A local organization has asked you to send a representative to speak on a particular topic. Although you have received these requests before, you always sent one particular person to fulfill this role. However, that person no longer works for the company. Although you have known replacing them needed to happen sooner rather than later, you can no longer put off its importance. Grooming your next executive to craft a concise presentation is important to the organization’s bottom line. How do you begin?
If you had time to do it yourself, you would. But you don’t. However, sending a group of managers to a workshop on presentation skills is an option. A professional development company that specializes in executive presence and presentation skills can teach your managers how to craft a concise presentation while critiquing their particular skills of public speaking. The most effective presentations include these important components:
1. Clear Purpose and Objectives
The purpose must be clearly understood before anyone can craft a concise presentation. What message will the audience understand when they leave? What are the important points to consider? What is the best way to organize the material to deliver a clear, concise message?
2. Awareness of Audience
What type of people will hear this message? College students, seasoned executives or stay-at-home mothers? Who will hear the message is just as important as what is said. You certainly want to make sure your style of language fits the listeners you will address. In addition, to craft a concise presentation, you want to make sure the audience can follow the content of the message. Are you addressing a group of scholars or first-year college students? Who you address will also determine the language you use for the presentation.
3. Time Efficient
How much time you have to deliver the presentation will impact its content and organization. In addition to the considering the time needed to deliver the content, there should be time left over for questions and answers at the end. Planning how you will use the time allotted is important. It will impact the presentation’s effectiveness. So be mindful as you craft a concise presentation not to spend too much time on one point and more time on less important ones.
4. Visual Aids
Adding illustrations or other visual components to the presentation can also increase its impact and effectiveness. Considering the explosion of visual material found on Facebook, YouTube and other Internet sites, your presentation could benefit greatly by choosing powerful illustrations. In fact, to craft a concise presentation, visual aids could cut down on the time needed to explain difficult concepts or allow you to quickly introduce new ideas.
These are just a few considerations to ponder while preparing to address an audience. To craft a concise presentation requires a time commitment to study, research and prepare. Understanding the purpose of the meeting, the audience, the time allowed and whether or not to use visual aids are just a few points of reflection. There are more items to discuss and presentation skills training will help strengthen your leaders’ abilities to deliver presentations that are superior in a group or one-on-one session.