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?

What you want listeners to believe, remember, or do after the presentation

The audience you are speaking to during 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.

What do I expect to learn from this presentation?

How can I relate this information to my listeners needs?

What measures must I take to ensure that this audience remembers my main points?

How will I benefit from impressing this audience?

How will this topic appeal to this audience?

Why am I giving this presentation?

Read the scenario, and answer the questions.

You are preparing a presentation on networking for a professional development seminar that your company is hosting for its employees. You look at the attendance list and see that you have good relationships with all of the registered seminar participants. Additionally, this presentation is a follow-up presentation that was requested by previous participants. You know you will have a friendly audience.

What organizational pattern would be best for this situation?

Any pattern, particularly with audience involvement

An indirect pattern with minimal audience contact

Be brief. Use no more than three points

What delivery style should you use?

Warm, pleasant, and open

Even and slow speech

Confident, small gestures

What should you include in your supporting material? Check all that apply.

Startling statistics

Experiences

In-depth analysis

Personal examples