Business Presentation Skills for Consultants 1: Getting Started

Let's practice asking questions.

A. Clarifying presentation assignment and scope

When you have to do a presentation, make sure you ask questions to get the information you need. 

1. The objective
   1. What's the main goal of the presentation?
   2. (Create your own question)
2. The audience
   1. Who will be in the audience?
   2. (Create your own question)
3. The content
   1. What should I focus on?
   2. (Create your own question)
4. The tone
   1. What should the tone be?
   2. (Create your own question)
5. Timeframes and deadlines
   1. How long should the presentation be?
   2. (Create your own question) 

B. Guided role play

Role play with your teacher.  Your teacher will take on the role of project leader, and you will be a consultant.

Teacher: Hello, I’d like you to present to the client next week.
You: Accept positively. Check if you can ask questions.
Teacher: Of course. I've got a few minutes. What would you like to know?
You: Ask about the purpose of the presentation.
Teacher: Good question. We want to persuade them to move forward with our recommendations. They’ve seen the data, but this is about driving the point home.
You: Confirm your understanding. Ask about the audience.
Teacher: It’ll be the VP of Strategy, two senior managers, and a couple of analysts from the client’s side.
You: Check the content and scope.
Teacher: Keep it light on the details—just enough to get the main ideas across. Focus on the insights and why they matter.
You: Confirm and ask about tone and style.
Teacher: A conversational delivery is fine. We've got a good relationship.
You: Ask about time constraints.
Teacher: Plan for 15 minutes of presenting, then 10 minutes for Q&A.
You: Summarise your understanding and next steps--ask about a deadline.
Teacher: Can you get me an outline by 9am tomorrow?
You: Respond.