and anecdotes: Use relevant stories, anecdotes, or case studies to illustrate your points and captivate your audience. Stories have a powerful impact and make your content more relatable and memorable. 

Enhance delivery skills 

Enhancing your delivery skills is essential for creating an engaging and impactful Presentation. Consider the following to improve your delivery skills:

a) Body language: Pay attention to your body language and use it to convey confidence and authority. Maintain good posture, make purposeful gestures, and establish eye contact with your audience. This non-verbal cue enhances your message. 

b) Tone of voice and pace: Master your tone of voice and adjust it to emphasise key points or create a sense of urgency. Vary your pace to maintain interest and add emphasis where needed. Use pauses effectively to allow important information to sink in. 

c) Use visual aids as support: Visual aids should complement your delivery, not overshadow it. Use them as support to enhance your message rather than relying on them completely. Maintain a balance between your verbal delivery and the visuals. 

Manage nervousness and anxiety 

Managing nervousness and anxiety is crucial for delivering a confident Presentation. Consider the following strategies: 

a) Preparation and practice: Thorough preparation and practice build confidence and reduce anxiety. The more familiar you are with your content, the more at ease you will feel during the Presentation. 

b) Deep breathing and relaxation techniques: Before as well as during the Presentation, practice deep breathing exercises and relaxation techniques to calm your nerves. Focus on slow, deep breaths to regulate your heart rate and promote a sense of calm. 

c) Be early: It is a good idea to be early for your Presentation. This will give you more time to get ready to set up your equipment. When you reach early at the venue, you get plenty of time to work on the finer details of your Presentation.  

d) Visualise success: Visualise yourself delivering a successful Presentation. Imagine the positive outcomes and the impact you will have on your audience. Visualising success helps boost your confidence and reduces anxiety. 

Take inspiration from professional speakers

 A great way to improve your Presentation Skills is to observe other great speakers. Watch videos or attend public speaking workshops to improve you Public Speaking skills.

a) Take notes: when you see a speaker do something you admire, note it down. Taking notes is a great way to retain information. These notes will come in handy while you work on your own presentation. 

b) Pick the right speakers: Pick out the speakers that would inspire you and ones’ that you can resonate with. This will help you connect with the people that inspire you at a human level. This is important as it helps makes your goals seem more and more realistic.

c) Pay attention to tonality: You can learn a lot from a speaker if you observe well enough. Pay attention to the tones the speaker uses while addressing the crowd and try to identify the intent behind every change in tone. 

Utilise technology 

Utilising technology can enhance the effectiveness of your Presentation. Consider the following when incorporating technology: 

a) Choose appropriate tool s: Select Presentation software or tools that suit your needs and style. Familiarise yourself with their features and functionalities, such as slide transitions, animations, or multimedia integration.  

b) Prepare for technical issues: Anticipate potential technical issues and have contingency plans in place. Ensure you have backup files saved on different devices or formats, and familiarise yourself with troubleshooting techniques in case of technical difficulties.  

c) Integrate technology seamlessly: Use technology to enhance your Presentation, not distract from it. Ensure that the technology supports your message and engages your audience effectively. Practice using the technology beforehand to ensure seamless integration into your Presentation. 

Take your Presentations to the next level with our Presenting With Impact Training . 

Plan to pace your Presentation  

Pacing your Presentation effectively ensures that you maintain the interest and engagement of your audience throughout. Consider the following when planning the pace of your Presentation: 

a) Set a realistic timeframe: Determine the allocated time for your Presentation and plan your content accordingly. Be mindful of the time constraints and ensure that your Presentation fits within the given timeframe. Avoid overloading your Presentation with excessive information, which can result in rushing through key points or running out of time. 

b) Structure your content with timing in mind: Divide your Presentation into sections or key points and assign a specific amount of time to each of them. This helps you allocate your time effectively and ensures that you cover all the essential aspects without rushing or dragging on. 

c) Practise timing during rehearsals: Practise your Presentation multiple times while keeping an eye on the clock. Use a stopwatch or timer to simulate the actual Presentation conditions. This allows you to gauge how long each section takes and make adjustments as needed to maintain a smooth and well-paced delivery. 

d) Allow time for interaction and engagement: Incorporate interactive elements, such as questions, discussions, or activities, throughout your Presentation. Plan for these moments by allocating specific time slots. This not only breaks up the monotony but also encourages audience participation and keeps their attention focused. 

e) Be aware of audience cues: Pay attention to the reactions and engagement levels of your audience during the Presentation. Adjust your pace accordingly. If you notice signs of confusion or disinterest, you may need to slow down, provide more context, or clarify certain points. On the other hand, if you see that your audience is highly engaged and responsive, you can maintain a slightly faster pace to keep the energy up. 

f) Use silence effectively: Don't be afraid to use silence as a powerful tool. A well-timed pause can create a solid emotional impact. It lets people really listen to what you are saying and respond in turn.it is essential to pause if you are using humour so that people don't miss the next part of your Presentation while they are laughing. 

g) Practise smooth transitions: Smooth transitions between sections or ideas are crucial for maintaining a good pace. Avoid abrupt jumps or awkward pauses. Practise transitioning between different topics or slides, ensuring that the flow between ideas feels natural and seamless. 

Have a backup  

While you present, the chances of things going south are slim but never nil. It is a good practice to take into account any mishap that may occur and take precautionary measures. Here is a few ways you can be prepared to do damage control:

a) Have a spare copy of your presentation: while it is good practice to send in your presentation before hand by email, it is wise to have a backup copy in a pen drive or a hard disk. This ensures that if the file wont’ open you have a backup option.

b) Carry props: while you can use it alongside your presentation, in case the visual aid of your presentation malfunctions, the show must go on. You can use props to demonstrate the message you wish to get across to retain the audience's attention.

c) Prepare a reference document and make copies: Hand out the reference document of all the topic the presentation covers so if a member of the audience has a hard time following through the can refer to the document for clarification. 

Conclusion 

This blog emphasised on every detail of How to Prepare for a Presentation. The importance of understanding your audience and the clarity one must have in their presentation. Remember to engage your audience, enhance your delivery skills, manage nervousness, utilise technology wisely, and handle Q&A sessions with confidence. Hope we could provide you with all the information you needed to know about How to Prepare for a Presentation!   

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you are unprepared for a presentation, you are likely to make errors in your delivery, that may end up conveying the wrong message. Besides, it is considered very unprofessional to not prepare for a Presentation.

The 5/5/5 rule is that your presentation should have 5 slides that convey your message, each slide with 5 lines that consist of 5 words in each line. This helps keep the presentation short and simple.

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The Knowledge Academy offers various Presentation Skills Training , including the Presentation Skills Training, Presenting with Impact Training, and Business Writing Course. These courses cater to different skill levels, providing comprehensive insights into Key Elements of Presentation . 

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• v.17(12); 2021 Dec

Ten simple rules for effective presentation slides

Kristen m. naegle.

Biomedical Engineering and the Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America

Introduction

The “presentation slide” is the building block of all academic presentations, whether they are journal clubs, thesis committee meetings, short conference talks, or hour-long seminars. A slide is a single page projected on a screen, usually built on the premise of a title, body, and figures or tables and includes both what is shown and what is spoken about that slide. Multiple slides are strung together to tell the larger story of the presentation. While there have been excellent 10 simple rules on giving entire presentations [ 1 , 2 ], there was an absence in the fine details of how to design a slide for optimal effect—such as the design elements that allow slides to convey meaningful information, to keep the audience engaged and informed, and to deliver the information intended and in the time frame allowed. As all research presentations seek to teach, effective slide design borrows from the same principles as effective teaching, including the consideration of cognitive processing your audience is relying on to organize, process, and retain information. This is written for anyone who needs to prepare slides from any length scale and for most purposes of conveying research to broad audiences. The rules are broken into 3 primary areas. Rules 1 to 5 are about optimizing the scope of each slide. Rules 6 to 8 are about principles around designing elements of the slide. Rules 9 to 10 are about preparing for your presentation, with the slides as the central focus of that preparation.

Rule 1: Include only one idea per slide

Each slide should have one central objective to deliver—the main idea or question [ 3 – 5 ]. Often, this means breaking complex ideas down into manageable pieces (see Fig 1 , where “background” information has been split into 2 key concepts). In another example, if you are presenting a complex computational approach in a large flow diagram, introduce it in smaller units, building it up until you finish with the entire diagram. The progressive buildup of complex information means that audiences are prepared to understand the whole picture, once you have dedicated time to each of the parts. You can accomplish the buildup of components in several ways—for example, using presentation software to cover/uncover information. Personally, I choose to create separate slides for each piece of information content I introduce—where the final slide has the entire diagram, and I use cropping or a cover on duplicated slides that come before to hide what I’m not yet ready to include. I use this method in order to ensure that each slide in my deck truly presents one specific idea (the new content) and the amount of the new information on that slide can be described in 1 minute (Rule 2), but it comes with the trade-off—a change to the format of one of the slides in the series often means changes to all slides.

Top left: A background slide that describes the background material on a project from my lab. The slide was created using a PowerPoint Design Template, which had to be modified to increase default text sizes for this figure (i.e., the default text sizes are even worse than shown here). Bottom row: The 2 new slides that break up the content into 2 explicit ideas about the background, using a central graphic. In the first slide, the graphic is an explicit example of the SH2 domain of PI3-kinase interacting with a phosphorylation site (Y754) on the PDGFR to describe the important details of what an SH2 domain and phosphotyrosine ligand are and how they interact. I use that same graphic in the second slide to generalize all binding events and include redundant text to drive home the central message (a lot of possible interactions might occur in the human proteome, more than we can currently measure). Top right highlights which rules were used to move from the original slide to the new slide. Specific changes as highlighted by Rule 7 include increasing contrast by changing the background color, increasing font size, changing to sans serif fonts, and removing all capital text and underlining (using bold to draw attention). PDGFR, platelet-derived growth factor receptor.

