Hey! How have you been?  

After developing an understanding of the fundamentals of a presentation, we will now discuss the basic steps in building one. Although there are numerous ways to create a presentation, there are a few basics to have in mind that will go a long way with you!   

When you are beginning to plan a presentation, it could be overwhelming to you.  

• Where to start? 
• What all to consider? 
• What should be the communication language? 
• What should be the visuals? 
• Am I making myself clear enough? 
• Is the flow actually working?  

There are many such questions that may surround you when you start consolidating your thoughts. And that’s why, there is a step-by-step process that can help you answer the above questions for yourself. 

Of course, there is a whole world of possibilities that can help you while making a presentation. But this time, we are going to go through the basics to get a jist of what goes into making one.

The multiple steps of a presentation process commonly include:  

1. Audience Understanding 
2. Research & Analysis 
3. Messaging & Storytelling 
4. Concept ideation 
5. Design & development 
6. Delivery  

Audience Understanding 

Understanding your audience plays a foundational role while preparing a presentation. As discussed in the previous session, your approach depends upon how your set of audience thinks, and what they are seeking out of that session.

Looking through the lens of your audience helps you with setting the language, selecting keywords, setting up the visual flow, building stories and metaphors, and more.

Research & Analysis  

You seldom know the exact knowledge base of your spectators. Research & Analysis doesn’t only help you with adding validity to your arguments, it also gives you a much better understanding of the reality on the subject you are working on.  

The more you research on the subject, the more avenues open up to you towards the appropriate representation of the information, without missing the point. 

Messaging & storytelling  

The essence of storytelling in your presentation makes it worth listening to. Remember your childhood, when you were told stories that excited you all the time, whether or not they sounded real?  

Use of anecdotes and metaphors with an apt message, preferably told as a story, have a lot of power to captivate your audience and make it much easier to get your point understood.

Concept & ideation   

Any presentation is purposeless without the concept & ideation. Whether you are presenting for a sales pitch, a social movement, an awareness campaign, or for any other purpose, your presentation needs to be neatly tied in a concept which is ideated according to your audience.  

The concept of your presentation is the core idea which you intend to convey. And in order for it to be understood by your audience, it should have a clearer picture in your mind first.  

You get the idea now?  *wink* 

Design and Development  

All the work you do in planning for your presentation ultimately boils down to how it’ll finally look. If you have done everything perfectly but missed the designing of it, there is a chance that your idea is not conveyed or understood at all.  

There are many factors captured under the design: the colors, fonts, use of images, spacing, the negative space, the representation of text, the overall visual language of the presentation, and much more. Design is the unsaid language of communication that creates arguably the most impact. 

Delivery   

If a presentation is a product, the delivery is its sales. The perception of your ideas and the message in the minds of an audience depend upon how you have delivered it. The delivery adds life to the presentation you have created, and enhances its interaction with the intended audience.

When you prepare for a better delivery, you need to focus on factors like your tone of voice, a positive approach, a clear body language, appropriate response to the doubts or interruptions, and many more factors.

While you must be aware of some of the aforementioned points, some of them must be new to you too. Don’t forget to enjoy the process of building presentations while you’re at it!  

This was a brief walkthrough to the world of presentations for you. You can always keep learning and growing as you move ahead.  

Good bye, and have fun with the presentations!  

Note from the educator

If you stick to the above tools while building a presentation, you will always find ways to improve your communication, clarity, and other important aspects. Now that you are introduced to the presentations, keep experimenting as much as you can, and feel free to revert if you've got any questions. See you in the final session! 

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