Last updated on Jul 20, 2024

You're pressed for time to prepare your presentation. How do you decide which key points to prioritize?

Time is ticking, and you've just been informed that you're up to present. The familiar flutter of anxiety sets in as you realize you're on a tight schedule to prepare. This scenario is not uncommon, but with the right approach, you can identify the key points that will make your presentation impactful and memorable. The essence of effective presentation lies in conveying your message clearly and succinctly, ensuring that your audience takes away the core message even when preparation time is scarce.

1 Understand Goals

To prioritize effectively, begin by understanding the goals of your presentation. What is the intended outcome? Do you aim to inform, persuade, or instruct your audience? By defining the purpose, you can identify the key points that align with your objectives. If your goal is to inform, focus on clarity and facts. For persuasion, prioritize arguments that resonate emotionally and logically. If instructing, ensure that your key points are practical steps or important knowledge that your audience can apply.

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Munesh Prasad
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When under time pressure for a presentation, prioritize key points by focusing on the main message and objectives. Select critical information that directly supports these goals and resonates with your audience. Opt for impactful data, relevant examples, and clear insights. Structure your presentation logically to ensure coherence, and allocate time efficiently, emphasizing essential points that drive home your core message effectively within the allotted timeframe.

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2 Know Audience

Knowing your audience is crucial in deciding which points to highlight. Consider their background, knowledge level, and what they expect to gain from your presentation. If they are experts in the field, you can use more technical language and delve into complex topics. However, if they are novices, simplify your content and focus on foundational ideas. Tailor your key points to their interests to keep them engaged and make your presentation relevant to them.

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Sarah Effiong

Sales Trainer | Founder, Ndu Sales Academy. Empowering Salespeople to thrive • Top Sales Achiever, Marriott 2019 •
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Knowing the audience is highly important prior to giving a presentation. In addition to considering their knowledge level, you must also have demographic and geographic information as these also influence the style of communication and help you avoid any potential barriers to imparting knowledge.

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Mostafa ElTobgy

Medical Representative - MBA
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Know your target audience is a very important perspective to connect their interest to your key goals and keep their attention and communication. Keep it simple then you can enjoy the show.

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3 Main Message

Identify your main message by asking yourself what the one thing is that you want your audience to remember if they forget everything else. This central idea should be the backbone of your presentation. Once identified, build your key points around this message, ensuring they support and reinforce it. This will not only help you prioritize content under time constraints but also provide your audience with a clear takeaway.

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4 Simplify Content

In a time crunch, simplicity is your ally. Resist the urge to cover everything and instead, distill your content down to its most essential elements. Eliminate any fluff or extraneous details that don't serve your main message or goals. Use analogies or stories to explain complex points quickly and effectively. Prioritizing simplicity will help you create a more focused and digestible presentation for your audience.

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Sweety Sonia

B2B Brand Strategist & Designer | 10,000+ designs created for 50+ B2B Brands | Instructional Designer | Image Consultant | Soft Skills Corporate Trainer | 500+ written reviews on Trainings
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"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." – Leonardo da Vinci I think of your presentation as a sculpture; chiseling away the unnecessary parts reveals the true masterpiece.

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5 Visual Aids

Visual aids can be a powerful tool to emphasize key points, especially when time is limited. Use slides, charts, or images to highlight important data or concepts. Ensure that each visual aid is directly related to one of your key points and is easy to understand at a glance. This will not only save you time in verbal explanations but also make your presentation more engaging and memorable for the audience.

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6 Practice Delivery

Finally, even with limited preparation time, practicing your delivery should not be overlooked. Determine which points are most critical and practice how you will present them. Focus on clarity, pacing, and emphasis. A well-delivered point can have more impact than a poorly presented multitude of ideas. Even a brief rehearsal can significantly improve your confidence and the effectiveness of your presentation.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You're pressed for time to prepare your presentation. How do you decide which key points to prioritize?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Understand Goals

2 Know Audience

3 Main Message

4 Simplify Content

5 Visual Aids

6 Practice Delivery

7 Here’s what else to consider

Presentation Skills

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You're pressed for time to prepare your presentation. How do you decide which key points to prioritize?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Understand Goals

2 Know Audience

3 Main Message

4 Simplify Content

5 Visual Aids

6 Practice Delivery

7 Here’s what else to consider

Presentation Skills

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