It's not an impossible dream. In fact, it's quite simple to write a great presentation outline.
Research conducted by Stanford University has proven that audiences are 40% more likely to retain information accurately when it's presented with structure, as opposed to free-form.
While there are many ways to create structure, our clients find asking these 3 questions can take presentations from random and scattered to resonant and incredibly sticky.
When outlining the What, your goal is to develop the most realistic representation of your idea. Remember, ideas are difficult to sell because they require your audience to imagine the impact of something that doesn't yet exist. So make it tangible. Make it real. To flesh out your What, ask yourself the following clarifying questions:
What is the purpose of my idea? Another way to ask this is "What is my idea designed to accomplish?" The answer should be simple. Resist the urge to include too much information here. For example, a good purpose might be something like "In order to increase repeat purchases from heaviest users..."
If the What? describes your idea, the So What? describes what your idea will do. Answers to this line of questions can also be called benefits. Benefits themselves are powerful presentation tools, and if you quantify them well, they'll resonate powerfully with your audience. These questions will help you imagine the benefits from their perspective, and assign some values to them for extra stickiness:
Instead of assuming their audiences know what to do next, best-in-class presenters deliver a powerful call to action. This section of your outline should prepare you to write a crystal clear "All you have to do to get these results is..." In other words, what do you want the audience to do as a result of hearing your message? Don't be shy. Tell them! As you prepare, consider the following:
It's easy to incorporate this method – and therefore a little structure – into your daily presentation prep. Asking yourself What? So What? and Now What? might make the difference between your idea's failure and success.
For some additional help, download GatherRound's 3 Questions Worksheet, and keep a copy handy for the next time you're working on selling in an idea. You might surprise yourself at how quickly you're able to assemble a powerful presentation storyline.