TIPS ON DESIGNING YOUR FINAL PRESENTATION
When giving a presentation, the tendency of many people is to throw as much information as possible at the audience. The tendency of the audience in those cases is to realize that there's no way it's going to remember such a barrage of information. Therefore, it might as well tune out and wait for the report.

Good presenters realize the limits of what the audience can take in and remember. They:

• Pare down the information to what the audience needs and wants.
• Design the presentation around key points to get the message across.
• Prepare supporting materials, such as visual aids, to amplify or clarify the message.

"DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF YOU, CHANCES ARE THEY AREN'T THINKING OF YOU AT ALL."

Analyze Your Audience
The first step in preparing an effective presentation is to analyze your audience. By analyzing your audience, you find out what information they (not you) consider interesting and valuable. And you can gauge the knowledge of the topic - and thus design the presentation with the appropriate amount of jargon and detail. "How to figure the cost of living: Take your income and add 10 %."

The second step is by adding a few words of wisdom to help retain their attention. Do quote some anecdotes, a few relevant one-liners and the most important of all, jokes to keep the mood lighter & pace going.

"DON'T ENVY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVERYTHING, MAY BE THEY HAVENT PAID FOR IT YET."

Define Your Goal
Once you have analyzed your audience, you can define the goal of the presentation by asking yourself "What do I want my audience to know, do, or believe when they leave my presentation?" For example, do you want your audience to be able to use the project results as soon as the presentation is over? Or do you want the audience to be convinced of the project's importance so that it reads the more detailed report?

"NINE- TENTHS OF WISDOM IS BEING WISE IN TIME. "

Choose Key Elements
The next step is to choose the essential elements of the presentation. These are the essential facts, processes, actions, ideas, or benefits that the audience must see and understand to achieve the goal of the presentation. There should be no more than five or six key elements. If there are more, they are not essential. Once you have determined the five or six key points of your presentation, determine the order in which you will present them. The sequence will depend in large part on the information you're providing. Note, however, that it is the first and last points that the audience remembers most. So the most essential of the essentials should be put in one of those positions. Also make sure that the presentation flows smoothly from one key point to the next. Jumping around from topic to topic is confusing, and you will probably lose the audience.

Essential Element Packets
Presentations are more than just a series of key points. Each point must be supported with evidence, made relevant to the topic, and connected logically to what's been said before For each key element, prepare an "essential element packet" that includes a transition phrase to tie the element to the previous point, supporting evidence, and a statement that explains why the key point is relevant. Close out the packet with a key point "sequel" that restates the key point. Once you have all the essential elements - with complete, accompanying - with complete, accompanying "packets" - in order, you have designed you presentation.

How Not to Be Nervous

• Don't wait till the last minute to prepare the presentation.
• Videotape rehearsals to smoothen the presentation.
• Breathe deeply, before and during the presentation.
• Focus on relaxing. Loosen your hands and lower your shoulders. And smile.
• Remember that you are not expected to be perfect. So just enjoy yourself!

Opening and Closing A Presentation
When opening a presentation, preview what you are about to present. And explain to the audience why the presentation is valuable for them. Here's an example:
"During the next forty-five minutes, I am going to present the four key features of the upgraded inventory management system: [briefly name the four features]. When we've finished, you will already be able to use most of the functions of the new system independently. I will also be giving you a handout that will help you learn the entire system within a week."

When closing the presentation, don't ask "Are there any questions?" First, people have been sitting patiently in their seat, they have a lot of information to process, and they are ready to go. Let your people go.
Second, as we mentioned before, your audience remembers best what it heard last. If someone in the Q & A starts arguing with you, the audience is going to remember your off-the cuff defense more than the carefully chosen key points of the presentation. Getting questions from the audience is important. But it's better to do it during the presentation than at the end. A presentation that has an ongoing back-and-forth between the audience and the presenter is much more effective than a speech followed by a Q & A.

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