Last weekend I had the privilege to join a friend to drive up to Indianapolis to enjoy the 93rd running of the Indy 500.  We were so enthused in the days leading up to the event that we even created a social networking site to help create community around race day and the rest of the season’s races.  It was a day full of compelling racing, great food, and 300,000 raving fans.  It was like nothing I have ever experienced before.  Plus, watching 33 cars reach speeds as high as 220 miles per hour was one that I will not soon forget.

Below are three observations I pulled from this spectacular event.

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The question and answer session is a vital part of your presentation because it allows your audience to clarify points and delve further into issues.  Often times, though, presenters appear rather lost when it comes to controlling these sessions.  The result is that many great presentations end on a weak note.  So how do you ensure that your Q&A sessions enhance your presentations?  Let’s take a look at that issue Jeopardy-style:

A: Presenters should prepare for Q&A sessions by doing this.
Q: What is anticipate questions, Alex?
When you rehearse your presentation, practice your Q&A session too.  Think about your audience and anticipate the questions they might have.  Once you’ve made a list of potential questions, prepare straight-forward answers and run through them.  Spend extra time planning for difficult questions so that you can answer them eloquently.

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Have you every wondered who is the Godfather of presentations?  Steve Jobs?  Larry Lessig? Tony Robbins?  Maybe we should just consider the Godfather himself – Michael Corleone.

Here is Michael Corleone’s Guide to Presentations They Can’t Refuse.
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Here are 3 items I am thankful for this season regarding presentations.