Rule 2: Spend only 1 minute per slide

When you present your slide in the talk, it should take 1 minute or less to discuss. This rule is really helpful for planning purposes—a 20-minute presentation should have somewhere around 20 slides. Also, frequently giving your audience new information to feast on helps keep them engaged. During practice, if you find yourself spending more than a minute on a slide, there’s too much for that one slide—it’s time to break up the content into multiple slides or even remove information that is not wholly central to the story you are trying to tell. Reduce, reduce, reduce, until you get to a single message, clearly described, which takes less than 1 minute to present.

Rule 3: Make use of your heading

When each slide conveys only one message, use the heading of that slide to write exactly the message you are trying to deliver. Instead of titling the slide “Results,” try “CTNND1 is central to metastasis” or “False-positive rates are highly sample specific.” Use this landmark signpost to ensure that all the content on that slide is related exactly to the heading and only the heading. Think of the slide heading as the introductory or concluding sentence of a paragraph and the slide content the rest of the paragraph that supports the main point of the paragraph. An audience member should be able to follow along with you in the “paragraph” and come to the same conclusion sentence as your header at the end of the slide.

Rule 4: Include only essential points

While you are speaking, audience members’ eyes and minds will be wandering over your slide. If you have a comment, detail, or figure on a slide, have a plan to explicitly identify and talk about it. If you don’t think it’s important enough to spend time on, then don’t have it on your slide. This is especially important when faculty are present. I often tell students that thesis committee members are like cats: If you put a shiny bauble in front of them, they’ll go after it. Be sure to only put the shiny baubles on slides that you want them to focus on. Putting together a thesis meeting for only faculty is really an exercise in herding cats (if you have cats, you know this is no easy feat). Clear and concise slide design will go a long way in helping you corral those easily distracted faculty members.

Rule 5: Give credit, where credit is due

An exception to Rule 4 is to include proper citations or references to work on your slide. When adding citations, names of other researchers, or other types of credit, use a consistent style and method for adding this information to your slides. Your audience will then be able to easily partition this information from the other content. A common mistake people make is to think “I’ll add that reference later,” but I highly recommend you put the proper reference on the slide at the time you make it, before you forget where it came from. Finally, in certain kinds of presentations, credits can make it clear who did the work. For the faculty members heading labs, it is an effective way to connect your audience with the personnel in the lab who did the work, which is a great career booster for that person. For graduate students, it is an effective way to delineate your contribution to the work, especially in meetings where the goal is to establish your credentials for meeting the rigors of a PhD checkpoint.

Rule 6: Use graphics effectively

As a rule, you should almost never have slides that only contain text. Build your slides around good visualizations. It is a visual presentation after all, and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. However, on the flip side, don’t muddy the point of the slide by putting too many complex graphics on a single slide. A multipanel figure that you might include in a manuscript should often be broken into 1 panel per slide (see Rule 1 ). One way to ensure that you use the graphics effectively is to make a point to introduce the figure and its elements to the audience verbally, especially for data figures. For example, you might say the following: “This graph here shows the measured false-positive rate for an experiment and each point is a replicate of the experiment, the graph demonstrates …” If you have put too much on one slide to present in 1 minute (see Rule 2 ), then the complexity or number of the visualizations is too much for just one slide.

Rule 7: Design to avoid cognitive overload

The type of slide elements, the number of them, and how you present them all impact the ability for the audience to intake, organize, and remember the content. For example, a frequent mistake in slide design is to include full sentences, but reading and verbal processing use the same cognitive channels—therefore, an audience member can either read the slide, listen to you, or do some part of both (each poorly), as a result of cognitive overload [ 4 ]. The visual channel is separate, allowing images/videos to be processed with auditory information without cognitive overload [ 6 ] (Rule 6). As presentations are an exercise in listening, and not reading, do what you can to optimize the ability of the audience to listen. Use words sparingly as “guide posts” to you and the audience about major points of the slide. In fact, you can add short text fragments, redundant with the verbal component of the presentation, which has been shown to improve retention [ 7 ] (see Fig 1 for an example of redundant text that avoids cognitive overload). Be careful in the selection of a slide template to minimize accidentally adding elements that the audience must process, but are unimportant. David JP Phillips argues (and effectively demonstrates in his TEDx talk [ 5 ]) that the human brain can easily interpret 6 elements and more than that requires a 500% increase in human cognition load—so keep the total number of elements on the slide to 6 or less. Finally, in addition to the use of short text, white space, and the effective use of graphics/images, you can improve ease of cognitive processing further by considering color choices and font type and size. Here are a few suggestions for improving the experience for your audience, highlighting the importance of these elements for some specific groups:

• Use high contrast colors and simple backgrounds with low to no color—for persons with dyslexia or visual impairment.
• Use sans serif fonts and large font sizes (including figure legends), avoid italics, underlining (use bold font instead for emphasis), and all capital letters—for persons with dyslexia or visual impairment [ 8 ].
• Use color combinations and palettes that can be understood by those with different forms of color blindness [ 9 ]. There are excellent tools available to identify colors to use and ways to simulate your presentation or figures as they might be seen by a person with color blindness (easily found by a web search).
• In this increasing world of virtual presentation tools, consider practicing your talk with a closed captioning system capture your words. Use this to identify how to improve your speaking pace, volume, and annunciation to improve understanding by all members of your audience, but especially those with a hearing impairment.

Rule 8: Design the slide so that a distracted person gets the main takeaway

It is very difficult to stay focused on a presentation, especially if it is long or if it is part of a longer series of talks at a conference. Audience members may get distracted by an important email, or they may start dreaming of lunch. So, it’s important to look at your slide and ask “If they heard nothing I said, will they understand the key concept of this slide?” The other rules are set up to help with this, including clarity of the single point of the slide (Rule 1), titling it with a major conclusion (Rule 3), and the use of figures (Rule 6) and short text redundant to your verbal description (Rule 7). However, with each slide, step back and ask whether its main conclusion is conveyed, even if someone didn’t hear your accompanying dialog. Importantly, ask if the information on the slide is at the right level of abstraction. For example, do you have too many details about the experiment, which hides the conclusion of the experiment (i.e., breaking Rule 1)? If you are worried about not having enough details, keep a slide at the end of your slide deck (after your conclusions and acknowledgments) with the more detailed information that you can refer to during a question and answer period.

Rule 9: Iteratively improve slide design through practice

Well-designed slides that follow the first 8 rules are intended to help you deliver the message you intend and in the amount of time you intend to deliver it in. The best way to ensure that you nailed slide design for your presentation is to practice, typically a lot. The most important aspects of practicing a new presentation, with an eye toward slide design, are the following 2 key points: (1) practice to ensure that you hit, each time through, the most important points (for example, the text guide posts you left yourself and the title of the slide); and (2) practice to ensure that as you conclude the end of one slide, it leads directly to the next slide. Slide transitions, what you say as you end one slide and begin the next, are important to keeping the flow of the “story.” Practice is when I discover that the order of my presentation is poor or that I left myself too few guideposts to remember what was coming next. Additionally, during practice, the most frequent things I have to improve relate to Rule 2 (the slide takes too long to present, usually because I broke Rule 1, and I’m delivering too much information for one slide), Rule 4 (I have a nonessential detail on the slide), and Rule 5 (I forgot to give a key reference). The very best type of practice is in front of an audience (for example, your lab or peers), where, with fresh perspectives, they can help you identify places for improving slide content, design, and connections across the entirety of your talk.

Rule 10: Design to mitigate the impact of technical disasters

The real presentation almost never goes as we planned in our heads or during our practice. Maybe the speaker before you went over time and now you need to adjust. Maybe the computer the organizer is having you use won’t show your video. Maybe your internet is poor on the day you are giving a virtual presentation at a conference. Technical problems are routinely part of the practice of sharing your work through presentations. Hence, you can design your slides to limit the impact certain kinds of technical disasters create and also prepare alternate approaches. Here are just a few examples of the preparation you can do that will take you a long way toward avoiding a complete fiasco:

• Save your presentation as a PDF—if the version of Keynote or PowerPoint on a host computer cause issues, you still have a functional copy that has a higher guarantee of compatibility.
• In using videos, create a backup slide with screen shots of key results. For example, if I have a video of cell migration, I’ll be sure to have a copy of the start and end of the video, in case the video doesn’t play. Even if the video worked, you can pause on this backup slide and take the time to highlight the key results in words if someone could not see or understand the video.
• Avoid animations, such as figures or text that flash/fly-in/etc. Surveys suggest that no one likes movement in presentations [ 3 , 4 ]. There is likely a cognitive underpinning to the almost universal distaste of pointless animations that relates to the idea proposed by Kosslyn and colleagues that animations are salient perceptual units that captures direct attention [ 4 ]. Although perceptual salience can be used to draw attention to and improve retention of specific points, if you use this approach for unnecessary/unimportant things (like animation of your bullet point text, fly-ins of figures, etc.), then you will distract your audience from the important content. Finally, animations cause additional processing burdens for people with visual impairments [ 10 ] and create opportunities for technical disasters if the software on the host system is not compatible with your planned animation.

Conclusions

These rules are just a start in creating more engaging presentations that increase audience retention of your material. However, there are wonderful resources on continuing on the journey of becoming an amazing public speaker, which includes understanding the psychology and neuroscience behind human perception and learning. For example, as highlighted in Rule 7, David JP Phillips has a wonderful TEDx talk on the subject [ 5 ], and “PowerPoint presentation flaws and failures: A psychological analysis,” by Kosslyn and colleagues is deeply detailed about a number of aspects of human cognition and presentation style [ 4 ]. There are many books on the topic, including the popular “Presentation Zen” by Garr Reynolds [ 11 ]. Finally, although briefly touched on here, the visualization of data is an entire topic of its own that is worth perfecting for both written and oral presentations of work, with fantastic resources like Edward Tufte’s “The Visual Display of Quantitative Information” [ 12 ] or the article “Visualization of Biomedical Data” by O’Donoghue and colleagues [ 13 ].

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the countless presenters, colleagues, students, and mentors from which I have learned a great deal from on effective presentations. Also, a thank you to the wonderful resources published by organizations on how to increase inclusivity. A special thanks to Dr. Jason Papin and Dr. Michael Guertin on early feedback of this editorial.

Funding Statement

The author received no specific funding for this work.

