- 35mm slide projection: professional in appearance, good for
large audience and easy to use with a remote control can be
offset by the need for dim lights (making note-taking difficult)
and lack of flexibility in changing order of viewing - Flipcharts: are easy to use and informal but difficult to use
successfully with large groups and generally do not look
professional and take up time to use - Computers/tape decks/videos: can provide variety but difficult
to set-up and synchronise, especially without technical support
4 Prepare your talk
In preparing your talk you need to decide whether you are to
present with a full script, notes or from memory. This depends on
the occasion and purpose of the presentation but whichever method
is chosen, it is always acceptable to refer to your fuller notes if needs
be during a presentation. Notes on cards or on slides/flipcharts can
be used as memory joggers if you present without notes. If you are
required to read a paper, at least be able to look up occasionally.
Remember that failing to prepare is preparing to fail.5 Rehearse with others
Rehearsal is important, but not so much that spontaneity is killed
and naturalness suffers, to ensure the presentation (and any audio-
visual aid) is actually going to work in practice.
You should always visit the location if at all possible and check that
everything works – knowing the location is as important as
rehearsing the presentation, indeed it is an essential part of the
rehearsal.190 The John Adair Handbook of Management and Leadership