Successful Presentations: A Preparation Checklist - Article

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The following article appeared in the July 2005 issue of "Marketing AdVents"

Successful Presentations: A Preparation Checklist

by Edward J. Barks

Congratulations! You’ve just been invited to give a presentation before that important new client or trade association.

But securing that invitation is just the start. Now you need to spend some real energy on the preparation phase of your talk.

The Basics of Preparation
Preparation is vital. Before you even begin to craft your remarks, you need to obtain background information about the organization you plan to address. Try to get a real sense of what issues are hot and who the key players are.

Then there is the most important ingredient of all—your audience. They are, after all, the reason you have been invited to speak. You need to learn all you can about them so you can speak to their hearts and minds. Find out about such areas as:

Primary audience (Business? Government? Non-profit?)
Level of audience sophistication with regard to your topic
Anticipated attendance
The agenda for the entire meeting
A list of all attendees

Let’s spell out one more pre-presentation to-do list that will set you on a winning course. Make sure that you:

Provide the organization with your biographical sketch and a photo. They will need these for publicity purposes and to introduce you to your audience.
Advise the meeting organizer of any audio or video needs.
Bring any props you plan to use.
Supply evaluation forms.

A New Day Dawns
Finally, the day of your presentation arrives. Everything is set, right? WRONG! One of the most important duties—and one that many speakers shirk—is to arrive at your venue at least one hour before “showtime”.

Make sure the facility has already set up all the logistical and technical requirements you need. You don’t want to walk in the room at the appointed hour only to find out there is no screen available for your slides. Or that the flip chart with blank paper you requested is nowhere in sight. Or that the facility has not set out the correct number of chairs, or not arranged them in a configuration that suits your needs.

Getting a handle on these preparation tips will put you on the road to successful presentations—presentations that will serve to deliver your messages to the audiences that are most crucial to your success. Here’s to your speaking success!

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Ed Barks is the author of The Truth About Public Speaking: The Three Keys to Great Presentations (www.TruthAboutPublicSpeaking.com). As a trainer and coach, Ed has guided more than 3000 of today’s professionals toward a sharper message and enhanced communications skills. Contact him at www.barkscomm.com.

© Edward J. Barks 2005

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