Why Do We Need to Prepare for a Presentation?

Why should you prepare?

1. to identify your audience, 2. to remember all the content, 3. to be confident in your delivery.

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4. To avoid mistakes

5. to be sure your content is interesting.

6. To be sure you stick to the point

7. to avoid stiffness in speech, what happens if you don't prepare.

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How To Prepare a Meeting Presentation - 10 Practical Tips

Many of us will likely be required to give a presentation in a meeting at some point in our careers. And while it may be intimidating to stand in front of a group of people at 9 am and plainly state your thoughts, if done well, it can help skyrocket your confidence, credibility, and of course, career.

December 1, 2022

What's Inside?

But meeting presentations are just so easy to screw up. After all, compressing complicated business topics into a short series of slides is a challenge in itself. But then you also have to go and present those ideas to a group of people in such a way that they will understand and get on board with your ideas.

However, when delivered successfully, presentations may be a powerful tool for spreading your ideas. But not just that. A powerhouse presentation will also instill within the audience a fresh perspective on the presenter's authority and credibility.

And for that very purpose, here at Decktopus, we have put together a list of some of the most effective strategies you can use to plan, deliver, and follow up on your meeting presentation, so the next time you feel a bit overwhelmed, you can still get out there and captivate the audience!

You might also like:

• 50+ Best Presentation Ideas, Tips & Templates
• About Me Powerpoint Template: A Simple, Easy To Use Template
• Top 5 Great Public Speakers and What We Can Learn From The m

Know Your Audience

Before you put pen to paper, you first need to know to whom you will be presenting your ideas. And this means much more than knowing the names and credentials of each audience member.

A successful presenter must know her audience in excruciating detail. This includes their level of grasp on the subject, education, sense of humor, what they ate last night, and all other idiosyncrasies you can use to increase their immersion in the presentation.

Think of yourself as a second-hand car dealer. If a client came in wearing a Prada suit, you wouldn’t show them the Reliant Robin that’s been lying around for the last twenty years with rust patterns beginning to resemble famous prophets. No, you would direct them to the shiny new Mercedes that just came in yesterday.

This is because, even though you might want to sell a particular car, the client may not be interested in that specific design. And as a successful dealer, you must consider what your customer may be interested in beforehand and offer them the exact car or, in this case, presentation they want.

Use the information you have on your audience to structure your approach. For instance, you don’t want to use strings of big words if the audience isn’t as knowledgeable on the subject as you.

And similarly, decide on how much conversation grease you need to use depending on how much you think they will be invested in the presentation. For example, if you catch someone yawning, it might be just the opportunity to break the fourth wall and joke with them about the time they passed out on the copy machine.

It’s a complex recipe to make, but when you get it right, you’ll not only secure your audience’s attention but also make your message all the more memorable.

Do Your Research

A successful meeting begins before it even begins. The better your meeting preparation, the more effective your meeting will be.

When you arrive unprepared for a meeting, it shows that you aren't giving the meeting — or, more frustratingly, its audience — priority.

The good news is that everyone can deliver captivating presentations to their audience with careful research.

To be ready for queries, you must be knowledgeable in your subject. However, you also need to know how to mold it to convey the message you want the audience to take away.

Know the presentation's goals inside and out, and try to determine what the audience will find most interesting rather than what you are most eager to share with them.

Share the statistics that will have the biggest influence on your audience and that best support your arguments. To help make your point, use graphs, charts, or other visual materials.

Also, don’t forget to prepare a list of questions in advance. You'd be surprised at how impressed the audience would be to learn that you have done your research before the meeting.

Outline Your Presentation

As we mentioned in ‘Top Presentation Statistics for 2022’ most people consider ‘the story’ the most important and memorable part of a presentation. This means that your meeting presentation has to follow a well-structured narrative.

For most purposes, a modified version of the simple three-step presentation structure will be a suitable foundation to deliver a message successfully. Let’s go into more detail on how to make good use of each step.

Introduction

In any presentation, the primary objective of the introduction is to present the topic of discussion and the key message of the presentation itself. Some phrases you can use in this section are:

• 'Today I would like to talk about a very critical issue with our...'
• 'It is vital to understand that...'
• 'I believe this can be solved by...'

This section of your presentation supports your primary message. Each of your main points should be discussed in a clear and logical order. As you go, be sure to explain how these points relate to one another and to your main point. Phrases like the following may be beneficial:

• ‘Firstly, we must consider…’
• ‘As I mentioned before, this will enable us to…’
• ‘We must keep in mind the effects of…’

The ending of your presentation is an excellent chance to go over your key messages and their significance. In this section, you may benefit from a heavier use of literary techniques if the context is suitable to do so. Some typical phrases from the conclusion sections are:

• ‘Having seen the data, I am sure that you will agree with me when I say…’
• ‘And remember…’

This simple template should provide a suitable basis for you to expand according to the specificities of your presentation.

For example, it is common to see some meeting presentations require a much larger introduction section if the topics explained include many complex components. On the other hand, some may find it more beneficial to keep it short and punctual to evoke emotion in the audience.

Create a First Draft

“It doesn’t matter if it’s good right now, it just needs to exist.” — Austin Kleon

Most of us who are not in the antiques and collectibles industry can probably agree that the first version of something is usually not the best. The same principle goes for preparing meeting presentations as well.

The great thing about first drafts is that they give you the chance to visualize all the material you have developed thus far. Once you can see all your ideas in one place, you can start building off them, making additions where they may be helpful or omissions where necessary.

It will also serve as a creative playground. A solid practice among writers is to write down everything that comes to your mind and then pick and choose the sections that you think will be the best for the slide.

Design Your Presentation Slides

To most of us, a presentation’s graphic design side may seem a bit of a hassle. And according to Northern Illinois University , ‘Poorly designed presentation materials’ is one of the areas that students struggle with the most.

This is an important aspect of any successful presentation. Because, no matter how interesting your message is, if your audience is unable to keep up with the presentation, they are unlikely to be immersed in the content. The key to a successful presentation design is to structure it in such a way that it supports the message with eye-catching imagery while remaining simplistic.

There are several tried and tested tactics you can use to calibrate your visuals for this exact purpose:

• Avoid huge blocks of text
• Present one key point per slide
• Use quotes, images, and infographics
• Choose a font size that is visible when projected
• Keep the number of fonts to a minimum

Rehearse a Lot, Rehearse Aloud!

Rehearsal is critical for delivering an effective presentation. Rehearsing boosts your confidence, ensures you fully understand your material, and allows you to hone your presentation skills before the big meet.

It is critical to practice delivering your speech as well as using your visual aids, as many bits of hardware have a nasty tendency to malfunction right in the middle of a presentation.

This way, you will be better prepared for the actual presentation and get specific insights about its current state that you can use to tweak certain areas. For example, if the presentation takes a bit too long in your rehearsal, you will know, and be able to shorten it before actually getting in front of the audience.

Also, you might want to take this chance to choose and refine your mimics and gestures too, as these also play a prominent role in successfully conveying the desired message.

Prepare Written Notes

Generally, most people tend to believe that if they are delivering a presentation or a speech, they must be able to do so entirely from memory, without the use of notes. They seem to believe notes are cheating or make them appear unsure of their material. But it could not be further from the truth!

As a matter of fact, many public figures oftentimes make use of small notes in their speeches or presentations. This shows that they know the importance of sticking to your predetermined flow structure, and are aware that without a little reminder, it is entirely possible to lose track in the moment.

And what better way to remind yourself of your next topic of discussion than a small note?

Below we listed two of the most common types of notes used in speeches and presentations.

A4 Sheets of Paper

For more complex or longer topics, placing your notes on sheets of paper may work much better than other types of notes, simply because it allows you to write down so much more information. Just imagine trying to fit a 40-slide presentation into cue cards!

Advantages:

• Much more room for more detailed notes
• Can read verbatim in the worst-case scenario
• Can serve as a script if the presentation format allows it

Disadvantages:

• Looks very unprofessional if the presenter is standing
• Much larger and easy to drop

These little cards are an absolute wonder for many public speakers, but can also be used very effectively when doing a meeting presentation.

There are different ways to use cue cards, but the most effective way seems to be to note down the topic of discussion for that duration of the presentation and a sentence transition to move on to the next topic. Cue cards are also notoriously slippery. So don’t forget to number them just in case.

• Much smaller and easy to carry
• Barely visible, and doesn’t hurt your credibility
• Very limited space to write notes
• Can cause confusion if numbered/ordered incorrectly

Engage The Audience

According to the University of Minnesota Extension , "Tasks and processes that engage group members will help create more effective meetings and good results." Now, this should not come as a huge shock. Because if you think about it, the more you manage to engage your audience with the content, the more immersive and memorable it will be for them.

By giving your audience a chance to go beyond listening, and interact with your content, you will be establishing a basis for discussion around the topics in your presentation. This will not only make people more interested and invested in what you have to say but also work actively to find points of discussion within it.

Also, if you've ever been nervous in front of an audience, you'll understand how much of a difference it makes in terms of atmosphere when you can get the audience engaged right away. It not only helps you to gain confidence and calm your nerves, but it can also significantly improve the impact of your words.

Start Your Presentation Right

8 seconds. You have that much time to capture the interest of your audience. Between 2000 and 2015, decreased by about a quarter, and our ability to focus has since fallen behind that of the notoriously ill-focused goldfish, who are able to focus on a task or object for 9 seconds.

So clearly, the opening of your presentation has to pique the interest of your audience. Here are some ways to do that:

• Tell a story: You must engage your audience if you want to ace a presentation. The easiest approach to achieve this is to include a little story that relates to your presentation and the reason you are discussing that subject. If appropriate, you can draw the audience's attention by sharing brief, memorable anecdotes from your own experiences.

We are more likely to listen and remember information when it is presented in this way because the human brain enjoys a good story. Additionally, we are more responsive and less skeptical to the information that is about to be conveyed.

• Ask a question: Questions are one of the most interactive ways to start a presentation. You can pose a question and ask for a show of hands to maximize audience engagement.

Questions trigger a mental reflex known as “ instinctive elaboration .” When asked, they take over the mind and that may be a strong starting point for a meeting.

