Creating a Presentation: Tip Sheet
Prepare
o Create an outline/run sheet for the entire time you’re in the room
¡ Before & after
¯ Be available
¯ Ready to go – organized, systematic set-up and tear-down
¯ Focus on what’s happening at the time, not your presentation
¡ During
¯ Have handy to keep you on track (not read from!)
¯ Includes a backup plan
o Communicate/arrange/test needs
¡ Technology
¯ Projector
¯ Computer w/appropriate platform & drives
¯ Remote
¯ Internet
¡ Dietary
¡ Room set up
¯ Podium
¯ Seating style
¯ Audience materials
o Think about target audience
¡ Who will listen?
¯ What are they like?
¯ What do they want?
¯ How is your talk beneficial to them (based on their needs, not yours)?
¯ How will you connect with a core group?
¡ Refine key (i.e. most important, not all!) messages for this group
¯ Standard organization messages
¯ For this particular endeavor
¯ For the future
¡ How will you speak to them?
¯ As efficiently as possible
¯ With language they can understand and is comfortable for you
¯ With humor if comfortable – make it appropriate and understandable
Create
o Create and use consistent, branded, complementary templates for all presentation materials
¡ PowerPoint
¡ Handouts
¡ Notes
¡ Guidebooks
¡ Surveys
¡ Feedback
¡ Flyers
¡ Signs
¡ Giveaways
¡ Props
o Keep it simple
¡ Plenty of space
¯ Limit bullets
¯ Minimal words/reading – 1-3 key points each
¡ Use layout to help with flow
¯ Informative titles
¯ Consistent placement of words, graphics, etc.
¯ Smooth, natural transitions
¡ Easy on the eye
¯ Avoid harsh backgrounds
¯ Limit clutter
¯ Consider proportion/sizing
¡ Use graphics
¯ Illustrate points
¯ Consistent visual feel/style – clipart, fonts, graphs, photos look like they’re from the same “family”
o Use technology to make it better, not more complicated
¡ Transportation & Execution
¡ File size
¡ Storage / copies
¡ Equipment
Practice
o More than once!
¡ Talking
¡ Operating equipment
¡ Anticipate FAQs & answers
o Try to memorize talking points so you won’t have to read
o Record yourself
o Use the mirror
o Use staff, family, and friends as guinea pigs
Deliver
o Shake it up - make it interactive if possible
¡ Stop and ask questions
¡ Complete an activity
¡ Ask for examples
¡ Don’t focus on props (slides, etc.) or the room; speak to people
o Think about body language
¡ Make eye contact, or, if uncomfortable, look just above the eyes at the forehead
¡ Stand up straight
¡ Smile
¡ Move if possible – confidently, naturally (hand gestures, tilt head, walk, demonstrate/create a picture)
¡ Show you’re passionate – they’ll become involved if you are
o Speak
¡ From memory if possible
¡ Clearly
¡ Slowly
¡ With positive conviction
¡ Naturally
¡ Using language that fits with your audience
¡ Don’t rely too much on slides & props
Follow up
o Deliver on call to action in a timely fashion
o Contact audience member if appropriate
¡ Thank them
¡ Offer services/help
¡ “Bring them in;” know how you’ll get them involved before contact
o Add to database (with source code) for newsletters, invitations, etc.
© 2007 Novosad Associates for NeighborWorks® America. Do not reproduce without permission