When you’re crafting your presentation, start by figuring out two important things.
First, you need to be able to boil your message down to a sentence or two. What are you trying to convey? What’s the kernel of your content? This shouldn’t be a multi-paragraph summary of details. Instead, spend some time determining the main thrust of your message.
Second, figure out what you want the people listening to you to do with your message. Do you want them to feel empowered? Outraged? Ready for action? Inspired? Excited to rally together? Confident that they can apply your idea to their situation? Curious to learn more?
Once you’re clear about the crux of your message and the outcome you seek, apply these as filters to the other decisions you make as you’re preparing. Considering adding a new section to your talk? Make sure it serves the message and the outcome. Your boss wants you to insert three new slides? See if they pass the content/intention tests.
When you align content and outcome, you make it easy for the audience to understand and act on your message.
