Although you may not recognize it, a presenter carries the burden of filling many crucial roles. Just think about the laundry list of tasks associated with creating a presentation. The list can become as long as the Nile! If you’ve been tasked with the monumental responsibility of presenting a deck, don’t immediately run for the hills.
First acknowledge that this assignment has been dealt to you for one reason, and one reason only. You are trusted. So, take a step back and analyze the situation. What are the roles you need to fill in order to see the project through to completion? And what are the questions you need to answer and singular tasks you need to finish before delivering the presentation? Here are the biggest hats presenters wear and how you can maximize your capacity in each:
Researcher
Arguably the most important role the presenter plays during the presentation process, researching functions should comprise a large chunk of the overall time spent on the project. When wearing the Researcher hat, a presenter has these primary responsibilities:
- Search for relevant studies, documents, and materials
- Review the information gathered for compelling data and statistics or examples
- Join the factual content with your presentation message
Presenter’s Corner:
As a content strategist at Ethos3, I conduct a ton of research for articles. Some of my go-to research resources include:
I also use feedly.com to keep track of trends in my industry and stay updated on content thought leaders are disseminating.
Writer
From there, the presenter switches roles – and hats – donning his or her Writing cap. At Ethos3, we believe this task should constitute about the same amount of time and effort as researching. What does the presenter actually do when wearing the Writing cap? He or she…
- Chooses an appropriate tone for the presentation message
- Determines the type of narrative to use
- Selects word choice meticulously
- Takes heed of varying the sentence structure in the presentation script
Presenter’s Corner:
If you struggle with structuring your content, try using these apps:
Designer
Ah. The Designer hat. This is an accessory that some presenters can pull off, while others cannot. It’s hit or miss. Some may need presentation design help. But for those who believe in their design skills, here are the primary duties a presenter must complete:
- Determine design elements (icons, imagery, illustrations, graphs, charts, etc.)
- Pick a color scheme with a tone that matches that of the content
- Achieve consistency and alignment throughout the deck
Presenter’s Corner:
Improve your presentation design by reviewing the following articles:
PowerPoint Template Color Palette 101
#001: The Science of Color [Podcast]
Iconography Guide for Your Presentation Design
Speaker
Finally, the presenter adorns the Speaker hat when he or she steps on stage to deliver a message. The responsibilities of the speaker include…
- Rehearsing for the event
- Communicating through body language
- Engaging the audience
Presenter’s Corner:
Review the following articles for more information about enhancing your speaking skills:
What Makes a Great Speaker Become A Legend?
The New “Bad Words” of Business Jargon
Sound More Confident During Your Business Presentations
Embracing Your Voice: Delivery Inspiration From Freddie Mercury
Presenting is a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. And if not you, then who? Be empowered to change a mind, improve a situation, or enlighten a person.