Typically, rhetorical questions are designed to grab the audience's attention and nudge them toward forming an opinion. Just make sure the inquiry leads them to concur with the main point of your presentation.

• Use a short icebreaker activity: Icebreakers are a creditworthy method of engaging your audience.

Our brain is very sociable and loves to engage with others. So, prepare a little icebreaker to get everyone chatting. Although they might not be crucial in terms of content, they play a crucial role in engagement.

Leave nothing to chance and be sure you thoroughly prepare your opening because it could set the tone for the rest of the meeting. A strong start to your presentation will rouse the interest of the audience while a lackluster opening invites blank stares.

Encourage Questions and Discussions

There might not always be time for questions but you should always be prepared to be broiled just in case. No matter how bad it sounds, receiving questions means that your audience is listening.

What’s more, questions allow you to clarify anything that was unclear and to expand on a specific topic that your audience is interested in or that you forgot to cover.

Try to not go through the facts in your presentation in its entirety. Instead, give your audience ample opportunity to ask questions. You can then address any issues or further explore any concepts they don't comprehend in this way.

Since the audience typically asks questions out of genuine interest rather than to trip you up, think of it as a great opportunity to consider how you may expand your work.

Making the audience active participants by encouraging questions and discussions also makes it simpler for them to remember what they've learned.

And here's something that might help if you're anxious about answering questions: If there's someone in the audience you know and trust, ask them to ask you a question. Even better, give them the question they’ll be asking. That way, you can get things started and boost your confidence.

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Writing tone, number of slides, ai presentation maker.

When lack of inspiration or time constraints are something you’re worried about, it’s a good idea to seek help. Slidesgo comes to the rescue with its latest functionality—the AI presentation maker! With a few clicks, you’ll have wonderful slideshows that suit your own needs . And it’s totally free!

Generate presentations in minutes

We humans make the world move, but we need to sleep, rest and so on. What if there were someone available 24/7 for you? It’s time to get out of your comfort zone and ask the AI presentation maker to give you a hand. The possibilities are endless : you choose the topic, the tone and the style, and the AI will do the rest. Now we’re talking!

Customize your AI-generated presentation online

Alright, your robotic pal has generated a presentation for you. But, for the time being, AIs can’t read minds, so it’s likely that you’ll want to modify the slides. Please do! We didn’t forget about those time constraints you’re facing, so thanks to the editing tools provided by one of our sister projects —shoutouts to Wepik — you can make changes on the fly without resorting to other programs or software. Add text, choose your own colors, rearrange elements, it’s up to you! Oh, and since we are a big family, you’ll be able to access many resources from big names, that is, Freepik and Flaticon . That means having a lot of images and icons at your disposal!

How does it work?

Think of your topic.

First things first, you’ll be talking about something in particular, right? A business meeting, a new medical breakthrough, the weather, your favorite songs, a basketball game, a pink elephant you saw last Sunday—you name it. Just type it out and let the AI know what the topic is.

Choose your preferred style and tone

They say that variety is the spice of life. That’s why we let you choose between different design styles, including doodle, simple, abstract, geometric, and elegant . What about the tone? Several of them: fun, creative, casual, professional, and formal. Each one will give you something unique, so which way of impressing your audience will it be this time? Mix and match!

Make any desired changes

You’ve got freshly generated slides. Oh, you wish they were in a different color? That text box would look better if it were placed on the right side? Run the online editor and use the tools to have the slides exactly your way.

Download the final result for free

Yes, just as envisioned those slides deserve to be on your storage device at once! You can export the presentation in .pdf format and download it for free . Can’t wait to show it to your best friend because you think they will love it? Generate a shareable link!

What is an AI-generated presentation?

It’s exactly “what it says on the cover”. AIs, or artificial intelligences, are in constant evolution, and they are now able to generate presentations in a short time, based on inputs from the user. This technology allows you to get a satisfactory presentation much faster by doing a big chunk of the work.

Can I customize the presentation generated by the AI?

Of course! That’s the point! Slidesgo is all for customization since day one, so you’ll be able to make any changes to presentations generated by the AI. We humans are irreplaceable, after all! Thanks to the online editor, you can do whatever modifications you may need, without having to install any software. Colors, text, images, icons, placement, the final decision concerning all of the elements is up to you.

Can I add my own images?

Absolutely. That’s a basic function, and we made sure to have it available. Would it make sense to have a portfolio template generated by an AI without a single picture of your own work? In any case, we also offer the possibility of asking the AI to generate images for you via prompts. Additionally, you can also check out the integrated gallery of images from Freepik and use them. If making an impression is your goal, you’ll have an easy time!

Is this new functionality free? As in “free of charge”? Do you mean it?

Yes, it is, and we mean it. We even asked our buddies at Wepik, who are the ones hosting this AI presentation maker, and they told us “yup, it’s on the house”.

Are there more presentation designs available?

From time to time, we’ll be adding more designs. The cool thing is that you’ll have at your disposal a lot of content from Freepik and Flaticon when using the AI presentation maker. Oh, and just as a reminder, if you feel like you want to do things yourself and don’t want to rely on an AI, you’re on Slidesgo, the leading website when it comes to presentation templates. We have thousands of them, and counting!.

How can I download my presentation?

The easiest way is to click on “Download” to get your presentation in .pdf format. But there are other options! You can click on “Present” to enter the presenter view and start presenting right away! There’s also the “Share” option, which gives you a shareable link. This way, any friend, relative, colleague—anyone, really—will be able to access your presentation in a moment.

Discover more content

This is just the beginning! Slidesgo has thousands of customizable templates for Google Slides and PowerPoint. Our designers have created them with much care and love, and the variety of topics, themes and styles is, how to put it, immense! We also have a blog, in which we post articles for those who want to find inspiration or need to learn a bit more about Google Slides or PowerPoint. Do you have kids? We’ve got a section dedicated to printable coloring pages! Have a look around and make the most of our site!

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How James Franklin Is Preparing Penn State for a 'Challenging' Trip to West Virginia

Daniel mader | aug 27, 2024.

• Penn State Nittany Lions

“It feels like you blink, and we’re back.” 

Although Penn State’s 2023 season ended 241 days ago with a loss to Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl, that was how James Franklin opened his first weekly press conference of the 2024 season: By reflecting on how quickly the offseason flew. 

Suddenly, the Nittany Lions are preparing for a trip to West Virginia on Saturday. It may be the same program they faced in Week 1 last season, but Penn State will face plenty of new challenges this time — visiting Morgantown chief among them.  

‘70,000 people that kind of hate you’

Among Penn State’s scheduled road games for 2024, the West Virginia matchup already promised a tough road environment. Mix in the regional rivalry, a strong Mountaineers team seeking revenge for last year’s result and even ESPN’s Pat McAfee creating buzz around the game, and this is no easy Week 1 matchup. 

“It's a very, very challenging place to play,” Franklin said. “For an opener, that is going to create some challenges and issues for us.”

Franklin knows the power of home-field advantage. The Nittany Lions are 55-15 at home since he took over in 2014.  When you have a sold-out crowd on your side, it changes a lot. 

“It's proven that the home-field advantage is a real thing,” Franklin said. “It's the noise in the stadium … It's players that are playing for Penn State for the first time. How are they going to handle that? It's one thing to do it at home in front of 100,000, which is challenging. It's another thing to do it on the road with 70,000 people that kind of hate you.”

Saturday’s game vs. the Mountaineers will provide a loud, involved crowd. This time though, Penn State will be on the receiving end. .  

“It's magnified in a place that does not have an NFL team,” Franklin said. “Everything in that state revolves around West Virginia and Mountaineer football.”

Preparing to play at WVU

Especially for Penn State’s younger players, traveling for a Week 1 game at West Virginia is a challenge. Players who haven’t traveled with the team before — which involves new hotels, different beds and meals, etc. — must prepare for a rowdy environment and be cautious about the little things.

“Some of those things you can prepare them for and other things you can't,” Franklin said. “It's making sure the freshmen doesn't leave one of our [preparation] sheets on the floor in the meeting room, because everybody that works in that hotel is probably connected to or works for somebody at West Virginia football. That stuff sounds funny and silly, but that happens.”

The history behind the matchup is another theme. This may be the Nittany Lions’ first trip to West Virginia since 1992, but it’s the 61st meeting, and there’s a deep history behind the pride, coaching history and matchups between the programs.  

“They're a prideful place,” Franklin said. “I think all the way back to [former West Virginia coach] Don Nehlen and what he was able to do. I noticed there was like six relatives of Don Nehlen working on their staff somewhere in the building. There are a ton of cool things about West Virginia football, this game and the historical aspects of this game.”

Scouting the Mountaineers

Roster-wise, West Virginia is in a similar position to the Nittany Lions. Head coach Neal Brown returns a solid number of players in key areas, including quarterback Garrett Greene, with some transfers mixed into the lineup. That presents challenges in deciphering how the Mountaineers will look with similar overall talent to last season but also with new schemes and improvements. 

“[West Virginia is a] team that I think is feeling really, really good about themselves and has a ton of confidence,” Franklin said. 

Despite Mountaineers corner Garrett Hollis Jr. saying recently that Penn State doesn’t “show too much respect” to its opponents unless they’re Ohio State or Michigan, on Monday, Franklin of course is taking the Mountaineers seriously. 

“Neal Brown has done a great job,” Franklin said. “They won nine games (in 2023). Really should have won 10. That Houston game was a very, very tough loss.”

Opening with a tough opponent

Since Franklin took over in 2014, Penn State has opened its season on the road five times, winning three of those games. With the chaos of this Week 1 matchup, the team doesn’t have any kind of cushion period to get into a flow. 

But the Nittany Lions also face a unique situation to begin 2024. They’ll begin with a tough opponent, then take on a pair of nonconference opponents at home in games they’ll be heavily favored in, with a bye sandwiched between.

