HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations

01Get your ducks in a row before you hit the stage

Nancy Duarte has a simple yet powerful message: preparation is the secret sauce to getting things done. This isn't just about getting ready for a presentation, but it applies to all areas of life and work. In our fast-paced world, we often find ourselves rushing through tasks. We send emails without double-checking, post blogs without a second glance, or give presentations without a proper run-through. Duarte calls this the 'first-draft' approach, and it's not the best way to go about things. She believes that excellence comes from careful crafting, tweaking, and rehearsing. Let's take the example of preparing for a presentation. You might think that a shorter presentation needs less preparation than a longer one. But Duarte thinks differently. She believes that it takes more planning to condense your ideas into a few key points for a short presentation than it does to create a long one. This is because every word and every slide in a short presentation needs to pack a punch. But preparation isn't just about creating the content of your presentation. It's also about practicing your delivery, thinking about possible questions, and preparing answers. It's about understanding your audience and shaping your message to fit their needs and interests. Duarte uses her own experiences to highlight the importance of preparation. She talks about times when lack of preparation led to embarrassing moments, like loading the wrong presentation or walking onstage with her skirt tucked into her underwear. These experiences, she says, could have been avoided with a bit of planning. But preparation isn't just about avoiding blunders. It's also about maximizing success. Duarte says that her most successful presentations were the ones she prepared for meticulously. The benefits of preparation go beyond presentations. By being well-prepared, you can win others over to your ideas, secure resources to carry them out, and gain influence in your organization. Preparation can lead to more deals, support from decision-makers, and career advancement. In a nutshell, Duarte's message is this: preparation is the key to getting things done. Whether you're getting ready for a presentation, a meeting, or a project, investing time and effort in preparation can lead to better results and greater success.