How to Make Presentation Recommending Action

Prepare adequately to ensure your presentation has maximum impact.

Whether you're advocating for social change or fixes to your organization's recruitment structure, a successful presentation can help you achieve the action you desire. Even if you're not a confident public speaker, preparation and analysis can enable you to make an impact. There are several critical steps to keep in mind when making a presentation recommending action.

Instructions

Preparation

1. Consider the perspectives and expectations of the people in your audience. What outcomes are they looking for? What tone, language and approach will appeal to your audience?

2. Prepare for likely questions beforehand. Play devil's advocate and consider what criticisms or confusion might arise from your presentation.

3. Discuss your recommendations with key stakeholders to get their input and buy-in. Implement their insights in your presentation.

4. Practice delivering the presentation. Know the material well enough that you can speak extemporaneously on the topic without notes.

Presentation

1. Explain the purpose of your presentation. For instance, you might state that you were assigned by your boss to evaluate your organization's recruitment process and to provide recommendations.

2. Briefly detail the means by which you developed your recommendations. For example, you might have called other organizations in the sector, performed Internet research and interviewed staff members.

3. Explain the current situation that requires action. Identify any challenges that you will address with your recommendations. For instance, if evaluating your organization's recruitment strategy, you might provide a step-by-step summary of the process that occurs from the time a job opens to when the job is filled.

4. Provide your recommendations for action, offering clear and specific examples of how they should be implemented. For instance, if you recommend that your organization expand its recruitment efforts to reach a greater pool of potential candidates, detail a few specific venues by which they could do so, such as a local professionals organization. If you have more than four or five recommendations, group them some recommendations together.

5. Note the costs of implementing each recommendation.

6. Explain the potential benefits of implementing your recommendations, such as decreased costs. Be as specific as possible and offer evidence from your claims. Appeal to your organization's mission, whether that is to create profit or seek social change.

7. Summarize your recommendations, contrasting the potential gains with the costs. Be sure to note any costs that will occur if action is not taken.

8. Conclude with a short, easy-to-understand call to action. For instance, remind your audience that by making a few small changes to your organization's recruitment process, you have the opportunity to significantly increase your organization's capacity in the long-term.

9. Answer questions from your audience. Don't dismiss any questions that seem resistant to change. Be willing to consider criticism, but also defend your recommendations.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't provide lengthy hand-outs prior to your presentation that could distract your audience.

References

• Speaking About Presenting; 6 Secrets to get People to Take Action after your Presentation; Olivia Mitchell
• "Harvard Business Review"; Two Rules for a Successful Presentation; Nick Morgan; May 14, 2010
• Little Things Matter; 10 Key Elements of a Persuasive Presentation; Todd Smith; February 15, 2011
• "Fast Company"; Are Your Presentations Powerful Or Pathetic?; Lisa Nirrell; June 15, 2011