Giving a Powerful Presentation

Preparation is key to giving a powerful presentation! Whether you are speaking to a small group or a large audience, taking the time to properly prepare can make all the difference in the success of your presentation. By following a few simple steps and using a checklist to guide your preparation process, you can feel confident and ready to deliver a memorable and effective presentation.

This blog post covers some key areas to consider as you prepare for your next presentation, including you, your audience, and your content. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to giving a powerful presentation that leaves a lasting impression.

General Preparation for Giving a Powerful Presentation

• Visuals: What types of visuals will you use to support your message? (i.e., slides, handouts, charts)
• Purpose: What is the goal of your presentation? Is it to educate, inspire, or convince?
• Format: Will your presentation be online, in-person, or hybrid?
• Posture: Will you be sitting or standing during your presentation?
• Appearance: What will you wear for your presentation?
• Vision: How do you envision your presentation going?

Know Your Audience

• Demographics: What are the age, gender, and professional roles of your audience?
• Background knowledge: What does your audience already know about the topic?
• Proficiency level: What is the audience’s level of proficiency on the topic? *Even if the topic is advanced, assume a lot of the content will be new for most people
• Vocabulary: What specialized vocabulary or terms will you need to use? (i.e., professional lingo, titles, keywords)

Content Preparation for Giving a Powerful Presentation

• Opener: How will you begin your presentation? (i.e., story, big idea, quirky surprise)
• Key point: What is the main message or takeaway you want your audience to remember? Repeat this often throughout the presnetation.
• Modalities: What types of modalities will you use to deliver your content? (i.e., GIFs, stories, gestures, activities, key phrase)
• Gestures: What gestures will you use during your presentation?
• Next steps: What do you want your audience to do after your presentation? (i.e., buy, share, read)

The full Presenation Skills Checklist, can be found on my Teachers Pay Teachers store. By using this checklist as a guide, you can be confident that you are well-prepared to give a successful presentation. Don’t forget to customize the checklist to fit your specific needs and goals. Good luck with your presentation!

For tips on reducing anxiety when public speaking, view my blog post Can You Reduce Anxiety when Public Speaking