Idea 86: Planning and writing the presentation

The key elements in planning and writing your presentation are:

1. Deciding your objective, which needs to be:
   • Clear.
   • Specific.
   • Measurable.
   • Achievable in the time available.
   • Realistic.
   • Challenging.
   • Worthwhile.
   • Participative.
2. Making a plan with a framework which has:
   • A beginning (including introductory remarks, statement of objectives and relevance and an outline of the presentation).
   • A middle (divided into up to six sections maximum, ensuring that the main points are illustrated and supported by examples or evidence, use summaries and consider the time allocation carefully – and test it).
   • An end (summarize, linking conclusions with objectives and end on a high note).

     At all costs avoid the sequence of beginning, muddle and no end!

3. As up to 50 percent of information is taken in through the eyes, careful consideration should be given to the clear, simple and vivid use of audio-visuals. As the Chinese proverb says, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words.’
4. Plan to give as much of your talk as you can without using notes – that takes some practice, but it is a skill that leaders need and that you can acquire easily if you know what you are talking about.