More Penn State Football

Penn State's offense makes preseason strides, turns toward West Virginia

18 things to know about the Nittany Lions this season

Penn State football 2024 picks and predictions

Daniel Mader, a May 2024 graduate of Penn State, is an Editorial Intern with The Sporting News. As a student journalist with The Daily Collegian, he served as a sports editor and covered Nittany Lions women’s basketball, men’s volleyball and more. He has also covered Penn State football for NBC Sports and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, with additional work in the Centre Daily Times, Lancaster Online and more. Follow him on X @DanielMader_   or Instagram @dmadersports . 

DANIEL MADER

Daniel Mader, a May 2024 graduate of Penn State, is an Editorial Intern with The Sporting News. As a student journalist with The Daily Collegian, he served as a sports editor and covered Nittany Lions women’s basketball, men’s volleyball and more. He has also covered Penn State football for NBC Sports and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, with additional work in the Centre Daily Times, Lancaster Online and more. Follow him on X @DanielMader_, or Instagram @dmadersports.

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Trial Preparation in Copyright Litigation

In copyright litigation, thorough trial preparation is vital for achieving a favorable outcome. It begins with a deep understanding of the litigation process, including jurisdictional issues, case themes, and strategic witness identification. Effective witness preparation involves profiling, credibility assessment, and tailored questioning strategies. Organizing complex evidence into a clear narrative structure is also imperative, using data mining techniques, visual frameworks, and categorization. By anticipating opponent arguments and crafting a compelling narrative that resonates with jurors, counsel can increase their chances of success. A well-planned approach can make all the difference in the courtroom, and a closer examination of these strategies can yield even more valuable insights.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Litigation Process

The litigation process in copyright cases typically unfolds through a series of stages, commencing with the filing of a complaint and proceeding through discovery, motion practice, and trial, each phase presenting unique challenges and opportunities for strategic maneuvering. A thorough understanding of this process is vital for effective trial preparation, as it allows counsel to identify key issues, develop case themes, and allocate resources efficiently.

One critical aspect of the litigation process is addressing jurisdictional issues, which can greatly impact the outcome of the case. Counsel must carefully consider factors such as personal jurisdiction, subject matter jurisdiction, and venue to confirm that the case is properly before the court. Failure to do so can result in dismissal or transfer, derailing the litigation strategy. By recognizing the importance of jurisdictional issues and incorporating them into the overall case strategy, counsel can strengthen their position and enhance their chances of success. A well-planned approach to the litigation process, including a thorough analysis of case themes and jurisdictional issues, is crucial for achieving a favorable outcome in copyright litigation.

Identifying Key Witnesses and Evidence

In copyright litigation, the identification of key witnesses and evidence is a vital aspect of trial preparation. Effective witness identification strategies involve pinpointing individuals with relevant knowledge or expertise who can provide critical testimony. By documenting key evidence and securing the participation of these witnesses, parties can substantially enhance their chances of success at trial.

Witness Identification Strategies

Effective witness identification is crucial in copyright litigation, as it enables counsel to pinpoint critical evidence and build a strong case by securing testimony from key individuals with direct knowledge of the disputed creative work. Witness profiling is imperative in identifying individuals with relevant information, such as authors, collaborators, or witnesses to the creation process. This involves analyzing their background, expertise, and potential biases to assess their credibility and reliability.

To develop a thorough witness identification strategy, consider the following:

• Identify experts with in-depth knowledge in the relevant field, such as musicologists or art historians, to provide expert testimony on the originality and uniqueness of the creative work.
• Develop a list of potential witnesses, including those with direct knowledge of the disputed work, such as co-authors, collaborators, or individuals involved in the production process.
• Assess the credibility and reliability of each witness, considering factors such as their expertise, motive, and potential biases.
• Determine the most effective way to secure testimony from each witness, whether through deposition, affidavit, or in-court testimony.

Documenting Key Evidence

Once witness identification strategies are in place, counsel must meticulously document key evidence, including witness statements, contracts, and other relevant documents, to build a robust case. This involves creating a thorough repository of evidence, ensuring that all documents are accurately dated, signed, and stored in a secure manner. A vital aspect of documenting key evidence is maintaining a clear chain of custody, which tracks the movement and handling of physical or digital evidence throughout the litigation process.

Anticipating Opponent's Arguments

By analyzing the opponent's pleadings, discovery responses, and other filings, counsel can identify potential arguments and develop a strategic plan to counter them. This involves creating a counter narrative that anticipates and addresses the opponent's key points, thereby undermining their credibility and persuasive power. Effective opponent profiling is crucial in this process, as it enables counsel to understand the opponent's litigation strategy, identify potential vulnerabilities, and develop targeted counterarguments.

Some key considerations when anticipating opponent's arguments include:

• Identifying the opponent's key witnesses and evaluating their credibility
• Analyzing the opponent's documentary evidence and identifying potential gaps or inconsistencies
• Developing a thorough understanding of the opponent's legal theories and identifying potential flaws or weaknesses
• Anticipating the opponent's potential motions and developing a strategy to counter them

Organizing Complex Evidence Effectively

In copyright litigation, the sheer volume and complexity of evidence can overwhelm even the most seasoned counsel, making it essential to develop a meticulous organizational system that allows for efficient retrieval and strategic deployment of critical evidence. A well-structured approach enables counsel to identify key pieces of evidence, connect the dots between disparate data points, and distill complex concepts into persuasive narratives.

To achieve this, counsel can leverage data mining techniques to extract relevant information from large datasets and visual frameworks to illustrate relationships between key concepts. By categorizing evidence into distinct themes and sub-themes, counsel can create a hierarchical structure that facilitates rapid retrieval and analysis.

Crafting a Compelling Narrative

Crafting a compelling narrative is a vital aspect of trial preparation in copyright litigation, as it enables counsel to present complex legal and factual issues in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. By doing so, attorneys can create an emotional connection with the jury, making the case more relatable and memorable. Ultimately, a well-crafted narrative can profoundly influence the outcome of the trial, as it helps to clarify the key issues and themes that will be presented throughout the proceedings.

Storytelling in Court

Effective storytelling in court involves distilling complex copyright disputes into a clear, concise, and compelling narrative that resonates with judges and juries alike. A well-crafted narrative has the power to simplify intricate legal issues, evoke juror empathy, and ultimately sway the outcome of a case. To achieve this, attorneys must carefully select and organize the most pertinent facts, and present them in a logical and coherent manner.

When crafting a compelling narrative, consider the following key elements:

• Use clear and concise language to avoid confusing jurors
• Employ visual aids, such as diagrams, charts, and videos, to illustrate complex concepts and make the narrative more engaging
• Focus on the most critical facts and avoid unnecessary details that may distract from the core message
• Use storytelling techniques, such as character development and plot progression, to create a narrative that is both informative and memorable

Emotional Connection Matters

A well-crafted narrative's ability to establish an emotional connection with the jury is vital, as it can profoundly influence the outcome of a copyright litigation case. By crafting a compelling narrative, attorneys can create a sense of juror empathy, which is vital in swaying the jury's decision. This emotional connection can be achieved by highlighting the personal and professional struggles of the client, demonstrating the impact of the infringement on their livelihood, and showcasing the authentic relationships built between the client and their legal team.

Strong client relationships are vital in building trust and credibility with the jury. Attorneys should aim to humanize their clients, emphasizing their passion, dedication, and commitment to their work. By doing so, the jury is more likely to empathize with the client's plight, increasing the chances of a favorable verdict. A well-executed narrative can transform a complex copyright dispute into a relatable, emotional experience, ultimately driving a more favorable outcome. By prioritizing emotional connection, attorneys can create a lasting impression on the jury, ultimately securing a successful trial outcome.

Developing a Trial Strategy

In the intricacies of copyright litigation, a well-defined trial strategy emerges from a meticulous analysis of the case's strengths, weaknesses, and potential pitfalls. A successful trial strategy is built on a deep understanding of the case themes that will resonate with jurors and the legal principles that will guide the court's decision.

To develop a trial strategy, consider the following key factors:

• Identify the most persuasive case themes that will connect with juror profiles and influence their deliberations
• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each party's legal arguments and expert testimony
• Anticipate and prepare for potential pitfalls, such as evidentiary issues or hostile witnesses
• Develop a clear and concise narrative that ties together the key evidence and legal principles to persuade the jury or court

Preparing for Direct and Cross Examination

The thorough preparation of witnesses for direct and cross-examination is essential to presenting a compelling narrative and withstanding the scrutiny of opposing counsel. Effective questioning techniques and examination tactics can make all the difference in swaying the jury's opinion and establishing key facts.

When preparing witnesses, it is crucial to anticipate the opposing counsel's questioning techniques and examination tactics. This includes identifying potential weaknesses and vulnerabilities, as well as developing strategies to address them. By doing so, witnesses can confidently and effectively convey their testimony, ultimately strengthening the case.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ideal ratio of lawyers to support staff for trial preparation?.

Optimizing staff allocation is essential for efficient trial preparation. An ideal ratio of lawyers to support staff is 1:2, fostering effective team dynamics, allowing lawyers to focus on high-value tasks while support staff handle administrative and logistical responsibilities.

Can Paralegals Assist With Document Review and Organization?

Paralegals can substantially contribute to document review and organization by implementing efficient review workflows and categorizing documents based on relevance, date, and content, thereby streamlining the review process and enhancing document management.

How Do I Handle a Difficult or Uncooperative Client?

When dealing with a difficult or uncooperative client, it is crucial to establish clear client expectations and employ effective communication strategies, such as active listening and regular updates, to manage their needs and minimize potential conflicts.

What Is the Best Way to Organize Trial Exhibits Electronically?

When organizing trial exhibits electronically, create a logical structure using digital folders and subfolders, and consider employing cloud storage for secure, collaborative access, ensuring easy retrieval and efficient presentation of evidence.

Can I Use Technology to Streamline Trial Preparation and Presentation?

Leveraging technology can substantially streamline trial preparation and presentation. Employing digital tools like DigitalStoryboarding and VirtualWarRoom enables efficient organization, collaboration, and presentation of evidence, allowing legal teams to focus on case strategy and delivery.

