10.1 Introduction to Presentations

At some point in your career, you will be asked to prepare and deliver a presentation in a professional setting. When you are asked to deliver a presentation, it is important to determine the following because it will help you plan and deliver the presentation:

• What are the purposes (general and specific) of the presentation?
• Who will you present to (your audiences—target and general, and number of people)?
• What does the presentation setting look like (in person? Virtual?)
• What logistical considerations do you have for the presentation (e.g., length of time to speak)?

It is also helpful to think about the task of presenting and how that makes you feel. Does speaking in front of an audience—live or virtual—make you nervous or invigorated? For many people, just the idea of speaking in public stirs up anxiety. Approximately “40 million people in the U.S. aged 18 or older suffer from different forms of anxiety when it comes to public speaking” (Zauderer, 2023). Having the tools to create your presentation such as outlines, using organizational patterns, and practicing are ways you will feel confident delivering presentations. In this chapter we focus on the three common types of presentations and how one can prepare for them.