Getting the audience’s attention

Experts say that the first few minutes of a presentation are the most important. If you are able to get the audience’s attention quickly, they will be interested in what you have to say.

Ask a rhetorical question Is market research important for brand development?

Start with an interesting fact Did you know that fast food consumption has increased by 600% in Europe since 2002?

Tell them a story or anecdote I remember when I attended a meeting in Paris. …

Give them a problem to think about Imagine you had to reorganize the sales department. What would be your first step?

(M. Grussendorf. English for Presentations)

Keep to the checklist for introductions.

1 Welcome the audience.

2 Introduce yourself (name, position / function).

3 State your topic.

4 Explain why your topic is important for the audience.

5 Outline the structure of your talk.

6 ‘What comes when?’ Say when you’ll be dealing with each point.

7 Let the audience know how you’re organizing the presentation.

2. The main part of a presentation

1 Briefly state your topic again.

2 Explain your objective(s).

3 Signal the beginning of each part.

4 Talk about your topic.

5 Signal the end of each part.

6 Highlight the main points.

7 Outline the main ideas in bullet-point form.

8. Tell listeners you’ve reached the end of the main part.

‘Signposting’ phrases

are used to help guide the audience through a presentation.

Saying what is coming In this part of my presentation, I’d like to tell you about…; moving on to the next point This leads directly to the next part of my talk.;

indicating the end of a section This brings me to the end of my second point);

referring back As I mentioned before,…

Let’s go back to what we were discussing earlier;

summarizing a point I’d like to sum up the main points.

Let me briefly summarize what I’ve said so far.

Talking about (difficult) issues:

to identify the problem, to clarify a few points (before we start), to deal with the problem of, to cope with (unfair business practices), to tackle (the distribution problems), to solve the problem, to take care of the problem.

References to other points:

in connection with / concerning, regarding (the quality), with respect / regard to, according to.

Adding ideas:

in addition to…, Moreover / Furthermore, As well as that, Apart from, (We need a new strategy) plus (more people).

Presentation Tips (by Aled Hughes, Miami)

Clear and simple structure Remember that your audience will benefit most from a very clear and logical structure. Don’t overload the audience and try to use simple language.

Your introduction Some experts say this is the most important part of your presentation. In the first few minutes you can get your audience’s attention, build rapport, and create a positive impression.

Topic and objective Clearly say what the topic and objective (or purpose) of your talk is. Repeat the topic and objective at some later time.

Signposting Let the audience know at all times what you want to do and how you want to do it. This method is common in the American business world – so use it!

Repeating new information Always repeat new details. This helps audience to remember them and ensures optimal flow of information.

Summarizing points At the end of each section summarize the main facts to make sure everybody is following.

Interaction with the audience American audiences expect direct interaction. So treat them as individuals; show them that you care about their individual needs.

Presenter’s role The presenter is often considered as important as his or her topic, and the presenter’s role is to make sure the presentation – even one on a dry topic – is interesting and entertaining. To achieve this goal American presenters often use their personalities more and tend to be more enthusiastic than people from many other parts of the world.

(Marion Grussendorf. English for Presentations)