33 Steps to Great Presentations

I love making presentations. Equally, I recognise public speaking is a challenge that can make many people very nervous. In fact, it can be downright terrifying.

This has led me to spend hours discussing what it takes to present successfully with numerous colleagues and friends. We’ve hung our heads after the horrors, when it all went terribly wrong: those were the times to make an honest assessment of what we could have improved. We’ve also celebrated together when it’s gone well, yet still hunted for those polishings and sharpenings that could make it even better next time.

Over the last twenty years, I’ve coached hundreds of people and get a huge kick out of seeing them improve their presentations skills. I love seeing the kick they get out of it for themselves too.

In this book, I’m very happy to share the essentials of how to prepare, deliver and follow up on a great presentation. And finally you’ll find yourself perfectly capable of giving a complete presentation in just three minutes.

• Author Bio: David Beckett
• Why I wrote this book and how it will help you
• The Three Minute Promise
• Why making good presentations is important
• The good news

1. Preparing Your Presentation
   1. Prepare your platform
   2. How much time to spend on preparation
   3. Get started with your preparation well in advance
   4. Communication is what the listener does
   5. Assess your audience’s expectations
   6. Know your venue and how to get there
   7. Focus on your delivery more than the details
   8. Test-drive your talk
   9. Use PowerPoint as a tool and consider other options
   10. Use the Power of Three
   11. Put your presentation together on Post-it notes
   12. Keep the details on your slides to a minimum
   13. Construct your slides: simple, clear, concise
   14. Check out the equipment at the presentation venue
   15. Buy yourself 10% extra confidence
   16. Preparing Your Presentation: Summary
2. Delivering Your Presentation
   1. Gain confidence by visualising in advance
   2. Keep calm if you make mistakes
   3. Ensure they remember the important stuff
   4. Don’t learn your script
   5. The first 60 seconds
   6. Use body language to express yourself
   7. Emphasise your message by using your hands in a conscious way
   8. Break through the voice barrier: listen to yourself
   9. Share your eye contact
   10. Make it interactive once you’ve gained confidence
   11. The standing up game
   12. How to manage a Q&A session
   13. Give handouts at the end, never at the beginning
   14. Finish with a bang
   15. Follow up
   16. Delivering Your Presentation: Summary
3. Three Minute Presentation
   1. You really can do all this in three minutes
   2. Prepare an elevator pitch
   3. Practice makes perfect, again and again
   4. The Three Minute Presentation: Summary
4. Final Thoughts: Get advice and feedback wherever you can