“Help! I have no idea how to make a presentation.”

As a mentor, you hear it all the time: What should I say? Can I read from my slides? What if they don’t like my ideas? I am no good at fancy graphics? I think my printer is on the blink!

Any excuse, which will prevent the petrified presenter from going out and doing the one thing they are good at – telling the potential audience just why they have a cracking idea that deserves a chance! Ironic.

There is no shortage of advice on the web. Have a look at “5 tips for a great presentation“. In a nutshell, it is all about telling a concise and enticing story. And like everything else in life, in order to do it well, you have to practice, repeatedly.

Simple, no?

I used to be part of the frightened crowd. Then, about 15 years ago, I saw my boss at the time give a talk on a subject about which he knew nothing, but I was well-informed. While he missed out key points, but the audience found it fascinating. And I had to ask myself what made him such a hit.

He had stuck to his theme, had some clear slides, and spoke fluently – at least as if he knew what he was talking about. Simple? Yes.

This week, I had the good fortune to attend a seminar in Tel Aviv, cohosted by Profeel. This is a new outfit, which has brought together a group of business mentors from different backgrounds. (I declare that I am one of them). There was guest talk from “Debate Company“, which has a track record in helping executives deliver their message.

The discussion revolved around the importance of counter-intuitive messages and how to project them. It is not just good enough to talk to your audience. You need to be convincing. But how?

The short video on Debate’s website provides an interesting check list:

• Be brief
• Share your experience and knowledge
• Think how your presentation will help lead the audience to the outcome you want
• Look for impact

I invite to view the other short clips, probably the most practical offering I have yet seen on the subject.

And here’s a well-known secret. In order to deliver a good presentation may take a heck of a lot of preparation, but we are all capable of getting it right.