From the course: Creating and Giving Business Presentations

Sketch your presentation

From the course: Creating and Giving Business Presentations

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Sketch your presentation

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- Here's a tip on visuals. Don't start designing slides first. Before you open PowerPoint, or Key Note, take out a notepad and start sketching out your presentation. Think of it in three simple chunks, the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. In the introduction think of a visual way to quickly catch the audience's attention and give them a reason to listen. Set yourself up as the most knowledgeable person on the topic because of your interest and research you've done. Set up your theme, whether through facts or a story, and preview the main points you'll be discussing. Line up each of the points with sub points and supporting evidence. Think through some smooth transitions that flow from one point to the next naturally and logically. Your theme for the presentation should be the thread that loosely floats in and out of your points and stories by holding them together in one uniform message. When you're done discussing your points arrive to the conclusion. This is the time to remind your audience of your main points, ask them to take any action, or if it's necessary, politely transition to the portion where they get to ask you questions. Be aware that in some settings the question and answer happens throughout the presentation, which can throw some new speakers off. If this is the case, practice with friends that interject constantly while you answer their questions and then continue on your presentation path. Let's see how Katie sketches out her presentation. Every presentation needs an intro with a hook. It needs to have a so what. Where is her credibility? It needs to list the main points, sub points, and be sure that there are transition between all of those points. Last, Katie's presentation needs a good close that reviews the points and links back to the introduction's hook. I've provided a worksheet with questions and topics to help you follow the same path I talked about. Now it's time for you to sketch out your upcoming presentation.

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