Tip 4: Make sure the topic is right for you
Before you truly launch into the planning of your presentation, step back and think about whether this is the right presentation for you to be doing. Is it the right topic for you, and are you the right person for this topic? Rather than the person who invited you, you yourself should know whether it is appropriate for you to be giving this presentation.
Maybe you have been given the freedom to select a topic of your choice, in which case you are clearly onto a winner! You simply can’t go wrong. Just skip over this tip and read on for advice about how to select the right topic.
If you are not so lucky and have been given a pre-set title or subject area, then think carefully about whether you can do it justice. Be sincere about this though, and never decline an invitation simply out of fear of public speaking.
“I already know about this topic”
If you are the resident expert on this topic, then jump into it head-first because having expertise and enthusiasm are key ingredients for a successful presentation.
A word of caution though – remember to take into consideration the level of expertise of your audience in relation to your own.
“I could do some research into this topic”
Think about your own level of expertise right now, and whether it will be possible to research the topic further. Think about how much time is required to gather data, whether you have the tools to analyse, process and comprehend the information, and the likely learning needs of your audience.
If you feel it would be possible to get up to speed on the given topic in a timely fashion, then carry on and commit yourself to doing just that.
If you are a student, remember that students are often deliberately given topics that they know nothing about – the research for the presentation is part of the learning process.
“I don’t know about this topic, and I cannot research it”
If because of time pressures or your complete lack of interest in the field, you feel that you are not able to give the audience what they may want from this presentation, then it is best to politely decline the invitation as soon as possible. It is common courtesy to recommend someone else may be able to do it, if possible.
Generally, you should decline an invitation if you are not sufficiently knowledgeable on the topic and are not able to prepare for it, if you feel you are not the right person for the job, or if you think that you cannot give the audience what they need.
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