For Presentations:

Deliver your information with the end in mind. What do you want to have happen when you finish speaking? What do you want the listener to do, think or feel about what you have just said? Once you have established your goal, then select your material with the end in mind. If your facts or data don't support the final goal, they are unnecessary for the particular presentation or meeting.

For Questions or Answers:

Establish your agenda statement. What is the big idea that you want to reinforce during the question or answer session? Write it down. This statement can anchor your answers and keep you on target. The challenge during a question and answer session is from other people in the room who may have their "agendas." Your job is to keep you and your listeners on your agenda.

To Conduct Effective Meetings:

Determine the role of each person attending. This eliminates surprises. For example, the "leader" during one meeting may become "opposition" during a subsequent meeting. Roles always depend upon the personal needs of the participants. Prior to a meeting, list the attendees and the roles that you anticipate them playing in the meeting. After the meeting, check your list for accuracy. Remember that you must do this exercise for each meeting because personal needs will change.