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Get Ready for Call of Duty: NEXT: Event Intel, How to Watch on August 28, Tune In Rewards, Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl V Presented by USAA, and Details for the Black Ops 6 Beta

August 26, 2024

by Valerie Lee

• Announcements

Call of Duty: NEXT Overview and How to Watch

Call of duty: next: what to expect and how to watch, tune in for call of duty: next, earn rewards, call of duty endowment (c.o.d.e.) bowl v, presented by usaa.

• C.O.D.E. Bowl V Tune in Rewards
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Black Ops 6 Open Beta: Early Access Timing, Rewards, and More

Open beta and early access timing, beta rewards.

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How to Download the Black Ops 6 Beta

Prepare for Call of Duty: NEXT on August 28 with event details and how to watch, plus tune in rewards. Stay tuned for Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl V directly after with additional rewards and finally, prepare for the Black Ops 6 Beta and even more rewards, coming on August 30.

Call of Duty: NEXT: Overview and How to Watch

The time has come to get primed for Call of Duty®: NEXT! Everything you need to know about the next era of Call of Duty is incoming on August 28, with the live streaming broadcast starting at 9AM PT.

With developers from Treyarch and Raven at the helm, plus representatives from across Call of Duty Studios and community channels, in-depth intel on everything coming to  Call of Duty: Black Ops 6   Multiplayer ,  Zombies , and  Call of Duty: Warzone™  is locked in and ready to be shared.

Here’s your first look at Call of Duty: NEXT content, courtesy of the Black Ops 6 Multiplayer trailer.

You don’t want to miss what’s coming for Call of Duty: NEXT. Here’s what to expect:

A deep dive into Omnimovement innovations, gameplay, system, maps, and modes coming to Black Ops 6 Multiplayer , plus a showcase of the playable maps available during the Beta.

A tour of the playable Liberty Falls, one of two Zombies launch maps.

A detailed look into Call of Duty: Warzone , the premiere of Area 99, plus Black Ops 6 integrations and more announcements.

Essential details about the Black Ops 6 Open Beta, as well as [[REDACTED]] information, Rewards, and more. 

Call of Duty: NEXT takes place on Wednesday August 28, 2024, and can be viewed live on either the Official Call of Duty Twitch® Channel or Call of Duty YouTube® Channel , or via your favorite streamer’s channel.

But wait, there’s more!

Earn rewards in Black Ops 6 that will be available at launch when you tune into Call of Duty: NEXT*. The longer you watch, the more rewards you’ll receive: 

30 minutes: “Mine” Emblem

60 minutes: “Earning Stripes” Calling Card

90 minutes: “Tri Harder” Charm

120 minutes: “The Redactor” Weapon Blueprint 

Complete three steps to claim these Call of Duty: NEXT rewards.

• Create or sign into your Activision account and make sure you’re linked to your Xbox, PlayStation, Battle.Net, or Steam account. 
• Then, link your YouTube or Twitch account with Call of Duty.
• Finally, tune in to Call of Duty: NEXT on your preferred platform while signed in with a linked account to earn rewards!

*Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 required to redeem. Sold separately. Rewards must be redeemed within 48 hours of Call of Duty: NEXT. Note that while you will earn the rewards for viewing the Call of Duty: NEXT event on August 28, 2024, they won’t be available for use until Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches on October 25, 2024.

C.O.D.E. Bowl V Tune In Rewards

Directly following Call of Duty: NEXT on the Official Call of Duty Twitch® Channel or Call of Duty YouTube® Channel , get dialed in and watch the Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl V, presented by USAA. The fifth annual C.O.D.E. Bowl presented by USAA will feature 10 esports teams from military branches of the U.S., U.K., and Canada, competing alongside the most competitive players in Call of Duty: Warzone. Tune in to see who will dominate Urzikstan, be crowned the second Monster Energy MVP, and for the first time ever, claim victory in the C.O.D.E. Bowl V Solo Yolo presented by Corsair.

Earn rewards in  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare® III  and  Call of Duty: Warzone , available instantly on August 28**.

Thanks to USAA, here are the C.O.D.E. Bowl Rewards – and remember, the longer you watch, the more rewards you will:

30 minutes: “Every Bit of Bravery” Animated Emblem

60 minutes: “Far Out Flexin’” Loading Screen

90 minutes: “Please Rewind” Weapon Charm

120 minutes: “Bowl Buzzkill” Weapon Camo

**Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III or Call of Duty: Warzone required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Rewards must be claimed within 48 hours of C.O.D.E. Bowl V.

How to Watch C.O.D.E. Bowl V and Claim Your Rewards 

To collect your rewards for tuning into C.O.D.E. Bowl V, create or sign into your Activision account, link your Xbox, PlayStation, Battle.net, or Steam account, and link your Call of Duty account with YouTube ® or Twitch ® .  The easiest way to claim all your rewards is to tune in first for Call of Duty: NEXT, and stay locked in for C.O.D.E. Bowl V, which takes place right after the Black Ops 6 presentations. For more information, see here .

Black Ops 6 Open Beta: Early Access*** Timing, Rewards, and More

Starting on Friday, August 30, drop into the Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Open Beta to experience Omnimovement for the first time, plus other gameplay innovations across a variety of new maps. 

Weekend One: August 30 – September 4   

Weekend One is available to all players who have pre-ordered the game across all platforms (console and PC). Weekend One starts on Friday, August 30 at 10AM PT and will shut down on Wednesday, September 4 at 10AM PT.  

Players who preorder digitally will not require a Beta code to participate in the first weekend and will be automatically registered to participate in the Early Access Period. Download the Beta from the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store, Battle.net, or Steam. 

Weekend Two: September 6 – 9

The second Beta weekend is available tofor all players on all platforms, and is scheduled to begin on Friday September 6 at 10AM PT, and end on Monday September 9 at 10AM PT.

There are even more rewards to be earned for playing throughout the Multiplayer Open Beta! As players reach Player Level milestones, they can earn cosmetic rewards that will be available at the launch of Black Ops 6 when it releases on October 25****. 

The rewards and required levels are as follows: 

Level 2: “Beta Tester” Animated Emblem 

Level 6: “Beta Tag” Spray 

Level 11: “No Bugs” Weapon Charm 

Level 15: “Quick Draw” Emote  

Level 20: “Squish” Westpoint Operator Skin (only unlockable during Weekend One) 

Level 20: “Squash” Westpoint Operator Skin (unlocked during either Weekend) 

Level 23: “The Truth Lies” Loading Screen 

Level 27: “Beta Expert” Animated Calling Card 

Level 30: “Bug Smasher” Weapon Blueprint 

***Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of MP Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is two days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. Online multiplayer subscription may be required.

****Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 required to redeem. Sold separately.

Black Ops 6 Beta: PC System Requirements

Are you planning on playing the Black Ops 6 Beta on a PC? Then ensure your rig is prepped to the correct specifications:

  Minimum Specifications:

OS: Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update)

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel Core i5-6600

Video Card: AMD Radeon RX 470 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or Intel Arc A750

Video Memory: 3 GB

Storage Space: SSD Required

Network: Broadband Internet connection

Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

Recommended Specifications:

Recommended specs to run at 60 FPS in most situations with all options set to high

OS: Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update) or Windows 11 64 Bit (latest update)

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600X or Intel Core i7-6700K

Video Card: AMD Radeon RX 6600XT or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

Video Memory: 8 GB

Recommended Drivers for AMD/NVIDIA:

AMD: 24.8.1

NVIDIA: 560.70

INTEL: 32.0.101.5768

Players with Call of Duty and the Season 5.5 update installed will automatically receive the Beta as an update to their existing install.   

New or returning players without Call of Duty installed can jump into the Black Ops 6 Open Beta by downloading it from their platform storefront.

Players will be able to preload Black Ops 6 Beta content starting on August 28. The fastest way to jump into the Beta immediately is to download the Season 5 Reloaded update and preload the Beta content before August 30.

Estimated download sizes for your preferred platform (PC or console) for Beta here:

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6  is published by Activision. Development for the game is led by Treyarch, in partnership with Raven Software. Additional development support provided (in alphabetical order) by Activision Central Design, Activision Central Technology, Activision QA, Activision Shanghai, Beenox, Demonware, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer Games.

© 2024 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, CALL OF DUTY WARZONE, MODERN WARFARE, and CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. 

For more information, please visit  www.callofduty.com  and  www.youtube.com/callofduty , and follow  @Activision  and  @CallofDuty  on X, Instagram, and Facebook. For Call of Duty Updates, follow  @CODUpdates  on X.  

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/as-transition-planning-begins-trump-and-harris-are-already-behind-in-preparing-for-potential-administrations

As transition planning begins, Trump and Harris are already behind in preparing for potential administrations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration offered federal resources to Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for presidential transition planning for the first time Tuesday, with experts suggesting both are behind in preparing for their potential administrations.

While transitions kick into high gear after Election Day, when a president-elect must begin selecting and vetting about 4,000 federal political appointees, success depends on the infrastructure built during the pre-election period, including identifying agency review teams and beginning the background check process for national security staff.

Both Vice President Harris and former President Trump started the process this month, months later than prior transitions. Harris was elevated to the top of the Democratic ticket just five weeks ago after President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid, and she had to first redirect his political operation before laying the groundwork for the transition. It is not clear why Trump, who sewed up the nomination months ago, did not start sooner.

WATCH:  Harris promises to be ‘president for all Americans’ as she accepts her party’s nomination

Max Stier, the president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, said planning to take office in the modern era has tended to begin in the late spring.

“It is possible to try and catch up, but the reality is that both candidates have a lot to do,” he said.

Tuesday is the congressionally mandated date for the General Services Administration to make space available for Trump and Harris, three business days after the second nominating convention. The office space is just blocks from the White House, with even more federal resources set to flow to the winner after Election Day. But nominees usually start the initial planning for their potential administrations soon after they lock up the nomination, even before they begin receiving federal support.

Harris, if she wins, may choose to keep some political appointees from the Biden administration — potentially helping her avoid messy confirmation fights if Republicans take control of the Senate. But significant change is inevitable, as she will want to put her own stamp on government. And many long-serving Biden administration officials are likely seeking to exit for other opportunities regardless of the outcome in November.

Trump, meanwhile, is likely to try to avoid mistakes of his 2016 transition, when he shelved months of planning by a group led by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. That left Trump and his team, many of whom had never served in government, unprepared after Election Day.

