By James A. Baker · Founder, Baker Communications
1. Do your homework. A great presentation starts days, or even weeks in advance. Be sure you allow adequate time to think through what needs to be said, how you want to say it, and then practice and refine your delivery strategy. Jotting a few notes on the back of napkin, or downloading an article off the Internet, is the kiss of death if you are hoping to give an effective presentation.
3. Develop a strong opening that will instantly get your audience’s attention. It could be anything – a bold, outrageous statement; an amazing statistic or a challenging quote; perhaps even a quick, tasteful joke or funny story. You must draw the audience in so they will be anxious to hear what you have to say next.
