Imagine you have planned your speech, and have taken the time to structure your ideas until you look down at the notes in your hands and are struck with fear and panic - you are unable to understand your own notes!
What you are holding in your hands looks more like a three-year-old's scribble on scrap paper than a carefully planned and organised presentation. You are struck with the horror of stage fright as the hands holding on to the mess of papers start shaking uncontrollably.
One by one each page slips from your fingers and on to the floor in front of your audience. You start stuttering and apologise to them in a state of red-faced confusion as you pick your papers up.
When you finally compose yourself to start talking, your mind goes blank - you have forgotten what comes next. Your audience is looking at you and all you can do is open and close your mouth like a goldfish. If you could, you would rewind this scene and come up with a better-prepared speech.
Presentations are not easy. Like everything in life, it is a process; and a talk needs time and careful planning to succeed.
Below are some steps and questions to help you organise your presentation and content:
1) Avoid confusing the audience