Leadership – 5 Building Blocks to Presenting Information Effectively
BusinessAs a leader, you will need to present information effectively. For those with a professional background, the challenge of presenting information effectively can be even more challenging. So what 5 blocks do you need to address to present information most effectively?
Block 1: Not planning
Professionals by nature tend to enjoy doing much more than planning. In truth, though, when it comes to presenting information, you need to plan carefully. In planning, some of the key things to consider include:
o The needs of the audience or recipients of the information.
o The method(s) of presentation that will have the greatest impact.
o The result you want as a result of the presentation of the information.
Block 2: Get lost in the detail
There is a place for detailed information. For example, accounting standards largely determine the format and style in which statutory financial accounts are presented. However, when you’re the professional expert on a leadership team, you have to sift through the details and get to the highlights. Step back and ask yourself what the key messages are.
Block 3: Using too much jargon
The use of jargon when presenting information is one of the sure ways to limit its effectiveness. When faced with something that is technical and complex, look for things that are less complex but similar in nature to the problem you are trying to explain.
Block 4: Present data instead of information
With advances in computers and software, data has never been more readily available. The problem is that it is too easy to fall into the trap of presenting something that is data but does not inform. Ask yourself what is the question you seek to answer and if what you present informs this.
Block 5: Lack of confidence
Even if you put something in writing, questions are likely to come up. Sometimes it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of lack of confidence when faced with a challenge. In these situations, remind yourself that you are the expert and focus on how best to get your message across.
Conclusion: Presenting information effectively is a basic leadership skill, but at the same time it is challenging. So what blocks do you need to work on to present the information effectively?