We have already gone over how to start your presentation or speech as well as the overall structure of it. Now it is time to fill in the body in a way that will make you more effective when public speaking.
You will have already given them a general idea of what is coming, so now you need to collect the information that supports your main point in the most effective way.
Your main point will decide the best structure.
For example, if you were doing a presentation aimed at gaining approval for your project, you might structure your presentation this way:
· The problem or opportunity
· Your proposal
· How the proposal addresses the problem or opportunity
· Benefits of the proposal
· Costs of the proposal
· Why other options won’t work.
However, if you are introducing a new product or service to clients, you might divide the body of your speech into categories such as:
· Benefits
· Features
· Assistance information
· User feedback.
· Cost
If you are presenting an instructional presentation, say for a new telephone system at work, you might do this:
· Benefits of the new system
· Step-by-step instructions
· Examples of how to use the system
· Assistance information
Avoid Cascading Information
As you can see, there are different ways to put together the body of your presentation. The key is to pick one that enables you to back up your main point in a smooth and logical sequence.
Each section of your body should be put together so that it is complete and it supports your main point. Keep each section as tight as possible, eliminating any secondary or tertiary information.
Also, be careful of cascading information. What do I mean by that? It’s when you start adding information that supports the information that supports the main point.
For example, say the main point of the presentation is that a proposed system would save money if adopted. The information to focus on in the body should relate directly to the money saved. For example, the system will enable fewer daily trips from the warehouse to the main building, saving money on labor, gas and wear and tear on the vehicles.
Some presenters would be tempted to point out that by using less gas the new system would also be helping save the environment, which helps improve the public image of the company. That may be true, and it is a benefit. But if you have decided the main point of your presentation is the proposed system would save money, the fact that it may have a positive effect of the company’s public image is irrelevant. In your presentation, stick to the information that backs up your main point.
Remember, you want to keep your listeners focused. They almost always will have other things competing for their attention so trailing off into the weeds should be avoided at all costs.
Also, keep in mind that I am not saying that you should not be aware of secondary information regarding your topic. You should be as well-versed as possible in case someone asks a question that might involve a secondary issue. The key is that your presentation should stick to the primary information that backs up your main point.
Structuring Each Segment
Each segment can be structured the same way your overall presentation is:
· Tell them what you are going to tell them
· Tell them
· Tell them what you told them
Let’s use the presentation of a new product to clients to illustrate.
You might start the section on the product’s benefits by saying, “There are many benefits to product X. Let me explain to you the three main ways this product is going to make your work easier.”
Then you would detail ways A, B, C and end with something like, “And those are the three main ways you will benefit from the product.”
In detailing those three main ways, I would rank them by order of importance, starting with the one that has the biggest benefit.
However, in an instructional presentation, obviously, instructions would be presented in chronological order.
For example, “Now I am going to show you how to do X under the new system.”
You would then say something along the lines of “Do A, Then B, then C and so on,” and end with “And that’s how you do X under the new system.”
Pick the order that you believe would be most effective for your audience. Try to stay consistent with the order you choose, because your presentation will flow more easily. You will be able to guide your audience more smoothly once they understand the pattern you have set up and will follow you more effortlessly.
The less effort they have to put in to understand what you are saying the more likely they will listen and consider what you are saying. That will make them more persuadable and more likely to accept your main point.
Which, of course, is the goal.
The next post will focus on the types of information you can use in each segment to support your main point.
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