Be Heard and Remembered: How to Prepare for a Big Presentation

The stakes were high for everyone. The selection of the executive search firm, not to mention the CEO the firm would be tasked with finding, was going to be critically important, expensive, and have long-term impact. So you’d think these three finalists among the search firms vying to run the CEO search would have strategized, practiced, watched film, and worked with coaches. Just like a sports team does before a big game.

As I watched the finalist presentations, though, it was obvious that they had not. At the very least, they could have done more. They could have been so much better.

Where should they have devoted their preparation time? The slides? The talking points?

Sure, those things matter, but experience and research overwhelmingly reveal that:

1. People make decisions based on how they feel more than what they know. So, preparation should focus much more on how it will be presented rather than what will be presented.
2. People forget nearly all of what they hear within a very short time. Your presentation will be like most dreams: After it’s done, it will be very difficult to recall. So, preparation should center on what you want them to remember.

Next time you have an important presentation to deliver, don’t make the mistake of skimping on your prep work. Here’s a simple guide for preparing how to deliver a message that people will remember.

Clarify the Meta-Details

More important than the slides, the talking points, or the outline, you have to be crystal clear on these meta-details:

1. The audience: Who they are, why they are there, and what they want. Dale Carnegie presentation training emphasizes that your presentation is not about you; it’s about your audience.
2. The storyline: If you were to boil it down to the essence, what would your point be? Can you concisely explain the problem you’re addressing, how it can be addressed, and what benefit will occur after it’s been addressed? This is your essential thumbnail.
3. The attributes: What do you want people to think and feel about you and your message? Should they find you inspiring? Funny? Confident? Reassuring? These attributes should guide your delivery.
4. The bookends: How will you start and end? And will you be transitioning to anyone else during the presentation? People remember the first and last things they hear, and they remember how you interact with co-presenters because it reflects the way you relate to others. Make the start, transition, and finish your strongest moments.

Put the Talking Points in their Proper Place

The content you develop for your presentation should be strong. When you know your key points, you’ll be able to stay on message with confidence. That said, don’t lean too heavily on notes or scripted lines. Get the message in your soul and make it a conversation with the audience. Even the most formal presentations should feel like you’re talking with people rather than to them or at them.

Throughout 15 years of coaching presenters and delivering different types of presentations, I’ve seen how vital it is to have your audience connect with you more than your content. How do you accomplish that? The same way that you would with someone one on one: Relax, be yourself, focus on the other person, pick up cues about their engagement, interact, and trust yourself.

Know Your Role in the Storyline

Since audiences remember less about what you say than about the way you make them feel, channel the mindset of the “role” you play in this story. And keep in mind, your message will likely resonate with them more if you’re part of the supporting cast, rather than the hero. Make them the hero.

How would you describe your role in the story? Are you the calm narrator? The reliable sidekick? The wise advisor? The empathetic supporter? The inspiring coach?

Get into that mindset and feel it.

Your role also probably has 1-3 main points. Slow down and emphasize them. If the audience remembers one specific thing you said, make sure it’s the main point. They will forget the detail.

Make sure they also remember how much you esteem and enjoy your co-presenters (assuming you do). Your handoffs aren’t just logistical. They are an opportunity to demonstrate the genuine camaraderie and respect you have for the other players in the storyline.

How Do You Prepare for a High-Stakes Presentation?

Get your content and slides straight. But more importantly:

1. clarify the meta-details
2. put the talking points in their proper place, and
3. know your role in the storyline.

Let this be your guide as you prepare, and you’ll deliver a presentation your audience will remember — for all the right reasons.

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