As with most things, preparation and practice are key to delivering a good presentation; dedicate enough time to it and it will pay off. It will also give you the confidence you need to not dread giving said presentation as much as you might otherwise. Of course, there are a number of aspects that you need to be aware of in order to be able to start the preparation process which we will address in this lesson.
Academic vs. professional presentations
During your time at university, it’s likely that you will have been required to prepare and deliver presentations on a certain topic during your seminars, either as part of a group or by yourself. Whilst the skills you picked up by giving these presentations will put you in a good starting position, when delivering presentations at work there are a few key differences between academic and professional presentations that you should be aware of.
If you didn’t give any presentations whilst at university - don’t worry! During this lesson, we’ll run you through the key points you need to be aware of when you’re first asked to give a presentation at work.
| Academic presentation | Professional presentation | |
| Purpose | To showcase what you have learnt and convey information | To convey information but also, usually, to provide instructions, persuade your audience or influence a decision |
| Audience | Professor and classmates | Colleagues and clients |
| Structure | More rigid guidelines to follow | More scope to shape the flow of the narrative |