The Objective
Just after setting the topic of the presentation you have to think about its objective.
Ask yourself the following questions and note the answers. This exercise will help you to identify the objective.
Put yourself in the shoes of a guide who has been asked to lead a group of people. Whether you use a GPS receiver or a traditional map, you need to identify three elements:
1. The destination.
2. The current position of the group.
3. The route you will follow.
When you are a presenter you will do exactly the same thing. You will first identify the destination-where you will want your audience to be after the presentation.
Then you need to identify what is their position now-the level of information or knowledge they have at the moment.
Finally, the route is the means you will use to lead the audience to the desired outcome-the objective of the presentation.
Assess the presentation
Has the audience reached their ‘destination’, in other words have you managed to achieve your objective? At the end of the presentation it is important to receive feedback from the audience not only as regards your skills as a presenter but as regards the degree of success in conveying your message across. In addition, comments as regards the venue and the overall organization would be helpful information for future reference.
If the objective of a presentation is to sell a product or service, then the success is easily identifiable. However, if the objective is not so tangible, then you need to probe your audience in order to evaluate the presentation. Remember that a successful presentation is the one that gets your message across to your audience.