5W - How to Start a Presentation

Here’s a quick checklist of things to do at the start of a presentation... 

Who? 
What? 
Why? 
When? 
Where? 
Who – Am I?

The audience need to know a bit about you. So tell them your name (slowly - you’re very used to it, they may be hearing it for the first time), and - very briefly - where you’re from.

What – Am I Going to Talk About?

You may find this hard to believe, but people can sit through presentations and still now know what the topic was. Again, tell them this slowly. The words in your title are very familiar to you, but they may well not be known by the audience.

This is also important as a way of managing expectations. It defines the areas that you are not going to address.

Why – Am I Talking to You?

Don’t overdo this, or it will look as though you feel the need to justify your presence, and that looks like weakness. But do explain very briefly why it’s you that’s standing up there.

When – Will I Take Questions?

Questions can be one of the big problems in presenting - especially for inexperienced presenters. Questions in the middle of a presentation can be quite disruptive. So it’s often better the take them at the end; you can manage this by setting out your approach at the outset.

Where – Is This Presentation Going?

Structure is critical in effective presenting. A brief overview of the direction of your talk - probably with the major sections identified - helps both the audience and yourself to feel comfortable.