Use Sequential Positioning Effect to Make Presentations More Effective
A presentation isn’t just about standing on a podium and reading a list. If you want to convey your message well, organize it so that the most important things are told first and also last.
As the Harvard Business Review business blog notes, the audience is tuned in to what is called the “consistent position effect.” In short, they remember best what you said first . After that, they will most likely remember what you said the last time . To capitalize on this, you can use a three-step approach that prepares your audience for what’s going on, delivers information, and then reinforces it at the end:
One of the benefits of the commonly used strategy of “ tell people what you’re going to tell them, tell them and tell them what you told them ” is that you provide an overview of the key points of the presentation in two positions in which the audience is most likely to will remember them. Unfortunately, many speakers begin their presentation with an anecdote that is interesting, but only indirectly related to the topic of the presentation. Later, the audience can easily remember this anecdote, but it will not help them learn what they really needed to know.
By giving your main point first, you ensure that most people will remember and remember it. Repeating it at the end brings it back, so it’s the last thing they hear before leaving. You can use the time in between to explain, clarify, or emphasize what you want to say.
Make Your Audience Remember Your Presentation | Harvard Business Review