The Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Publicly Speak

You have been aked to present. Oh no…where do you start?

Here are several questions that will help you prepare:

Does the presentation fall within the scope set for the speech?

Is it too long – have you fallen into the trap of trying to tell your audience everything you know, regardless?

Will you have enough time to fit all the content in?

If not and the time is fixed, trim some of the content:

* go for an overview instead of detail

* three key points instead of the whole subject

* the two issues of pressing conce
to the audience instead of the ins and outs of the whole matter

Is there too little?

How you thought about what the audience will want to know and the likely questions and objections they could put in your way. Make sure these are covered in your presentation even if this means you have to go out and do further research

Is the level and detail of content right for the audience?

What one audience wants is very different to what another one wants even when the subject matter is the same.

Do you have sufficient information to enable you to achieve your original objective?

Have you broken your subject matter down into manageable chunks of information that the audience will be able to absorb?

Dies each sub section follow on logically from the last and have you developed a link phrase / question to move you and the audience onwards?

Is there a beginning, which outlines the route map your audience will be invited to follow, and an ending which summaries key points and leaves them with a final message?

Is the structure the most suitable for this particular audience – remember different audiences will need different structures.

Is the structure the most effective one to help you achieve your original objective?

Have you picked the most suitable style for this particular audience?

What about your language – is it relevant and will it build rapport between you and the audience?

Have you used examples, comparisons, stories, anecdotes, metaphors, analogies that are meaningful to the audience and which make your language vivid and memorable?

What about your body language – it is supporting what you are saying positively? Watch yourself or ask someone to observe you rehearsing.

Does your voice sound interesting? Are you giving your voice the opportunity to change pace, speed, tone and volume?

Have you thought about supporting visual aids – to clarify, illustrate, liven up the presentation, support what you are saying and grab people’s attention?

Think about the layout of the room – are you going to be able to move smoothly around the available space without looking awkward, tripping up over something?

Have you adopted the correct posture that not only is going to project the right image but which also allows you to breathe effectively?

Got all the answers?

Now you are ready…