What Makes a Good Presentation?

In order for a presentation to have an impact on its audience, there are several requirements for both the presenter and the presentation itself. The requirements are as follows:

The presenter/s need to be:

1. Well educated on the topic that is being presented.

While seemingly obvious, this criterion is arguably the factor that will most significantly impact the effectiveness of the presentation. If false information is presented to audience members as fact, it will be detrimental to their understanding of the topic. Moreover, audience members may disseminate the incorrect information to peers and colleagues, further compounding the problem.  

2. Able to demonstrate excellent public speaking skills during the presentation.

The content included in a presentation could be well organized, insightful, and of paramount importance, but if it is not presented in an articulate manner using effectual public speaking skills, the value of the presentation will be severely compromised.

3. Prepared to adapt to any technical difficulties that may occur.

While it is exciting to incorporate technology into presentations, the increased use of technology requires presenters to either have sufficient knowledge or resources to fix any malfunctions that may occur while using the technology that the presentation requires, or a back-up plan that can be implemented in cases where the technology cannot be utilized.

4. Able to connect with the audience.

If the presenter can connect with the audience on a personal level and make the content relevant to the majority of attendees, those listening to the presentation will be more actively engaged and will most likely retain more information compared to if the presenter spoke to each audience using the same, generic references.

The presentation needs to:

1. Be concise.

A very verbose lecture will bore even the most interested audience, so keeping the content to a minimum is recommended.

2. Be engaging.

In addition to the presenter being engaging, the actual presentation itself must be engaging in order to effect the most change. The more directly involved the audience is in the presentation, the more effective the presentation will be.

3. Accommodate various learning styles.

In order for the presentation to be engaging for the majority of attendees, a variety of presentation styles should be utilized to accommodate various learning styles. A verbal presentation that is also presented in written format, most commonly accomplished using software such as PowerPoint, will accommodate both visual and auditory learners. Demonstration stations, if applicable, would serve to benefit kinesthetic learners.

4. Teach new content.

While also seemingly obvious, it is imperative that the presentation contains novel content to audience members. The presentation could be factually correct, well organized, and well presented, but if the audience is already intimately familiar with the information presented, they will not be engaged and the presentation will be meaningless. In certain fields, healthcare being one of them, it is required to refresh certain content yearly, such as CPR certification. In these situations, presenters would be well serviced by identifying what information has changed since the last presentation, and highlighting those variances throughout the presentation.

5. Stay within the allotted time frame, allowing ample time for questions and audience discussion.

Audience members will each possess a unique perspective and set of past experiences that will influence their perception of the content presented. Allowing for audience questions and/or discussion will enable other audience members, in addition to the presenter, to benefit from their knowledge and expertise.