I put together a project presentation for a client last week. There was a lot of information to get across, numbers to absorb and a decision to be made. With one of the options being the death of the project, judging how to get the required outcome was rather important.
Getting the content of a presentation right is like writing fiction or drama - it's not the facts (the story) but the way you choose to tell them (the plot) that will determine whether you get the response you want.
EM Forster's examples of story and plot are often quoted:
Plot is what engages the reader and is about linking elements together and providing a path through the story that delivers the desired reaction.
When putting together a presentation, plotting is crucial. Always consider the following when outlining what you are going to say:
- what outcome do you want?
- what information is relevant to that outcome and what is not? (if at all possible, leave the latter out)
- what expectations do your audience have? (thriller fans want different things from chick-lit fans - business people are no different)
- what order will keep the audience with you, without distracting them or boring them?
- how are you going to end?
Get your plotting right and your chances of getting what you want are greatly increased.
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