Long ago I realized that one of the big problems with most presentations is that they are unfocused. It is an error that starts right at the beginning of the creation process and can poison the entire effort. Without a focus for the presentation the speaker will wonder off into the land of “way too much information.” For the audience the result is that communication and retention are almost zero. Boredom and frustration are guaranteed.
The solution is to develop a “Big Idea” as the first process in building your presentation. The big idea is simply that one thing you must say to your audience to get them to go where you want them to go.
Think of it as a road trip. Know your audience — they are your passenger. Decide where you want to take them. Then develop your Big Idea as the vehicle that will get them there.
