Many organizations put significant time and care into their external presentations. Often, that's because these seem more directly tied to income: sales decks, company overviews, and project proposals.
These external presentations may be the first way a potential client experiences our brand and offers, which is another reason they are prioritized.
The important role of internal presentations
Though they may not seem directly tied to revenue, internal company presentations are foundational to how the company runs and that eventual revenue.
It's in internal presentations that we all learn what other teams are doing that may affect us, learn what's important to leadership, align, understand, and even structure our work and priorities.
These important activities should be placed on par with external presentations. In my experience, internal presentations from leadership are rare in many companies, sometimes happening just once a year if at all. While peers, teams, and direct managers may meet more often, communication often doesn't skip levels or skip teams. So such presentations can be crucial in ensuring information flow exists, silos are broken down, and there is more clarity for everyone.
Preparing for an internal presentation
When getting ready for a large internal presentation, it's important not to underestimate how much time goes into preparing. Too many don't get started until it’s just a week away, and at that point, the efficacy will be reduced because planning the speaking points will be rushed!
The good news is that if you do this kind of thing regularly enough, you can make a checklist out of everything you need and make it a repeatable process for the next time.
Here are the steps for shaping your presentation*:
Filter down your ideas Include only messages and points that support your main big idea and cut the rest so your presentation doesn't become bloated or confusing
Cluster your ideas by topic
Arrange your messages logically
Strengthen your turning points Ensure you have a clear beginning, middle, and end with strong turning points
Design your presentation
* This process is an abbreviated version of Nancy Duarte's process from the book Resonate.