Masterful Communication: Elevating Your Impact from Interviews to Boardrooms

Engaging in genuine conversation, be it one-on-one or a sea of faces, is a passion of mine. I thrive in making genuine connections from the start. In the dynamic realm of business, whether pursuing a coveted position or leading an enterprise, mastering diverse presentation skills becomes indispensable. Many clients approach me, their nerves frayed and confidence shaken, with the prospect of delivering a presentation. Empathizing deeply, I adore transforming that anxiety into grounded confidence.

When you’re tasked to give a presentation, it’s not just about testing your subject matter knowledge or even gauging your communication skills. Those aspects are important, but engaging and persuading an audience with credibility and flow often relies on the initial preparation, the prework, long before you step on the stage or grab your laptop. Before diving into PowerPoint, Notion, or Google Slides and staring at a blank screen, let’s clarify the starting point: the prework.

Getting Ready: Essential Prework for Presentations

Often, I ask my clients to consider a few things to help them start with the right information and bring the presentation to the finish line. Here are some critical questions to ensure your presentation is relevant, targeted, and impactful:

Why Are You Giving the Presentation?

• What is the objective, opportunity, or obstacle you wish to address?
• What do you want to achieve by the end of it?

Who’s My Audience?

• Who will be attending the presentation?
• What is their level of familiarity with the topic?
• What are their expectations and potential biases?

What’s the Key Message?

• If the audience could remember only one thing from your presentation, what should it be?

What’s the Appropriate Tone and Style?

• Should the presentation be formal or informal?
• Would a straightforward, humorous, inspirational, or persuasive tone be best?

How Much Time Do I Have?

• How long is the presentation slot?
• Will there be time for Q&A or discussion?

What Resources and Tools Are Available?

• Will you have access to a projector, whiteboard, or any specific software?
• Do you need additional resources, such as handouts or props?
• Prepare a backup plan for unfamiliar environments or technical mishaps.

What’s the Ideal Structure?

• How will you introduce, develop, and conclude your presentation?
• How can you organize your content to be most engaging and impactful?
• Recommended frameworks: Pyramid Principle (Barbara Minto), AIDA, SOAR Model.

How Can I Make It Engaging?

• What visuals, stories, or examples can you use to illustrate your points?
• Are there interactive elements you can incorporate, like polls or group discussions?
• Tip: Start large audiences on their feet with a survey, exercise, or gentle movement to energize them.

What Potential Challenges Might Arise?

• Are there controversial points in your presentation?
• How can you address or mitigate them?
• Consider asking the audience for expectations upfront to set clear boundaries.

How Will You Handle Questions or Feedback?

• Is answering questions required?
• Will questions be taken throughout, at specific intervals, or at the end?
• How will you address questions without immediate answers?

What’s the Call to Action?

• What do you want the audience to do, think, or feel after the presentation?
• How can you motivate them to act and make it easy to take the next step?
• Example: “If you would like to connect to discuss this further, here is my contact info, and I will get back to you within 24 hours.”

How Will You Practice?

• Will you do a dry run with a colleague or friend?
• Will you record yourself for self-review or sharing with a trusted advisor?
• How will you incorporate feedback from practice sessions?

Preparation Leads to Confidence

Addressing these prework questions before crafting your presentation will ground you and provide a solid starting point for success. Preparation is the key to engaging an audience with confidence, credibility, and impact.

Ready to Elevate Your Presentation Skills?

If you want to gain confidence, polish your delivery, and master the art of impactful presentations, book a free discovery call today. Let’s create a personalized strategy to help you engage any audience with poise and authenticity!