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Timing is everything when it comes to delivering an effective presentation. After having to tolerate a presentation that included a slide deck so large it blocked out the sun and a presenter who thought it was acceptable to run 24 minutes over his allotted time, I felt compelled to write this post.

The last thing I’d want is for your colleagues to suffer the same fate as I when you next present at a team meeting. So if you want to stay on track, keep your team happy and deliver an efficient and professional presentation, then read on…

The Golden Rules of an Effective Presentation
3 things distinguish great from grim when it comes to effective presentations: timing, content and delivery.

This post is all about timing.

The 60:40 Rule

Let’s assume you have a 20 minute slot to deliver your presentation. 30% of your presentation time should be taken up by the Q&A. This is where you field questions and gather audience reaction. Your audience will evaluate the effectiveness of your presentation based upon how well you handle your Q&A. If you run out of time, then you miss the opportunity to enhance your credibility and reduce any negative evaluation of your presentation.

Another 10% will be taken up by natural pauses and transitions between visual aids. That leaves you with 12 minutes to deliver your presentation – 60% of your total allotted time.

Think 130

If you were reading from a script to an audience for 12 minutes then your presentation is likely to be around 1500 words in length, about 4 pages of A4. This is based upon the fact that we typically speak at a rate of roughly 130 words per minute.

Power Point – how much is too much?
Many see the task of delivering a business presentation as one large data bombardment with bullet after bullet of information crammed onto each slide and miniature helicopters swooping across the screen dropping statistics into an already confusing spreadsheet.

Stop this silliness and keep your slides simple.

Each slide should contain a simple and to the point headline. Underneath the headline, no more than 3 bullet points that act as a visual cue for your audience, so they know what to expect from you without having to read it on the screen. After all, what’s the point in being there if all your information is contained within your slides.

Now to the part where you fall off your chair.

1 for 2

If you are speaking for 12 minutes (remember it’s still a 20 minute presentation), then the maximum number of slides in your deck should be 6. That’s right, no more than 1 slide every 2 minutes.

You’ve still got to factor in a 45 second introduction, which may require a slide in itself and a 45 second conclusion, which may also require its own slide.

3 Rules for Efficient Presentations

The 60/40 Rule – Plan to present for 60% of your time, the rest for Q&A and contingency

Think 130 – Every minute equates to approximately 130 words spoken. Plan for more and you plan to fail.

1 for 2 – You should have no more than 1 slide for every 2 minutes of talk time

Nobody will ever thank you if you run over your allotted time and everyone will thank you if you finish a minute earlier.

In the next post I’ll share a powerful formula for making your content engaging and coherent.

Of all the gifts we have to buy each year, a Mothers Day present can be the most difficult one to find inspiration for. However, with a clear plan of action and a little bit of patience, you can find something suitable in next to no time.

Start the process by deciding on your budget for your Mothers Day present. Whether it be £5 or £500 there are hundreds of things you can buy, but setting your budget will help narrow down the field immediately.

Once you’ve got your budget, you need to decide what kind of Mothers Day present you want to buy. Do you want it to be funny or sincere? Traditional or unique? Everyone’s mother is different so you know better than anyone the kind of present she’d most likely appreciate.

Now you’ve got the key information you can begin shopping for your present. These days there’s a pretty standard choice when it comes to buying gifts – the high street or online. For Mothers Day it’s normally better to shop online. The reason is you can find a lot more choice and if you’re on a budget can save a lot of money in the process.

If you’re going to use the internet use a reputable online gift shop. Not only will you find the best range of Mothers Day presents [http://www.dotcomgiftshop.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=200&cat=Mothers+Day+Presents], but you’ll also have peace of mind that if anything goes wrong the people on the other end of the phone will be happy to help you. However, shopping online these days is safer and more efficient than it’s ever been so there’s no need for trepidation.

So far you’ve set yourself a budget, written down a list of factors and found an online store. Now comes the difficult bit: finding the right present. You’ll now realise the benefit of the information you’ve collated beforehand, as it will make it much easier to find a suitable present.

Once you think you’ve found something, make sure you examine the product thoroughly. Good online shops will give you the opportunity to zoom in on an image and rotate it to get an in depth look.

Finally, when it comes to ordering your present, make sure you’ll get it in time for Mothers Day. Check the delivery options and make sure you’ve picked the most suitable one.

Now all you have to do is kick back and wait for it to be delivered right to your door. That wasn’t so hard now, was it?