Planning a Conference Presentation

Preparation is fundamental for a successful presentation. Decide on your primary and secondary objectives, create a take-home message and research your audience. Learn practical ways to generate and organise your ideas.

The place to start preparing a presentation is not your opening - although that is the start when you finally deliver. You need to start with why you are delivering and what you want to achieve.

Preparation is Key

The casual, seemingly effortless presentation is likely to be the result of a great deal of planning, research and hard work. If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail. In the same way as you build a house in stages, so you can develop your presentation in a structured, layered way.

The planning and research phase is like laying the foundation. Although never seen, the final product stands, cracks or falls because of it. On this foundation you lay the bricks for your presentation by generating ideas and structuring what you are going to say. The rooms can be your key ideas. And, of course, you need to decorate the rooms - the visual aids, anecdotes and supporting evidence.

You might pay particular attention to the front view people get of your house. how you open your presentation. And finally add those finishing touches, which come from your unique personality and style.