The third effective presentation principle is to know your main purpose in every presentation, and that is to persuade. It’s to get your audiences to change their behavior, to take away your message and do something. Since people have short attention and retention spans, present only what they need to hear to be persuaded to accept your message. You want people to react in response to your message. Perhaps you want them to change a behavior or purchase something. What is your ultimate goal? By understanding that, you¡¦re at a better place to decide what their fears, stresses, and problems are. You can then address those and fix them with the solution, ideas, or advice that you provide.

1. Prepare to Give a Successful Presentation.

First, let’s take a look at preparation. You must:

• Be audience-oriented.
• Focus on value.
• Focus on the audience’s needs and wants.
• Know that they have short attention spans.
• Know that you’re trying to persuade them and you don¡¦t have much time.

In preparing to create an effective presentation, there are many things that you need to keep in mind when you are getting ready to go out and give this powerful speech.

I’ve always said there are only three types of presentations you can give: the one you planned to give, the one you gave, and the one you wish you would have given. The way to avoid the last one from happening is to follow five steps: