Presentations are opportunities... to communicate information and ideas; to persuade people to take a new or different course of action; to sell an idea or a product; and to gain commitment.

Creating Powerful Presentations takes students from the initial “call to present” to a completed script and effective visual aids. It explains how to formulate objectives, analyse audience needs and tailor their approach appropriately. It provides tools and techniques to help plan and write a well structured, compelling presentation. And it shows students how to design and use effective visual aids so that their presentations result in positive action.

COURSE TOPICS:

Module 1 (48 mins) Planning the Presentation
Thinking about the Presentation
Getting Started
Developing Key Messages

Module 2 (26 mins) Writing for Clarity and Impact
Structuring the Presentation
Bringing the Message Alive

Module 3 (41 mins) Getting and Keeping Attention
Compelling Openers and Closes
Creating Support Materials

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

Once students have completed this programme they will be able to write effective and powerful business presentations. Specifically they will learn how to:

• Make a high level plan for a presentation: set objectives, analyse the audience, plan the logistics and decide an overall presentation style.
• Develop strong key messages and an appropriate structure for their presentation.
• Bring their messages to life using techniques such as the rule of threes, making it human and using suspense.
• Write powerful presentation openers and closes that get their message across.
• Create effective visual aids and support materials.

SPECIAL FEATURES

• In the online learning, video examples from 3 fictional organisations help students observe, analyse and evaluate different business situations.
• Printable worksheets and job aids provide students with reminders for the workplace.

WORKSHOP OUTLINE

The purpose of this workshop is to help participants feel confident to write a powerful presentation in which the content meets the needs of its audience.

WORKSHOP SESSIONS

Part 1

Before You Write
This introduction session helps participants get to know each other and share information about the indicators of powerful presentations that they would like to focus on improving in the workshop. This helps their peers to target feedback in the right areas and ensures their priorities are linked to factors that directly impact the success of their presentations.

Thinking About a Presentation Case Study
The pre-work (if completed) and the practice on their own presentation included in this session help participants to understand the concepts and to value high-level planning. This session aims to extend their skills by providing additional practice and give them a richer understanding before refining their own presentation.

Part 2

Writing the Presentation
This session continues with the case study started in the previous session. Participants build on the broad approach developed there and practice a particular method of developing key messages which reinforces the importance of understanding the audience’s needs and expectations.

Developing Key Messages for your Presentation
This session gives participants the opportunity to work through key message development with their colleagues and exchange ideas and feedback.

Structuring the Presentation
This session continues with the case study developed in previous sessions and provides additional practice. Participants experiment with different ways of structuring the same key messages to assess the impact and clarity of the presentation.

Structuring Your Own Presentation
In this session participants discuss with their colleagues the structure they’ve chosen for their presentation and get constructive criticism and feedback.

Bringing the Message Alive
If all of the above sessions have been included in the workshop, participants will have a draft presentation with their key messages solidified and a structure finalised. The purpose of this session is to encourage people to personalise their message and use expressive language to create interest.

Creating Compelling Openers and Closes
This session help people refine their first use of the mnemonic INTRO techniques and clarify their plans for their opening and closing statements.

Creating Support Materials
This session focuses on the most common kind of visual aid - the slide presentation. Participants are given practice in the positive use of slides - matching audience and slide and creating appropriate and useful text/graphic aids.

Closing Session
This session closes the workshop and provides the launch pad for the transfer of learning back into the workplace.