1. Harvard ManageMentor®
Laying the Foundation for a Presentation

2. Discussion Topics Defining your objective Knowing your audience
Understanding the context
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3. Defining Your Objective
What presentation are you planning to make?
What is the purpose your presentation?
What would like your audience to do as a result of your presentation?
© Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

4. Knowing Your Audience
What do you need to know about the audience for your presentation? For example:
Is the subject controversial, familiar, or new to them?
How well informed are they about the topic?
What do they expect from your presentation?
Are they accustomed to a certain type of presentation?
Are they there by choice or requirement?
Are they likely to be enthusiastic, apathetic, hostile?
What has helped you obtain this information?
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5. Understanding the Context
How might the context affect your presentation?
Is the situation formal or informal?
Has the audience just finished eating, drinking, working, traveling, etc.?
Who will present before you? After you? How will this affect the audience’s reaction?
Are you the first or last speaker?
What is the format of the program?
What control do you have over the physical environment?
What aspects of the context can you control in a way that would help your audience respond favorably?
How will you manage aspects of your presentation’s context that you may not be able to change?
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6. Next Steps
Use your understanding of these three elements — purpose, audience, and context — to prepare for the presentations discussed today, as well as future presentations.
Consider using the Audience Characteristics Worksheet and Presentation Context Worksheet to help you prepare for future presentations.
© Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.