There are various excuses:
Guess what? You will always perform better when you are well prepared. This applies to many activities especially presentations.
Review what you know and don’t know about the audience. What might they be looking for? Why are they even going to listen to you? What might be their mindset about you and your message?
Be clear on your purpose and message. Sum up your key message in six to ten words. This will take both time and thought. And it’s worth the investment because this is the foundation of preparation.
When you have a clear purpose and message you will create a more effective presentation. It will be easier to review and edit your presentation. You will recognise what to emphasise and what parts are expendable.
That last point is important when you find that your time has been cut and you need to leave something out.
You might rehearse the full presentation a few times to get used to the flow and timing.
Identify the key parts of your presentation and rehearse these segments until you have them strong. The key parts should include your opening, your close, your call to action and your stories.
You want to own these parts of the presentation. Don’t read the key parts. Know them as well as you know your own name.
It’s okay if the less important parts are a bit weaker, (a bit weaker, not lousy).
Rehearse how you will answer anticipated questions because your answers are a critical part of the presentation.
Rehearse how you will respond to unanticipated questions. What’s important here is how you respond. How will you manage surprise, attack or uncertainty? They’ll be judging you on your reaction.
Finally, be aware of the logistics, technology and setup of the presentation environment. If you don’t control these details, ask about the details and talk with the people handling the details. Tell them how you plan to deliver and what you want from them. Then be prepared to deal with the shortcomings and for when things go wrong.
In a live presentation this means getting into the room ahead of time (not always possible), to check the setup and test equipment. Talk with the AV technicians and develop a positive working relationship.
Remember the scout motto, Be Prepared.
That’s more than a mindset. It’s about the details and effort that happens before you start speaking.
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