Please excuse my homage to the Deming cycle of quality (Plan, Do, Check, Act) but practical experience tells me that effective presentations come from those who Prepare, Deliver, Consider, and Answer.
Prepare:
| Plan | Get Organized; Visual Aids; Meeting Room & Resources; Arrangements |
| Practice | Mental Rehearsal; Physical Rehearsal and Visits; Know the Material |
| Know Your Audience | Knowledge; Needs; Purpose; Questions they might ask |
Deliver:
| Introduction and Objective | Take a Deep Breath; Catch their Attention – WIIFM (What’s In It For Me); Set Ground Rules |
| Body | 1-2 Minutes / Slide; Be Organized, Enthusiastic, and Sincere; Tell Stories and Paint Pictures they can relate to |
| Closing | Recap; Say “Thank You”; Leave them Something to Remember You |
Consider:
| Body Language | Position; Gesturing; Eye Contact; Smile |
| Voice and Language | Projection and Modulation; Pauses (Avoid Fillers); Use Action Verbs; Be Assertive; Avoid Jargon and Acronyms (Initialisms) |
| Assess Effectiveness | Stress the Important Concepts; Relate to the Audience; Tell them About Themselves |
Answer:
| Answer Questions | Active Listening; Rephrasing; Say “Thank You”; Repeat Question |
| Address Concerns | Action Items; Parking Lot |
| Use the Three B’s | Be Bright; Be Brief; Be Gone |
Stephen P. (Steve) Czerniak
About the author: Mr. Czerniak retired after a successful career that culminated in fifteen years of experience as an internal consultant and “change agent.” He is currently an Executive-in-Residence at the Macomb-Oakland University Incubator and a volunteer with the Troy Historic Village and Historical Society.
