Delivering a pitch or presentation? Here's a preflight checklist to help you on your way
To coincide with the launch of our new course (Please don’t go to sleep!), here are some of our top tips to get you in the swing of preparing for your presentation.
These are some tips and tricks that I have picked up from some top professionals in the industry, and form a key part of our in-house presentation training. If you are interested in finding out more, you can visit our new Academy Campus to purchase the full course (launching in September 2021).
The Early bird gets the worm
Whenever possible, be ready at least 10 minutes before the start of the presentation. If the soundcheck and screen setup is all good, then you have some bonus time to scan over your content.
Understand your audience
How comfortable and refreshed is your audience? Those eyes glaring at you, blinking in an expectant manner can directly contribute to the success or failure of your presentation. If you can get them in the right frame of mind, you are halfway there. To the teachers out there, I can’t help you with this one, sorry.
Break the ice
Can you see the arrow between the E and X in this logo?
An Icy reception is a presenter’s worst nightmare, on a parallel with that time a stand-up comedian needed to repeat the punch line of their joke. To avoid this frozen wasteland, think of exercises that can be used to warm up the crowd. Ideally, try to find an interactive exercise that dovetails with your presentation content.
we regularly use a series of famous logos that have hidden meanings. Like how the arrow is hidden within this FedEx logo. If you can make them think, it is a positive way of forcing your audience to engage. Try not to single out an individual, especially in the first few minutes of a presentation.
Sound and screen setup
It is well worth creating a quick equipment checklist. If delivering in-person, is there an extension lead? Is the internet connection adequate? When delivering remotely, for example via Teams or Zoom, you will also need to check microphone levels, webcam settings whilst ensuring you are able to screen share with your current access level.
One item I have needed to add to my checklist is to ensure that my webcam hasn’t switched to become inverted. Running a chalkboard exercise isn’t ideal in reverse!
Know your onions
This goes without saying, but presenting on a topic that is alien to you is likely to end in disaster. It is also good to read up on the topic beforehand, even if you have delivered this presentation before, just to give you peace of mind when it comes to the Q&A section.
Preparation + practice = progress
Always prepare for the fact that your next presentation is going to be your best. Yes, I am competitive, but if you can recall that one event that you can categorise as your PB, visualise how you can beat it next time.
you don’t know everything!
So don’t be afraid to say so. If you like to go the extra mile, simply say that you are going to look into an issue and respond directly to the individual once you have an answer.
You must first master it; before you can wing it!
Our new course on presentation skills will be launched in September 2021 via our campus and on Udemy.
I have been delivering on the spot lectures, workshops and speeches for quite some time and there are many instances where I could now simply rock up to a classroom or lecture hall, have a quick conversation about the topics and key take-home points, then proceed to run a functional lecture.
This is all providing that I understand two key objectives.
I know my onions and
I understand my audience.
Experience and a keen interest in my subject matter can allow me to jump in with little preparation. I would still prefer preparation time if I can get any because I want to beat my PB!
with all of those preflight points checked off, you can now launch your presentation into the stratosphere.
