This article aims to provide readers with recommendations on delivering effective and engaging presentations. The author begins by introducing a story of a shy Masai teenager who managed to give a successful TED talk at the age of 12. After continuous work on his speech, presentation skills, and confidence, he presented his brilliant invention to a broad audience that responded with a standing ovation. With this example, the author emphasizes that inexperienced presenters can learn to frame and deliver successful talks. The article claims that it is possible to transform any speaker’s delivery and content, ensuring an engaging experience for the target audience. In particular, Anderson (2013) describes a five-stage process developed to help presenters prepare an effective talk. The article discusses each of the five steps in a separate section, providing guidelines and recommendations to the reader.
The author’s intention is to provide a framework for presenters, emphasizing the key components of the preparation process. The first step is to frame the story that is worth sharing with the audience. The article highlights the essential parts of the talk, such as the beginning and the end, and their importance. The second step is planning and rehearsing the delivery to ensure a smooth flow of words. The third step involves working on stage presence and handling nervousness. The fourth step is to plan the multimedia and use visuals effectively. The fifth step includes final preparations and rehearsals that allow for obtaining constructive criticism and feedback. Overall, the author describes an efficient process aiming to help a speaker deliver a talk successfully. Furthermore, the article provides recommendations on finding the balance between data and narrative and warns the reader about ten common ways to ruin a presentation.
Reference
Anderson, C. (2013). How to give a killer presentation.Harvard Business Review. Web.