How to Prepare a Presentation – Video

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How to Prepare a Presentation: Start Without PowerPoint

This video sets out a clear, practical way to prepare a strong presentation. You’ll hear why you should start with a blank sheet rather than PowerPoint, how to understand your audience properly and how to shape the messages that will change what they think or do.

What you’ll learn

• Why starting without PowerPoint leads to a stronger presentation
• How to understand what your audience want and how to engage them
• How to define your intent before writing a single slide
• How to shape messages that support that intent
• Why strong beginnings and endings make such a difference

Short summary: How to Prepare a Great Presentation

This video explains a simple approach to planning presentations. Begin by setting PowerPoint aside and working out what you want people to think or do. Shape your ideas around the needs and expectations of your audience, then decide the messages that will achieve that change. Only after that should you consider structure, beginnings and endings, and whether you need slides at all. This process leads to clearer thinking and far better delivery.

Mini FAQ

Why shouldn’t I start with PowerPoint?
Slides steer your thinking too early. A blank sheet helps you work out your message before choosing any visuals.

What’s the first step in preparing a presentation?
Understand your audience. Who they are, what they think and what they want from you.

What is “intent” in a presentation?
It’s the change you want to create in your audience’s mind or behaviour. Your messages should support that goal.

Do I always need slides?
Not always. Decide at the end whether slides add clarity or simply repeat what you’re already saying.

Cleaned transcript (lightly edited)

Transcript

People often ask how to prepare a presentation. My big tip is not to start with PowerPoint. Take a blank sheet and work out what you want to achieve, what the audience want and the messages you want them to take away. If you spend time thinking about this early, you’re far more likely to deliver a good presentation. Then build a structure, especially the beginning and end. Only at the very end decide whether you need any slides.

The first step is to understand the audience. Who are they? What do they think? How can you engage with them? Do your homework. If you find the right way to connect with them, you’ve completed the most important early step.

There are three things that matter when preparing a presentation. You need to understand your audience. You need to understand your intent, the shift you want to create in their mind or behaviour. And you need to understand the messages that will achieve that intent. Get these right and you’re already well on your way.

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Useful Links

• plan you presentation on paper
• shape your message
• understand what your audience want
• decide whether you need slides
• Ultimate Guide to Presenting Confidently