Unlike murder mysteries or action-packed movie thrillers, technical presentations delivered orally should start with the conclusion.
Why? Readers of published data can skim back and forth between pages when they need to assimilate information. Not so in an oral presentation. Audiences can’t push “rewind” as a technical speaker delivers complex findings and methodology.
Presenting the conclusion up front creates a win/win situation. Audiences can more easily piece the data together as the presenter moves through the findings. The presenter gets a more engaged, appreciative audience. The audience’s comprehension increases significantly.
Restating the conclusion at the end also ensures the coherence of the presentation.
Every presentation should be structured so that it gives the audience an advantage. This is especially true when delivering technical information orally.
