#92: Giving a good presentation

Hi friends,

A happy Diwali and happy new year to those who have been celebrating this weekend.

I’ve just arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, for a business trip. My corporate job involves frequent travel, giving behavioural finance presentations, and someone recently asked about my preparation process, assuming it requires little effort when talks are similar.

In truth, each presentation demands significant work, as the most critical element is connecting with the audience, which varies greatly each time. A good, well-delivered speech is one thing, but to make it excellent requires connecting to the audience.

Here’s my approach:

Who is my audience?

This is my most important consideration. Understanding your audience is essential because connection drives success. Ask: Why are they attending? What challenges do they face? How can I add value? Tailoring content to resonate ensures the message hits home.

Trust comes through demonstrating credibility. Mastering your subject matter goes a long way, but mastering your audience is just as important.

What do we have in common?

Connections form more naturally with shared experiences. Identifying these is powerful but not always immediately obvious. For example, this week, I’m speaking primarily to businesswomen born and raised in Africa.

Preparation is key. For me, this means becoming a student and learning as much as I can before travelling so I can confidently weave in relevant issues people in that society care about. Once I land, I become a sponge, soaking up as much as possible—conversations during the first taxi ride and interactions at the airport and hotel give me firsthand insights and help me refine my understanding.

This is why I believe travel is so valuable to our development. Every trip you take adds another chapter to the storybook you carry around with you in life, which helps connect to others.

What is the end goal?

What does success look like? Defining the desired takeaway is key. Clarify the message or action you want the audience to leave with. A helpful framework is:

1. What? The main point I want to communicate.

2. So what? Why it matters to the audience.

3. Now what? What they should do next.

Have I left my ego at the door?

There’s often a temptation to use technical language to impress, especially when peers are present. But true impact lies in simplicity. As Orwell said, “Never use a long word where a short one will do,” and Einstein noted, “If you can't explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

Simplifying content makes it accessible and actionable—it’s not about ‘dumbing down’ but enhancing clarity. Remember, it’s for the audience, not for self-validation.

What do I uniquely bring?

Each of us has a unique perspective. Imposter syndrome can make us doubt ourselves, but it’s important to counter that by recognising our individual insights. Embrace what only you can offer, and trust that your knowledge is valuable.

Implementation idea

If you’re presenting this week, whether as a formal presentation, an informal meeting, or communicating across any other medium, keep your audience front and centre.

— AJ

On my bedside table:

📖 Non-fiction: No More Mr. Nice Guy by Dr Robert Glover

📚Fiction: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

💬 Quote: “We know the world only through the window of our mind. When our mind is noisy, the world is as well. And when our mind is peaceful, the world is, too.”

- Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down

Comments, questions, disagreements? Hit reply to reach out to me directly.

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Thank you!