You Want Me To Do a Presentation When?

     Do you sometimes get a last-minute plea to give a presentation to a local group? Follow these tips to make sure you’re always prepared for these “filler” speeches.

• Keep a canned presentation on disk. Then you can make minor changes at a moment’s notice.

• Ask questions. Ask your contact person about the group’s information needs (other than their need to have a warm body at the podium) so you can at least customize your speech a bit.

• Don’t panic. Instead of looking at the presentation as a pressure, think of it as an opportunity to talk about your organization.

• Get comfortable. On the day of your presentation, arrive early and get familiar with the room.

• Know your stuff. Be prepared to talk in detail about your organization and its services.