Preparing a Major PRESENTATION –

        William Cowper, in the 18th -century, gave us some useful guidelines.

” A tale should be judicious, clear, succinct. The language plain, the incidents well linked;

Tell not as new what everyone knows;

And new or old still hasten to a close.”

A speech is like a journey. It has a purpose, a map, and a destination.

        Eighty percent of a presentation is the preparation.

        Speeches are like babies – easy to conceive but hard to deliver.

        When preparing a speech keep in mind the fleeting nature of oral communication.

        Try to make your introduction amusing and entertaining.

Your first and last statements are the most important.

A Handful of Tips on how to give an important address at a major conference

* Who will you be talking to?

        What numbers are likely to be present?   What will be their age range, sex ratio, and knowledge of your topic?

        What are their beliefs, attitudes, and values?

        How much do they know about your subject and what do they want to know?

* Decide on your objective

         Focus on a simple clear message. Try to tell them something new.

        You will need two versions of your speech.  A written version for the proceedings (if you have one) and the media, and a spoken version to use on the day. Try writing it in a chatty style.

        You also need to prepare notes for the chairperson’s introduction.

        Record the spoken version and play it often until it sounds right and you know it well.

        Select simple, clear visual aids – not too many.

        You are the main visual aid so dress well for the occasion.

* Before you start

        Arrive early in an unfamiliar country to get acclimatized.

        Watch what you eat and drink.  No ice in your drinks or tap water. Keep off raw salads. Keep to well-cooked foods.

* Check out the venue  

        Be aware of traffic congestion and black-out facilities at the venue.

        Test the equipment you will be using well before your presentation.

* Arrive early

        Arrive well before your allotted time, especially if there are other speakers.

        Listen to what they have to say. You may be able to make your talk more topical by making a comment on what has been said.

        If you are working with a sound technician or a visual assistant brief them well.

        Summarize at the finish. Make your objective clear in your final message and punch it home with energy and vigour.

        The end should be a climax, NOT an anticlimax!

A recipe for a good speech includes some shortening.

Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

” A speech is like a love affair – any fool can start one, but to end it requires considerable skill.”

SOURCE: For more on this topic see:  “Persuasive Ways” first published by Moss Associates Ltd, New Zealand and in Chinese by Shanghai People’s Publishing House, and “Secrets of Persuasion” by Cengage Learning Asia. (Available as an e-book from Amazon.com.) Also available as “Getting Your Ideas Across” from Kogan Page, U.K, and a  Hungarian translation published by Bagolyvar Konyvkiado, Budapest.