Creating your presentation

Creating and delivering presentations is a skill all managers need to develop. In this section, you will be introduced to some tips for providing clear, coherent and concise presentations.

Planning a presentation

A successful presentation is one that has been well prepared. You should read the guidance given by your course tutors on what you are expected to do and then use these guidelines to plan your presentation.

You might find it useful to begin planning by thinking about these four key questions:

Do I understand the presentation task?

It is important that you understand the purpose of your presentation. Take careful note of what you have been asked to include. Also consider whether you have been given a particular goal in developing your presentation.

Who will be my audience for the presentation?

If you understand who will be listening to or viewing your presentation, you will be able to tailor your presentation to your audience’s expectations. This will ensure that your presentation is appropriate in tone and style.

What format should my presentation take?

Pay careful attention to the guidelines your tutor has given you about the format of your presentation. Consider how long the presentation should be. You may also want to think about the type of software they would like you to use.

What is my key message?

Before you begin developing your slides, you should consider your overall message. What are the key points you would like to convey? Thinking about these in advance will help to ensure that your message is clearly and consistently delivered.

Coming up...

In the next section you will discuss your experiences of presentations with your peers.