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Vision Presentation Skills

Presentation Skills : Easy Printing Version
Sometimes preaching can seem easy compared with presentation skills required to communicate other ideas or proposals to groups in a different setting. Yet the planning of any form of verbal communication should have four basic elements irrespective of how long it will last.
Stage 1 : Clear Thinking.
We've already covered the need to think carefully and clearly about the vision before starting to communicate it. The second component of this stage is to think about the purpose of your presentation. What are you hoping to achieve? Try to write this down in a single sentence.

Stage 2 : Presentation Structure.
The next step is to write down an outline of your presentation using bullet points. (This is very similar to writing a sermon outline.) Presentations usually have a common structure of an introduction, a conclusion, with two or three main elements. These main elements may sub-divide further, although we recommend you have no more than three main elements to avoid over complicating your presentation.

Presentation Skills
Consider who will be listening to your presentation. What do they know, and how do they feel, about the content of the presentation? In planning the structure, help them hear what they need to know, rather than tell them want you want to say!

You will also need to choose the length of the presentation and your style - how formal or informal do you want to be? Remember, informal presentations require no less preparation, only a different presentation style. Once you've fixed on a length - stick to it!

Stage 3 : Support Materials
Now is the time to add illustrations, materials, visual aids or anecdotes to support your main points. The key point here is to ensure that your material does indeed support your arguments. No matter how good the visual, or how funny the anecdote, unless it supports the flow of the presentation, it should be removed.

Any visuals should be kept simple - far too often overhead slides can be cluttered with too much text. One main message per slide is sufficient, with up to four bullet points. Try to build in some colour or some other visual aid to retain attention.

Stage 4: Delivery of the Presentation
Just as with any important event, a rehearsal of your presentation can be of immense help. You can check timing, practise using your materials and check the flow of your arguments.

Consider your tone and stance - what message does your body convey? (Tip : getting someone to watch or even video your rehearsal can pick up unconscious mannerisms!) Check the practicalities - does the OHP work, and is it in focus? Is there a microphone? Can you be heard?