Prepare

Preparation is the most important part of a successful presentation. Better preparation refines your content, improves your presentation, and simplifies your editing. In short, effective preparation makes everything easier.

United States President Abraham Lincoln well illustrates the importance of preparation when he said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

You’ve probably heard the common podcasting time ratio: 4 minutes of work for every 1 minute of content. While the actual ratio may vary, the more of those minutes you invest in preparing before you present, the fewer minutes you’ll have to spend afterward.

Preparing is also more than jotting an outline. It’s really about knowing how you’ll make the outline work for you and your audience.

As you prepare to present your content, focus on your opening, transitions, and closing. And most importantly, what are the takeaways you want to reinforce throughout your presentation? Prepare for these, and your presentation will be much better.