The 5 W’s of an effective presentation

Giving a presentation or public speaking can be a daunting task, if not impossible. Even professional public speakers speak of uncertainty, nervousness, and anxiety every time they have to address an audience. If people who have adopted presentations as their main occupation feel nervous before each presentation, then for the first timer, you shouldn’t be surprised. Most of the uncertainty stems from what the audience’s reaction will be.

Find below my 5 Ws to make an effective presentation. In fact, there are different ways to calm down before a presentation. However, this article is not intended to teach you how to manage your nerves before a presentation, but to help you properly prepare for the presentation. The goal is to help boost your confidence and indirectly calm you down for a great presentation.

The why:

The first question to ask yourself every time you are asked to give a presentation is to ask why. Why am I doing this presentation? You must take the time to explore and understand why you have been asked to speak. There are different reasons to make a presentation. So stop and ask yourself, why you? It may be because it is part of your job- Job description or because you are an expert in a subject area and therefore need to impart knowledge. Answering the why question gives you a context to adapt your presentation to. Do you need to report? Do you need to persuade? Do you need to sell? Maybe you need to teach! Do you need to entertain? Etc. This question must be very clear in your mind. Once you address this question, you should be able to structure your presentation to satisfy the request. This way you have a very clear agenda and can then do your research properly to reflect the expectations in the application.

The OMS:

For most people, the “who” part is the most important W of all and it is the one that bothers them. In fact, ‘the who’ largely determines the success or otherwise of a presentation. An important question to ask yourself when you are asked to give a presentation is to ask who your audience will be. Who am I talking to? One can have the right words, the right atmosphere, even the right presentation equipment, but the effectiveness of the presentation would only be measured by the reaction of the audience. Your presentation should be at the right level for the right audience. The language must be well structured for the understanding of your audience. A typical example is when a university professor presents two different papers on the same topic to two different audiences. A presentation to your peers on the same topic will differ significantly from a presentation to your students. The who question also determines the approach and tools used in the presentation. The underlying principle is that a presentation is a two-way affair, from presenter to audience and from audience to presenter. A well-designed presentation, delivered with experience and skill, a crystal-clear style, with wit and humor, with the fullest visual aid delivered in the most serene atmosphere, will be as dull as dishwashing water if presented to the wrong audience. Therefore, to properly prepare for a presentation, you must consider the recipient of the message. ask yourself; who am I talking to? Who will be in the audience? What do you know about the subject? How many? Then tailor your presentation to suit your audience. Research their background and, to the extent possible, speak to their understanding, not above their heads, nor should you speak to them from above.

The fact that:

The question what your goal addresses. What do you want to achieve with the presentation? It allows you to customize your presentation to address your goals and end results. To give a good presentation you need to define what you want to achieve. You can only measure the success of your presentation when you have a goal your presentation is aiming for. It means, give yourself a goal to measure yourself. Your goal should be your core message that you will go to reinforce other points. Defining your goals also guides the details of your presentation, and you can customize it for your end results. Your goal in a presentation may be to stir up a thrill in a sales team that hasn’t hit their sales target: inspire, entice your audience to release funds, spark a discussion, etc. Set your goals within the four pillars of communication; inform, request action, persuade and build a relationship. The what part provides the framework within which you set your presentation and gives you a yardstick to measure its effectiveness. What do you want your audience to do when you finish your presentation? That is your end result. Your final results must be specific; it should be clear in your mind and should be established early on when preparing for the presentation.

Where:

The where part of the preparation is self explanatory. It has to do with location; the layout and structure of the place. You should have a clear idea of ​​what the location and arrangement will be. Are you expected to address the audience in a classroom format? Is it organized to encourage teamwork among the audience? Is it organized to encourage question and answer sections, etc.? You also have to do your research to be sure of the equipment in place. Would I have access to a public address system or not? How about a projector, a flipchart, etc.? The nature of the venue also affects your presentation style. Therefore, you must have prior knowledge of the settlement prior to the actual filing date. Make a checklist of your needs and make sure the location can meet those needs. When they can’t, strategize effectively to address their needs. Surprises just before the presentation can make you nervous and disoriented.

Words:

The word part has two options. First of all, it has to do with the content of your presentation. You must make a conscious effort to structure your words effectively to reflect your research and meet the requirements of the presentation. You have to research and find the best. Organize your presentation in a structure that you can easily remember. Use words that are easy to understand and that you can easily remember. Make sure you are comfortable with your presentation and, as much as possible, stick to what you know and can explain best.

The second part is more of a tip. That, words are not enough. Make use of visual aids. This also means that your speech should be combined with any visual aids you have to provide a clearer understanding. They say that pictures are worth a thousand words and the use of visual aids reduces the monotony of your voice. You can read, but leave room for pictures and take time to explain. You can also use sound or even video to add some variety or better yet to engage your audience.

In all of the above, we realize that one theme shines through and that is preparation. You have to prepare properly and make sure all the bases are covered. You only get one take, you can dazzle your audience or put them to sleep. Perfect your act as the magician and revise your work until you are very satisfied. The last thing to do is pray….