How to prepare for an important presentation

Do you have an important presentation coming up where the stakes are high? You might find yourself in avoidance mode, distracting yourself with less important tasks to escape the feeling of overwhelm.

It's no wonder you procrastinate—we all do, especially when we have to put ourselves out there. Our fear center tries to protect us from exposing ourselves because presenting our ideas and ourselves is, frankly, scary.

Start by soothing that avoidant part of you with self-compassion. It's okay to feel nervous, and perhaps you can reframe fear into excitement. After all, you worked hard for this opportunity.

Then, jot down your key points and take it one step at a time.

You’ve got this!

Follow these steps to create a compelling presentation:

1. What's your objective and main intention?

What's the point of this presentation? Do you want the listeners to take action based on your message? Perhaps you want to dissuade them from doing something. 

Or are you just trying to plant an idea for them to mull over? 

By keeping your objective in mind, you can ensure that every element of your presentation is aligned with that specific goal.

2. Who's your audience?

Audiences can have different perspectives, needs, motivations for being there. 

Will you need to offer background information on the subject before you really get into the gist of the presentation? Or can you assume the listeners are all on the same page?

3. What are your main points?

If your presentation is 10 minutes long, try to limit yourself to a maximum of 3 main points. Each main point should work toward fulfilling your objective. 

If you want to persuade the audience to work better with your team on specific projects, make your three main points the benefits of working with you. Consider whether these points need to be presented in a specific order.

4. What information will support your main points?

Use evidence to add credibility to your main message. You might turn to research or studies that you or others have conducted. This can be a great time to incorporate compelling visuals to show off data.

Start to develop statements that allow you to segue from one point to the next. This will help you establish a logical order to your presentation and keep your message clear. Without transitions, you could end up rambling.

5. What's your opening line?

You'll likely need to introduce yourself, as well as set expectations about what your presentation will cover. Your opening sentences also present an opportunity to capture the audience's attention. Perhaps you'll want to offer an interesting fact or engage the audience with a question.

6. What's your conclusion?

Use your conclusion to sum up your main points, and offer a call to action if that's part of your objective. In general, you'll want your conclusion to offer something that will stick with your listeners long after the presentation is over.

7. Does it fit the time constraints?

Time yourself as you practice your presentation. Consider adding or cutting information to make sure you're in the allotted time.

While these seven questions can guide you toward an effective presentation, don't limit yourself to simply addressing these issues. You might also want to consider other factors, such as whether or not you can use handouts, or supplements that prime your audience before you begin.

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