Presentation basics

- We know a lot about what it means … to give a great presentation. … The basic ingredients are straightforward, … so let's consider each one very briefly. … Start by knowing your audience. … Are you speaking to executives? … Children? … Accountants or software developers? … You want to know what they care about, … how they like to communicate … and the problems they face. … Then, using this knowledge, … it's time to write the main ideas for your talk. … Remember here that less is more. … Don't cram too much in. … Always air on less. … The next step is to arrange your pile of main ideas … into a logical order. … You're looking for flow, a smooth, rational sequence … of main points that tell your story from beginning to end. … It's also important to understand … what you want from your audience. … Do you want their support of a project you're pitching? … Maybe you're encouraging some form of volunteer work? … No matter what the issue, ask explicitly for what you want. … It's smart to begin and end by asking for what you want. …