Stier said Trump’s 2016 effort set a low bar for transition efforts in the modern era, followed by George H.W. Bush’s 1988 effort as the then-vice president prepared to take over from President Ronald Reagan. He said there can be a special challenge in negotiating a same-party handoff, including misplaced expectations about continuity between presidents and the risk of hubris in those who’ve served in government recently assuming more significant roles.

Trump formally stood up his transition team earlier this month to be led by former Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon and billionaire Howard Lutnick.

Harris has asked Yohannes Abraham, the ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the executive director of the Biden-Harris 2020 transition, to lead her planning for the White House.

Abraham is set to leave his position in the coming days to assume the role. Covington & Burling, LLP, which assisted Harris in vetting her vice presidential pick, will provide legal counsel to the transition organization.

According to a person familiar with the planning, Harris’ transition team won’t make any personnel decisions before the election, nor will it develop policy — functions that will remain with Harris’ campaign and official office.

Trump’s team, meanwhile, has not committed to accepting the federal support. Trump told the Daily Mail last week that he would decline access to traditional pre-Election Day intelligence briefings, saying he was worried about being accused of leaking classified information.

“We look forward to this notification and will reply when we have evaluated what is being offered, said Brian Hughes, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign.

Trump has also brought former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. onto his transition team, Hughes confirmed Tuesday.

GSA is required by law to make available federal office space, IT support and other resources to transition teams starting Tuesday, but only once it has entered into memoranda of understanding with representatives for each nominee, which Congress requires the agency to do “to the maximum extent practicable,” by Sept. 1. A GSA spokesperson confirmed that the agency had made its offer to the two candidates Tuesday.

WATCH:  Trump is gaining ground with some Black men. Here’s how Harris can change their minds

“Both teams will really want to have the infrastructure set up behind the scenes that allows them to conduct meetings with federal agencies and manage a resume bank, and have an organized process for all of the personnel and policy planning confronting them should they win the election,” said Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has been making plans to support the transition for months in line with its obligation under the Presidential Transition Act.

A federal transition coordinating council, which includes representatives across the government and is chaired by Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients, is holding regular meetings to prepare to hand off control on Jan. 20, 2025, and agencies are preparing detailed briefing memos on their activities to share with the eventual winner’s team.

Teams of federal agents and government workers from the FBI and intelligence community — including some hired back from retirement — are at the ready to vet hundreds of potential transition staff and administration appointees.

Access to current executive branch employees, facilities, and documents require the transition teams to agree to an ethics plan, and transition teams must disclose donors and limit contributions to $5,000 as a condition of receiving government funds.

Associated Press writer Michelle Price in New York contributed to this report.

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Preparing for the Unexpected: Crisis Management Tips for Hospitality Admins

August 27, 2024.

The hospitality industry thrives on delivering exceptional experiences, but it's also an industry fraught with unpredictability. As an office manager, you must be ready to handle unexpected events that can disrupt the venue and affect guest satisfaction. Effective crisis management is crucial to maintaining a seamless experience for guests. Here are practical strategies to help you manage events and respond to crises with confidence.

Actionable Strategies for Crisis Management in Hospitality

Tip #1: develop and maintain a comprehensive crisis management plan.

A detailed crisis management plan is essential for effective event management, especially in the hospitality industry. This plan should detail roles, procedures, and responses to various potential crises, ensuring you can manage events smoothly even in the face of challenges.

Identify Potential Crises: Consider specific crises relevant to hospitality events, from natural disasters and health emergencies to security threats. For instance, if a hurricane warning is issued, a well-prepared office manager can coordinate with staff to secure the property and prioritize guest safety, minimizing disruptions.

Outline Procedures: Create step-by-step procedures for each type of crisis

Assign Responsibilities: Designate specific tasks to staff members to establish accountability

Regular Reviews: Consistently review and update the plan to keep it efficient and relevant

Tip #2: Conduct Regular Team Training and Drills

Regular training and drills are essential to prepare your team for real-life crises. Effective crisis planning involves preparing for any situation that may arise during hospitality events. 

Schedule Training Sessions: Periodically conduct training focusing on various types of crises

Simulate Real-Life Scenarios: Create drills that mimic real-life emergencies. For example, suppose a fire breaks out in the kitchen. Regular fire drills can ensure staff quickly evacuate guests and use fire extinguishers to control the blaze, preventing injuries and extensive damage.

Provide Feedback: During drills, offer feedback and adjust future training based on performance

Enhance Confidence: Ensure your team feels prepared and confident in handling crises

Tip #3: Establish Clear and Effective Communication Channels

Clear communication is vital during crises. Effective communication keeps everyone informed and helps manage complex situations efficiently in both event planning and crisis scenarios. 

Internal Communication Systems: Use tools like walkie-talkies or group messaging apps to connect with staff

Emergency Hotlines: Set up a hotline for guests and staff that doesn’t rely on power or the internet

Multiple Communication Methods: Incorporate in-person updates, digital signage, social media, and email into your crisis plan. For instance, if there is a power outage, the office manager can use these channels to keep guests and staff updated, ensuring everyone stays informed and calm.

Frequent Updates: During crises, keep guests and staff updated through multiple channels to maintain calm and informed environments

Tip #4: Build Strong Relationships with Local Authorities and Services

Some situations require external support. Building solid relationships with local authorities and services ensures quick and effective response during emergencies. Here’s how to strengthen these relationships:

Invite Authorities to Training: Include local authorities in training sessions and drills

Maintain a Contact List: Keep an accessible list of contacts for quick emergency communication

Coordinate Responses: Work with local health officials or emergency services to manage crises effectively. For example, suppose an outbreak of foodborne illness affects several guests. In that case, the office manager can swiftly contact local health officials, coordinate a response, and manage communication with affected guests, preventing the situation from escalating.

Proactive Communication: Establish lines of communication with local services to ensure timely support

Be Prepared: Strengthen Your Crisis Management Skills Today

Proactive crisis planning requires an investment of time, but it offers peace of mind knowing you’re prepared to handle any situation. As an office manager, you are responsible for keeping everyone safe and maintaining smooth operations during emergencies. Strengthening your crisis management and hospitality skills can significantly impact your ability to manage events successfully.

Enhance your crisis management skills by watching the webinar “Five Leadership Skills for Managing High-Functioning Operations.” Curtis Newbold, an experienced educator and corporate consultant, shares key skills and best practices to help you lead effectively, even in times of crisis.

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Practical tips for government office managers juggling multiple responsibilities, presentation skills for admins, email inbox mastery: a comprehensive guide for hospitality operations managers, essential time-management tools for hospitality operations managers.

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How to Give a Presentation

Last Updated: May 19, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 530,497 times.

Giving a presentation terrifies most of us, especially when talking before a crowd of people about an unfamiliar topic. Never fear! There are ways to make a good presentation. The more presentations you do, the easier they will become!

Preparing For the Presentation

• It's best to have 1 main thesis statement or overarching theme and 3 main points that back-up or flesh-out your main theme. Any more than that and your audience is going to start losing interest. This means that any facts and information that are a part of your presentation should back up these 3 main points and overarching theme.
• For example: If you're giving a presentation about 17th century alchemy, bringing up the history of alchemy is fine (and probably necessary), but don't mire your audience in its history instead of focusing alchemy in the 17th century. Your 3 points could be something like "alchemy in public opinion," "famous 17th century alchemists," and "the legacy of 17th century alchemy."

• Pick your very best supporting facts, information, or quotes for your presentation. Don't bury your audience in information.

• Make sure you're using media to enhance your presentation and not to drown it out. The presentation is key. Anything else is just accessorizing.
• For example: to get back to 17th century alchemy, to back up your information about alchemy in the public opinion, you might want to show images from public pamphlets about the dangers of alchemy and see what people of the time period had to say about it and see what the more famous alchemists had to say about it.
• Also, you want to make sure that you pick a medium that you are comfortable in and thorough in knowledge. If you don't know a thing about PowerPoint, maybe consider writing your main points on a white board, or passing out handouts with your main points and evidence on them. [3] X Research source

• A good tip is to film yourself or audiotape of yourself giving your practice presentation so you can see what distracting verbal and physical tics you have, so that you can work on eliminating them before the presentation itself. (Verbs tics would be things like "um..." and "uh..." and using "like" inappropriately; physical tics are things like shifting your weight from foot to foot or messing with your hair.) To stop yourself from saying "um" or other unwanted tics, be aware you're doing it first, then speak more slowly and deliberately. Breathe deeply and feel free to pause and appreciate the silence. These will all help you to have mastery over your tics.
• Just remember that rehearsals usually run about 20% shorter than your actual presentation, so take that into account if you're running on a time limit.

• For example, if you aren't comfortable wearing heels, don't wear them just for the presentation. You'll be distracted by your discomfort and that will come across in the presentation. There are plenty of good shoe choices that have no or a low heel.
• Clean, nice slacks or a skirt and nice, button-down shirt in neutral colors are always good choices for presentation wear. You also don't particularly want your clothing choice to distract from the presentation, so perhaps avoid that brilliant hot pink shirt.

Giving the Presentation

• Before the presentation, clench and unclench your hands several times to deal with the adrenaline and then take 3 deep, slow breaths.
• Call up a smile, even if you feel like hurling. You can trick your brain into thinking that you're less anxious than you actually are and you'll also be able to hide your nervousness from your audience.

• Make eye contact with your audience. Don't stare at one particular person, but section up the room and make eye contact with someone in each section on a rotational basis.
• Have a big, welcoming smile on your face, with lots of energy, so you start out from a strong and engaging place.
• Ask questions of your audience and take questions during your presentation. This will make it more of a conversation and therefore more interesting.
• Tell an amusing anecdote to illustrate your point. From the above examples about 17th century alchemy, you could find an amusing alchemical anecdote from the time period, or you could talk about your own forays into alchemy.

