LECTURES –

Before Your Next Presentation

        When preparing your next lecture keep in mind the fleeting nature of oral communication.

        About eighty percent of a presentation is preparation!  Success usually starts well before you start to talk.    

A handful of tips to help you prepare your next presentation

* Do your research

       Before you start your preparation do your homework.

        Find out as much about your expected audience as possible.

* Your audience

       Who are they?

        How many are expected?

        What will be the makeup of the audience –   men /women / age.

        Will English be their primary language?

        Will you be needing an interrupter?

* Beliefs, attitude and values

       Will they have any strong prejudices? Consider their religious or political views.

        What will they want to hear? Can I tell them something they didn’t know?    

* Your expectations

       How much time will I have to speak?

        Will there be a question session?

        Will I need a handout?

        Will the media be present?

        Will the chairperson need some notes before I am introduced?

* Your environment

       What time are you speaking? Before or after lunch can be a consideration, or being one of the last speakers at a long meeting when the audience are keen to get home.

        What other business is on the agenda?

        Will there be a lectern if I need one?

        Will I need a microphone and if so what type of microphone will be used?

        What are the facilities for visual aids?

         Will my gear work with the equipment supplied? Can I have a dry run to make sure all can see my visual aids?

Geoffrey Moss (mossassociates.co.nz)

“A speech is like a journey – it has purpose, direction and an ultimate goal.”

For those in need,  download our FREE book “NO JOB! WHAT NOW? available from our website.

Source: Time-Savers, Moss Associates .Ltd  New Zealand; McGraw-Hill, Australia; Times Business Books,  a Federal Publishing House, Singapore and  Qingdao Publishing House, China.