Good Presentation Skills Means Knowing Your Audience in Advance
Sometimes we get so caught up in the idea of public speaking - be it from nervousness or excitement - that we often do not have a clear idea about those to whom we will be addressing. In truth, you cannot even begin to create your presentation until you know about your audience. And, the best way to gain that information is to ask. Someone is going to email you, phone you, or send you an actual letter with an invitation to speak to their group or at their conference. Your job is to then ask questions. Speak directly to the individual inviting you. If the person inviting you is calling you on behalf of someone else, ask the questions anyway. Make a list of the questions for which you need answers; refer to them throughout your conversation; and, if the individual inviting you does not know the answer, make sure he or she gets back to you. If a company is hiring you to speak to their employees, find out the level of the employees. Will it be just the managers and/or the top level adminis...