• Move around, but make your movements deliberate. Don't nervously shift your feet (in fact, it's a good idea to imagine that your feet are nailed to the floor except for those times you deliberately choose to move).
• Use your vocal inflections to create a more dynamic presentation. Vary your voice as you're talking. Nobody ( ever ) wants to sit there and listen to someone drone on and on in dull monotone, no matter how interesting the material (think Professor Binns from Harry Potter; that's what you don't want).
• Try to create a balance between rehearsed and spontaneous. Spontaneous, on the spot, movement and asides can be great as long as you are really comfortable, otherwise they can sidetrack your presentation and make it rambling. Mess around with spontaneous and rehearsed when you're practicing and you'll get a feel for it.

• Quickly introduce your topic and don't assume that your audience is familiar with all the terms, especially if your topic is one that isn't widely known.
• Figuring out why you want (or have to) give this presentation will help you work with an overarching story/theme. Maybe you want to pass the class. Maybe you're convincing people to give you money or join you in a philanthropic endeavor or act for a social or political reason. Channel that desire into your presentation. You're answering the question of why they would want to pass you or why they would want to fund you. That's the story you're telling.

• Make use of pauses, and learn to be comfortable with silences. Silence can be a powerful presentation tool and gives you a chance to take a moment to recompose. By taking pauses, you can slow down your breathing and be more deliberate in your speech, avoiding speaking too quickly.
• Have water with you and take a sip when you feel you're going too fast.
• If you have a friend in the class or meeting, arrange with them beforehand that they will let you know with a signal whether you're talking too quickly. Look over their way occasionally and check your progress.
• If you find that you're running out of time and you haven't finished, simply drop or summarize your leftover material. Acknowledge the leftover material as something that can be discussed later or in the Q&A.

• Make it clear what the listeners now know and why it is important that they have this new information.
• Conclude with examples or stories about your main point and take home message. You might want a slide which summarizes your presentation. For example, you might conclude with a story about the nature of alchemy in the modern era (perhaps in a film) to show its malleable nature.

What Is The Best Way To Start a Presentation?

Community Q&A

• Have a short Q&A session at the end of each subtopic. Q&A sessions will improve audience engagement. It also acts as a welcome break for audience in case of long presentation. For this though, you will need to know the subject you choose well. Make sure you understand and have more than just the basic knowledge about the topic you choose. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Use pictures or visuals. Pictures and visuals show that you know what you're talking about, and it gives the audience a picture of what you're talking about. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Try to have a "leave behind" message, something that your audience can take away that reminds them about your presentation, like a flyer or a book, for example. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Use pictures! A good way to use pictures is through PowerPoint. If you don't have PowerPoint, you can print the pictures onto a board (paper, card board, or larger paper).
• Don't be nervous. Practice and do just like you did in practice. If you are nervous, the audience will know.
• Try to do some hand jesters. Speak loud and clear. Make eye contact with them. Be confident.
• Let the audience have an opportunity to interact with you.

• Don't make your speech too long, unless it is really good, and you have to have done speeches for a long time to have them be that good and long. Stick to short and sweet. Thanks Helpful 50 Not Helpful 11
• Don't put off work to the last minute. Then your work will be most likely sloppy. If you do well under pressure, do your project a bit at a time and maybe it will get done. Or, try doing it all at the beginning, so then you have the whole rest of the time to play or check your assignment. Thanks Helpful 36 Not Helpful 16
• Jokes are usually not okay, especially in a professional setting. A light hearted comment is fine, but don't make it seem like a comedy show. Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 3
• If you speak in a too fast/slow or monotone voice, people will not want to hear you! Aim for a conversation voice (but slightly louder) with natural pauses (commas and periods). Develop a tone depending on what you're talking about. It's more interesting and engaging to hear someone speak in a serious tone rather than a monotone when speaking about world hunger. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 2
• If you suffer from twitchy fingers, be mindful to move your hands during your presentation only when necessary, or the audience may notice and feel you are unprepared. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 3

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/young-entrepreneur-council/13-tips-for-giving-a-kill_b_3728093.html
• ↑ https://www.niu.edu/presentations/prepare/index.shtml
• ↑ https://algonquincollege.libguides.com/studyskills/creating-presentations
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-prepare-the-presentation
• ↑ http://www.washington.edu/doit/TeamN/present_tips.html
• ↑ https://counseling.uiowa.edu/self-help/30-ways-to-manage-speaking-anxiety/
• ↑ https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/oralcommunication/guides/how-to-engage-your-audience-and-keep-them-with-you
• ↑ http://hbr.org/2013/06/how-to-give-a-killer-presentation/ar/1
• ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-slow-down-your-speech-when-presenting-sharon-maree-jurd-cfe/
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-conclude-a-presentation

About This Article

Before you give a presentation, spend some time crafting what you will say. Most presentations should center on a thesis, or main idea, and contain about 3 supporting points. Cutting unnecessary content will ensure your presentation is impactful. Once your presentation is done, practice delivering it in front of a mirror or while recording yourself so you can identify and correct any issues. To calm your nerves before you present, try clenching your fists a few times and taking several deep breaths. For more advice about giving presentations, like whether to use visual aides, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Kamala Harris, Hoping to Build Momentum, Plans Battleground State Tour Next Week

After accepting the nomination, Ms. Harris was flying back to Washington on Friday for a weekend respite before returning to the campaign trail next week.

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By Reid J. Epstein and Katie Rogers

Reid J. Epstein and Katie Rogers cover the Kamala Harris presidential campaign. They reported from Chicago.

Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign for president is entering a new phase, shifting from a 33-day sprint to the convention to something more familiar: Preparing for a debate and pivoting to getting out the vote.

On Friday afternoon, Ms. Harris plans to fly back from Chicago to Washington, where she will spend the weekend decompressing from the mind-spinning turn of events that led to her accepting the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday night.

She will begin preparing for what will be her first national interview — which she has said will take place by the end of August — and for the Sept. 10 debate with Donald J. Trump, according to campaign officials briefed on her plans who were not authorized to reveal them before they are formally announced.

The officials said Ms. Harris will return to the campaign trail next week with events in multiple battleground states, where she will aim to extend the enthusiasm generated at this week’s convention in Chicago.

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, her running mate who was plucked from relative political obscurity 17 days ago, will return to his state before heading back on the campaign trail next week.

Presidential candidates typically come out of their conventions trying to build momentum with bus tours or rallies. Ms. Harris’s choice to delay the traditional barnstorming reflects the supercharged pace of the last few weeks and the changed nature of modern campaigns, where social media posts can be as important as speeches. It also is evidence of a shift from a sprint to more of a middle-distance effort that requires endurance and speed in equal measures.

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Jeremy allen white says preparing for bruce springsteen biopic involves a deep youtube rabbit hole.

The actor also spoke about having Springsteen's support for the movie. "He's just the greatest guy," White says.

By Zoe G. Phillips

Zoe G. Phillips

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Jeremy Allen White says his Bruce Springsteen prep has involved a lot of YouTube rabbit holes — with some advice from the real-life rockstar peppered in.

White will play Springsteen in 20th Century and Disney’s Deliver Me From Nowhere . News of the movie’s production picked up earlier this spring, and the star of The Bear is now deep in preparation for the legendary role.

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In recent years, Austin Butler portrayed Elvis in Elvis , Rami Malek played Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody , Naomi Ackie played Whitney Houston in Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Kingsley Ben-Adir played Bob Marley in Bob Marley: One Love . Still upcoming, Timothée Chalamet will play Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown and Jafaar Jackson will portray his uncle, Michael Jackson, in Michael . White now joins the group in Deliver Me From Nowhere .

The actor said that real-life Springsteen is “really supportive of the project,” meaning “I’ve had some access to him and he’s just the greatest guy.”

Beyond that, there are plenty of other ways to research. “There’s just so much footage,” White said. “It’s really great to go down a YouTube rabbit hole and find him at all these different periods in his life and be able to listen to his speaking voice as well as his singing voice. That’s kind of been the deal, just listening to him a lot and watching him a lot. It’s been really fun preparing.”

Deliver Me From Nowhere explores the making of Springsteen’s 1982 album  Nebraska,  which followed the singer-songwriter’s huge  The River  album. The album has the trademark blue-collar vibe of many other Springsteen albums, but was also full of bleak and hopeless themes, accompanied by a sparse instruments. Scott Cooper will direct the film, and said in April that the record “had a profound impact on me and my work.

The movie doesn’t yet have a release date.

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Trump says he isn't 'spending a lot of time' preparing for his debate with Kamala Harris

• Trump says he's not putting in too much time preparing for his debate with Kamala Harris.
• "You have to know your subject," he said. "And I think I know it better than anybody."
• He also said he would rather the debate be held on Fox News instead of ABC News.

Former President Donald Trump said he's not devoting much time to preparing for his upcoming debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

During a visit to a Vietnamese restaurant in Falls Church, Virginia, Trump was asked by a reporter how he was preparing for the debate on September 10.

He answered with a swift, "I'm not."

"I'm not spending a lot of time on it. I think my whole life, I've been preparing for the debate," he said during the visit on Monday.

Trump added that he thought it wasn't possible to cram "30 years of knowledge in one week."

"You know there's a little debate prep. But I've always done it more or less the same way. You have to know your subject," he said.

"And I think I know it better than anybody," he added.

In response to BI's request for comment, Trump's spokesperson Steven Cheung said: "As President Trump said, he's been preparing all his life and he holds rallies and policy events and he regularly interacts with the press, which is a form of getting ready, something Comrade Kamala refuses to do."

Representatives for Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Trump's comments in Virginia came after he said that he didn't have a problem with microphones being unmuted, a change that Harris' campaign requested following President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance with Trump in June.

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"Doesn't matter to me, I'd rather have it probably on," Trump said of the microphones. "The truth is, they're trying to get out of it because she doesn't want to debate."

Trump also now wants the debate to be  hosted on Fox News  instead of ABC News, citing his pending lawsuit against ABC and host George Stephanopoulos, which he said would create a "conflict of interest."

However, he had previously agreed to have a debate on ABC.

Trump is also no stranger to debate rules — his debate with Biden on CNN was subject to a series of rules , with mics muted while the other party was speaking and no live audience.

With 70 days until the election, the race is heating up. Harris officially accepted her party's nomination during the last day of the Democratic National Convention on Thursday.

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