1. Preparing Effective Business Presentations Getting ready for a presentation may cause feelings of anxiety. The best way to reduce your fears is to prepare thoroughly. The first step in being well prepared for a presentation is planning. What should be your focus when determining your purpose? The audience you are speaking to during the presentation What you want listeners to believe, remember, or do after the presentation The structure you will use throughout the presentation Before planning or organizing your presentation, you should understand your audience and anticipate its reactions. What questions should you ask yourself to help you analyze your audience? Check all that apply. How can I gain credibility and earn the respect of this audience? What is the general age and experience level of my audience? U How will this topic appeal to me? How can I learn to respect my audience? Why am I giving this presentation?