Presentations as Translations

Questions that are key to the preparation of a successful presentation:

1. What does the audience want to know? 
2. What does the audience need to know? 
3. How can that be put into plain language? 

Speakers often blunder by assuming that the audience needs far more information than it truly does. They wander off into areas that may fascinate the speaker but which paralyze the listeners. [A computer person once told me that she was certain I'd want to know the cause of a problem. I told her I didn't. I just wanted to know if the computer was fixed.]

Another mistake is failing to translate. Presenting a mass of information that the audience doesn't understand is a complete waste of time. Jargon should be jettisoned. Verbal pictures should be painted. The tone should be conversational and questions welcomed at any point.

All is translation and the effectiveness of the presentation will depend upon the skill of the translator. Look over the various translations of War and Peace. Some are beautiful and some are so-so. It is a similar situation for speakers.