Presentations are a powerful tool that determines many aspects, such as the final marks, overall grade for a course, business opportunities and business orders. All these aspects rely heavily on individual preferences, how people prepare for a presentation, and how confidently they present it.
Due to the fast-moving nature of the modern world, time is a constraint when it comes to presentation. Time management is essential in ensuring all the content is delivered to the target audience.
In addition to time management, many other factors must be considered while preparing for a presentation. Let’s review some important factors to consider while preparing for a presentation.
Collection Of Contents And Data
Before jumping into slide preparation, having all the required data is always important. It is always useful to sort and figure out what and how to use it. Once all the data has been gathered, planning and organizing how to start and end the presentation is integral. Spending considerable time collecting content and data is advisable so that once slide preparation begins, nobody has to search for information.
Planning And Organizing The Presentation
Once all the data is in hand, it is time to start planning and organizing the presentation. To begin with, understand the audience, their mindset and what they expect. These three things are quite important in deciding the presentation’s success.
Secondly, it will be a good idea to outline the slides and decide on the maximum number of needed slides. Try to list out all the main headings/topics of each slide so that it will be easier for slide preparation.
In addition, deciding on different graphics and videos being used will be a good idea. Placing these at regular intervals helps keep the audience engaged. Finally, fixing the presentation’s beginning and ending style is always a good idea. This can be based on statistics, quotes or any other relevant information that can startle the audience,
Selection Of Tools
Technology has advanced so far that multiple tools are available to create presentations. This includes Microsoft Powerpoint, Google Slides, Canva and so on. All these tools have their benefits and drawbacks. To decide what tool to be used, understand the setup provided. It will help to avoid any hiccups while presenting.
Also, while selecting the tools, decide how much to rely on technology and how reliable the setup will be. These will help prepare for any tech-related issues that arise while presenting. These might seem minor, but they are enough to ruin the confidence and presentation.
Try to use more graphics while presenting statistics, and use pointers and pen tools wherever necessary, as this will help improve the overall style and character of the presentation.
Preparing Slides
Source: thinkscience.co.jp
- Always remember slides are a tool to help in presenting, so try to limit the number of slides and information on each slide and focus on key points that will attract the audience, confuse them, and keep them engaged. Thus the audience will always listen to your words for clarity and knowledge.
- It is important to use light-colored slide backgrounds with relatively dark text colors. They provide a soothing experience to the eyes and a good view to read and analyze the contents.
- Give prominence to video clips, pictures and graphics. It is a good practice to avoid writing; transforming them into images will keep the audience engaged.
- Practice as it is prepared. Make notes of different topics and contents and practice what is about to be told as each slide is prepared. This will help summarize the contents and ensure all the information is included.
Do’s And Don’ts While Preparing And Presenting
Do’s
- Use more graphics to project statistics and data.
- Start and end the presentation with a question.
- Include relevant video clips, posters and images.
- Try to use short sentences on slides. Try to limit the information being displayed.
- Give more prominence to presentations rather than slides.
- Always be confident.
- Always have a pleasant face.
- Practice in front of the mirror.
- Try to have a demo presentation with a time limit.
- Engage with the Audience. Give opportunities for expressing their views.
Don’ts
- Using long paragraphs.
- Do not fill the slide with contents. Limit the contents to 3-4 key points/ words per slide.
- Keep the viewers from knowing there is confusion.
- Do not deviate from the topics.
- Do not panic in case of technical issues. Be confident and continue with the presentation.
Acknowledge the Audience’s Beliefs
There are three things that a presenter needs to understand to be successful. They are :
- The Audience Believes You Are The Expert: The viewers and listeners believe you are the extreme authority; you have all the information about the topic. Anything you say and present is believable and nothing but the truth.
- The Audience Wants You To Be Successful: The viewers believe that you, as a presenter, can impart knowledge and add value to their life.
- The audience Doesn’t Know What You Are Going To Say: The listeners do not know your plan of action, so there is always the element of surprise. The presenter has full control to navigate and take a different path that will be more engaging and beneficial.
Conclusion
Giving a presentation for the first time is quite tedious; it is impossible to figure out how to do what to do. Due to advancements in technology, multiple tools tell us how to be successful in presentations. With the AI revolution, some tools automatically prepare and deliver the finished slides and presentations on topics of your choice.
It is always wise to custom-prepare slides based on personal preferences and choices, as it will be a great help when it comes to presenting. The contents, presentation, and elaborations will be easy when the slides have a personal touch. Unlike AI-prepared slides, custom-prepared ones always contain more relevant information that can be explained without much reference.
Giving a presentation and achieving a good result is easy; with proper planning and execution, anyone can be a successful presenter.
