Tweet

Do You Have Effective Presentation Research Habits?

Guest post by: Milly Sonneman

Article Overview: Research should be the foundation of any successful business presentation. But what is the best way to go about researching -- especially when you're short on time?

Do You Have Effective Presentation Research Habits?

Research should be the foundation of any business presentation. But what is the best way to go about researching -- especially when you're short on time? Contrary to popular practice, you don't have to do all the research before you plan your presentation. In fact, if you've been using this method, it could be contributing to why you haven't seen your family and don't remember what a weekend at home is like.

Many professionals make this common error: doing ALL the research before they begin to plan their presentation. It's a faulty process that could be costing you your personal life and ruining your marriage.

Instead of getting lost in endless hours hunting up data, switch the order of your preparation. This may sound odd at first, but give it a try before you write it off as foolish.

Tip 1: Plan Your Story First

What is the story you want to share with your audience? If you have a clear and compelling message, you will be able to insert the research data into your story.

Focus on how you will announce your story, plan the flow, and summarize for impact. The fastest way to do this is working offline with a Presentation Storyboard.

Researching and planning your story without a storyboard is a lot like putting the cart before the horse. You can have the best cart -- but you won't go anywhere without a horse to pull it. Use a storyboard and you'll go the distance.

Tip 2: Limit Research Time

Instead of giving yourself unlimited time to scour the Internet or company findings, set a time limit. This encourages smart research habits and focused productivity.

If you have the staff, share this work with multiple researchers. If you don't have a large staff, consider training an intern. This creates a powerful opportunity for someone to learn how to do important research. Plus, it frees up your time.

Different people will find unique information and provide you with the data you need. By delegating, you can have a better and more complete picture of the research findings.

Tip 3: Confirm Data Last

Much of the data for critical information is constantly changing. If you hunt down your final data weeks in advance, chances are you'll have to recheck the data at midnight before your final presentation.

This is clearly redundant. Instead of doing all the work again and again, use a placeholder for the data while you plan your story. Then, confirm the final data close to the time when you are delivering your presentation. You'll have the security of knowing you have the most accurate and up-to-the-moment facts.

By switching the sequence and timing of how you research, you can devote your time to areas of your presentation that will directly influence your effectiveness.

Develop your research habits and presentation skills so you can communicate effectively to your audience. Using proven facts and powerful visual stories, you can reach more customers and grow your business.

Related Articles
  Power Presentations Tips 02: Begin with the end in mind
  The Power Of Projecting Confidence and Credibility
  Create New Success Habits!
  Presentation Skill
  Create Habits That Will Serve You Well
  Presentation Success: The First Question You Must Ask
  Professional Presentation Skills
  Public Speaker: Do Not Think on Your Feet
  Create 10 Delightful Daily Habits
  Presentations - Easy as 1 - 2 - 3
  The 4 Buckets for Sales Training that Deliver a Positive Return on Investment
  Where Are Your Habits Leading You?
  Writing Training, Business Communication Training, Presentation Skills Training And Instruction in Effective Communication
  “Strategic Thinking Applied to Making Winning Presentations to Investors”
  How to Speak & Present Without Notes
  Personal Education and Communication Pathways and Pitfalls
  Habits, life choices, decision,health,personal growth,personal development,spirituality
  How to Build Trust and Credibility
  Present the Presentation Confidently
  How to Become a Financial Closer - Medical Sales Training

Article Tags: business presentation, presentation coach, visual story



Related Forum Posts
Re: My 3 best business books - 1. Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill 2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey 3. Permission Marketing - Seth Godin Think and Grow Rich seems more powerful each time I read it or dip into it. The 7 Habits not only offers some very effective ways to organize your life (which I have yet to master!), but also some great quotations and thought provoking statements including this by Nazi concentration camp survivor, Viktor Frankl: [i:2naxzsom]Between stimulus and response, man has the freedom to choose.[/i:2naxzsom] Seth Godin's Permission Marketing is a good read for anybody seeking to understand how to approach doing business on the Internet in the right way with regard to winning people's trust.
Re: Money Does Not Guarantee Happiness - Thanks for singling this point out, Chris. One book that comes to mind that covers it in an overall approach is "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. He addresses our inner life and the way it can change our effectiveness home and at work. There are corporations who have taken this model and effectively molded their business around it.
Re: What I'm reading this weekend - Sept 10, 2010 - Glad you liked it David! I only managed to get partway through the list today because my one year old was looking for some playtime but I did read the Zen Habits one - I love reading Zen Habits while relaxing at a coffee shop!
Re: Essential Leadership skills - Vision Values Mission Strategic Thinking Decision Making Communication Team Bonding People Development Coaching / Mentoring / Guiding / Grooming Presentation Thanks Robert
Re: What I'm reading this weekend - Sept 10, 2010 - I was also interested in the Zen Habits affiliate programme as it might mix well with my business/japan blog...


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

How to Conduct a B2B Marketing Content Audit

Leadership-A Daily Gift

Link Pyramids

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.