Experts who make presentations can profit from having listened to them. Think of how often an audience is the victim of someone practicing how to read aloud with PowerPoint. So how can a speaker present effectively? Long before you start speaking, you need a clear objective: you can’t hit the target if you don’t know where to aim. Once you have the objective, shape the takeaway message into one concise sentence. Use that as a compass for staying on course as you develop the presentation. And when you do present, stay flexible: instead of unloading a pre-recorded speech, invite your audience to have a voice. Often their needs become clear only during the presentation. Another question: how to maintain interest and overcome short attention spans? Few people get excited about bullet points, but real-life cases and stories draw people in. A professional is also able to talk about his expertise in plain language rather than humblebragging with insider jargon. Surprises add spice to a presentation, but exceeding the time limit is like overcooking a meal.