4 Ps of Effective Presentations

Featured Best Practice on Presentation Development

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Effective presentations are an indispensable element of effective professional communication in today’s world.

A well-designed and well-delivered presentation can aid in transmitting ideas and messages more efficiently.  Effectively presented content facilitates the achievement of objectives and key results.

Effective compilation and delivery of presentations is a critical skill for most executives these days.  Doing so may generate quite a few benefits, both for the presenter and the audience.

The following 4 essential elements should be included in any effective presentation-making process.

1. Plan
2. Prepare
3. Practice
4. Present

The initial 3 elements—i.e. Plan, Prepare, and Practice—are interlinked and overlap in the process.  The Present element stands alone and is possible only after the initial 3 elements have been completed.

The first 3 elements can be structured in either parallel or sequential order.   The serial approach entails working on a single task until it is completed, then moving on to the next task, and so on.

A parallel approach consists of working on a number of tasks at the same time, accomplishing what can be achieved at a time.

Both methods work the same way, as long as the method used is in line with the following traits of the people who made it:

1. Style
2. Experience
3. Background
4. Partialities

Let us delve a little deeper into the details of the 4 elements of presentation.

Planning

Planning a presentation entails pondering beforehand regarding significant parts of it.  Planning involves the following 7 dimensions that need attention:

1. Objectives
2. Audience
3. Content
4. Organization
5. Visuals
6. Setting
7. Delivery

Planning, methodically, using the 7 factors enables the identification of gaps in the ideas generated.

Planning also helps give structure to the presentation, which enables the audience to follow it easily and remain engaged.

Planning ahead enables rehearsing the presentation’s delivery which in turn boosts confidence—a confident presenter is able to convince the audience much better.

Preparing

The most important aspect of the Preparing phase is the use of an effective slide structure.  Slides that are well-designed help to engage the audience and reinforce key messages.

The Consulting Presentation Framework—a slide structure that every top-tier management consulting firm follows, also used by FlevyPro—uses a structure in which every slide has 3 primary components:

1. Headline
2. Body
3. Bumper

Practicing

Practicing a presentation is always a good idea, even if the presenter has already delivered it somewhere else.  A change of setting and audience, as well as the time lapse between presentations, brings up new challenges.

Practicing also has 2 aspects that need to be addressed:

1. Rehearse – This is practicing the things you intend to do.
2. Prehearse – This is practicing and planning for the things you might have to do.

Presenting

Effective presentations are not only about having good content or a well-designed slide deck; the way information is presented can be just as important.  From body language and voice tone to pace and the use of visuals, everything about how the message is delivered can affect how the audience sees it.

Interested in learning more about 4 Ps of Effective Presentations?  You can download an editable PowerPoint presentation on 4 Ps of Effective Presentations here on the Flevy documents marketplace.

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