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Contents
01
02
03
Designing the presentation
Know your audience
Determine message
Select presentation
method
Delivering the presentation
Handling a Q&A session
Delivery techniques
Online video
presentation tips
Structuring the presentation
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Know your audience
In order to design and deliver an effective presentation, you must first know your
audience. Knowing your audience helps you to decide what content and delivery
method will resonate best with the individuals or groups to whom you’re speaking.
Consider the following questions to help you think through the needs of your audience:
A presentation to a
group of executives will
look different from a
presentation to peers.
As much as possible, do
research on the individuals
to try to understand the
perspective they will bring
to the discussion.
What do you think they are
hoping to get out of this
presentation? Are they willing
participants or mandatory
attendees? Highlight what’s
in it for them.
Who are
they?
Why
are they
here?
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It is important to keep in mind ...
Their attention is
limited
Human vs Goldfish:
An Urban Legend
Shrinking attention spans
• A commonly cited “study” says that
human attention spans are shrinking
• It says that due to technology, the
average human attention span is
now shorter than a goldfish
12
Seconds
8
Seconds
The average human
attention span in
2000
The average human
attention span in
2015
The average attention
span of a
Goldfish
9
Seconds
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They are distracted
First impressions
are key
The truth is more nuanced
Distractions erode attention spans
• While our attention spans might
still be longer than goldfish, the
reality is we live in an age of
constant distraction
• Research* does tell us that
constant interruptions — driven
by technology — adversely affects
our ability to focus
• Imagine you’re about to be interviewed
for a new job. How long do you think
you have to impress the interviewer?
Until the end of the conversation? Until
the end of the first answer you give?
Or has your prospective new boss
made up their mind before you’ve had
time to finish your introduction?
• Research over the last two decades
has confirmed that a handshake
(or the virtual equivalent of an
introduction) may be all it takes to
create a memorable first impression.
• What we also know is just how
significant the first few moments of
any encounter can be and to what
extent they determine our friends, our
supporters and the career path we’ll
pursue.
*Stothart C., Mitchum A., Yehnert C. (2015). The attentional cost of receiving a cell phone notification.
Journal of Experimental Psychology, 41 893-897. 10.1037
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Determine the message
It doesn’t matter how long or how complex
a presentation is; there’s nothing that
can’t be summarized in 30 seconds to a
minute if needed. Think about television
commercials (one of the most powerful
forms of communication we’re exposed
to each day). Of course, in a business
presentation, the message must be
broadened, but the principle still holds.
It’s important to be very clear about what
your message is, because if you’re not
clear of your message, how can other
people be? And how will you present with
clarity and structure so that your audience
understands?
A good technique to
determining your message is to
complete the sentence: “If I had
only one minute of your time
today, this is what I’d like you to
get from my presentation ...”
Begin by collecting
the content
Once you have your
ideas down, select and
categorize the content
Consider the visual aids that
will make your presentation
appealing
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When we
communicate,
our message is
received through
all five senses:
1% smell 2% touch
11% hearing
83%
sight
3% taste
Visual aids can help you to:
• Communicate ideas
faster, more effectively
and memorably
• Reinforce and/or clarify
important points
• Engage the audience,
stimulate interest and
influence them more
quickly
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After you have collected the content and determined
the appropriate presentation method, you will need to
determine a strategy to make yourself memorable and
to ensure that the audience receives your message. This
means deciding on a structure, otherwise known as the
appropriate ordering of the individual elements of your
presentation: objective, issues, evidence and conclusion.
Depending on the purpose of the presentation, and on
the audience, the order may need to be different to have
maximum impact and achieve the objective. Here are two
applied examples:
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Example 1 is what most people do, where as example 2 is
a much more effective structure.
Remember, no matter the model that you choose, a well-thought out
opening and a strong closing are key.
Structuring your
content — example 1
Structuring your
content — example 2
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Delivery techniques
Once you’ve got the content and structure down, it’s time to focus on your delivery.
Making eye contact
The benefits of appropriate eye
contact are that you appear more in
control, less nervous or uncertain and
it encourages audience involvement.
Implications of poor eye contact can
be deceit and lack of confidence.
Remember the following two rules:
Easing nerves
Nervousness can be reduced by:
In certain cultures, establishing the right
amount of eye contact at the beginning
and throughout the presentation ranks
among the most important delivery skills
to master if you’re to be successful in
front of audiences. Eye contact is the
most intense channel of communication
we have and can distinguish ‘a
presentation at’ from ‘a communication
with’ your audience.
01
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Maintaining a stance/posture
As discussed in the Executive Presence portion
of this document, body language is a critical
part of how we communicate confidence to others.
Displaying meaningful movement
When presenting to an audience, you should move
with purpose and energy — to make a transition,
emphasize a point, attract attention, add variety
or elicit involvement from your audience. You
can build in movement by laying out the stage
carefully.
02
03
Read more
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Communicating through
facial expressions and
gestures
Beyond just eye contact, facial
expressions and gestures help you to
set the emotional tone of the room and
emphasize points.
Using vocal skills
Don’t rely only on your words — vary different
aspects of your voice.
04
05
Silence is especially powerful
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Using and dealing with questions
The best way to ensure plenty of participation is
to make every audience member feel at home—to
let them know that they are invited and expected
to share their ideas. Just as you will plan the
questions you want to ask, anticipate questions
you may receive at the planning stage. You won’t
be able to cover everything in your session, so
think through what might be asked and you will
be better prepared when people do ask.
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Engage the
audience by
asking questions.
Anticipate
questions you
may receive at the
planning stage.
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Additional online video presentation tips
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Strong Internet
connection
Lighting Camera
position
Audio Appearance
