When you’re trying to communicate something important to a group, begin at the end, by stating your conclusions and recommendations. Then get into the whys and the supporting data. People will focus better if you help them connect your ideas and data to your conclusion from the very beginning.
This is true also for presentations. Use the first slide to present your conclusions and your recommendations. Particularly with technical or complicated subject matter, a long presentation where listeners don’t know where you’re going can become tedious and confusing.
- Do you start your group presentations with conclusions and recommendations?
- How would this approach improve people’s focus on your message?