To establish utmost credibility in an innovative presentation, know your information completely and be able to give in-depth facts, statistics, and other data without referring to your slides or notes. Being articulate and organized in your communication without employing slides as a crutch testifies to your knowledge of the situation, the problem, and the proposed solution.
Anticipate tough questions and have a strategy and answer at the ready to handle them with grace and poise.
How to tell a compelling story in your innovative presentation
Executives often trust their intuition more than they do sterile data. A brief, interesting, relevant story that highlights or supports your key points can be invaluable, especially if you can tell the story with video that includes examples, metaphors, testimonials, quotations, or embedded facts and statistics that illuminate and support your presentation’s focus.
A good story with a strong moral at the end is memorable and impactful, both intellectually and emotionally. Tom Peters said, “The best leaders … almost without exception and at every level are master users of stories and symbols.”
How to describe implications and situations in innovative presentations
When you’re giving facts, statistics, or examples, or telling brief stories, indicate what that data shows and proves — such as definite trends, solid relationships, accurate projections/forecasts, causes and effects, consequences, and undeniable conclusions. Indicate likely risks, probabilities, options/alternatives, and tradeoffs to help executives accurately assess your recommendation.
How to plan time wisely in your innovative presentation
Unlike a conference where you have about ten minutes for a question-and-answer session (Q & A), a presentation to executives demands ample time for questions. Plan to give the same amount of time to your presentation and the Q &A.
If you have 30 minutes allotted for your presentation, for example, then plan on giving a 15-minute presentation and leave 15 minutes to answer questions. The Q & A is a way of engaging your group and encouraging feedback about your topic. Always plan to end on schedule or even a bit early — never run over! Your audience will appreciate that you understand the value of their time.
