Content begins with the presentation basics: brainstorming, researching, analyzing the audience, and outlining (or Sparklining). It’s important to start with why… why does your audience care about this topic, and why are they spending their precious time listening to you? You should also remember JesseDee’s 5 Presentation Lessons from The King’s Speech.
Continue developing your content by focusing on your speech’s introduction:
Work to include storytelling in your presentation no matter what the topic:
- The Power of Story by the Heath brothers
- Nancy Duarte’s Engage Through Story
With a persuasive presentation, the modes of persuasion are essential:
- “3 Pillars of Public Speaking” series by Andrew Dlugan of Six Minutes
Conclude your presentation with help from the following sources:
- Ethos3′s 3 Ways to End a Presentation
- 10 Ways to End Your Speech from Six Minutes
It’s also helpful to analyze other presentations to help you with your content. Check out TED.com or the “Inspiration” section of Creating Communication where I highlight effective TED speeches. Read, understand, and apply the TED Commandments to each of your presentations.
You can also learn “presentation lessons” from anywhere! Take, for example, Ethos3′s “Presentation Lessons” series.
