Making Good Presentations

6 Steps for Creating a Presentation
Everybody knows how to create a presentation, right? You just sit down at the computer, open PowerPoint and start filling in content on the slides. Mmmm...Perhapsnot. Perhaps there is a better way.
When we have a presentation looming, our bias for action tempts us to skip any planning phase and get right to producing the final product. We may even foolourselves into thinking that we plan and create simultaneously. But sufficient time devoted to mapping and organizing your presentation up front allows you to deliver a more focused message that is morelikely to address your audience's needs.
Let me suggest a process:
1. Audience Needs Analysis. Before you put pen to paper or finger to keyboard, spend some time determining what your audience alreadyknows about your topic, what information they can use, how do they feel about the topic you're presenting. You want to answer the WIIFM question...the "what's in it for me?" question that everyaudience member has.
Some methods you can use to uncover information about your audience's needs: ask questions of a few representative audience members; talk to people who have presented to this audiencebefore; do a survey; question the person who invited you to do the presentation.
2. Outline Your Presentation. Develop a bullet-pointed outline of what you want to cover and the approximate order.Don't go into a lot of detail here...this is just your road map. Make notes on areas that you need to research or on which you need to find additional resources. Once you've completed the outline, itshould give you a good sense of whether or not your presentation flows logically, covers the key aspects of your topic and fits the allotted time frame. It is during this step that you want to answerthe question, "What is the one key message I want my audience to take away from my presentation?"
3. Research. Next you want to compile the more detailed information and resources you made note of...