Someone has asked you to say a few words to a group of people. Excellent - you have an opportunity to make a difference to your organization. It's also an opportunity to shine in front of co-workers and perhaps the boss. But before you agree to speak, ask yourself some questions. In coming up with the answers, you'll lay the foundation for an effective presentation.

Know Your Subject
The first thing to ask is, "Am I qualified to speak on this topic?" Unless the answer is a resounding yes, don't waste your time or that of anybody else. Your lack of knowledge will show, together with a lack of confidence. And you won't have any of the enthusiasm you need to propel your message deep into the minds of your listeners.

You're qualified to speak on a subject when you know more about the topic than most people, and certainly more than your audience. For example:

. As an R&D manager, you've researched microchip technology for the past six years. You've earned the right to talk about advances in chip-making.

. You've run six marathons. You've earned the right to talk about how best to prepare for one.

Your experiences provide more than knowledge. They've made you enthusiastic about your work. That enthusiasm not only instills in you an urge to share your experiences, it also creates an air of excitement that surrounds your talk. The audience sits up and listens. If that excitement is absent, you put people to sleep.

Answer Fundamental Questions
If you are the right person to give the talk, start preparing for it by asking:

. When is the presentation? Are you available? Is it at a time of day in which you (and the audience) will be alert?

. Where will it take place? Can you get there? Is it a small room or a large hall?

. What kind of event is it? Is it a brief overview for a group of your intimates, a keynote address, or something in between? Is it a call to action? Will you speak after a meal or after people have had a few drinks?

. Who will attend? Must they attend or is attendance voluntary? What do these people already know about the subject? Are they experts? Neophytes?

. Why do the organizers want you? Because you are an acknowledged expert? Because you are the only one available? Because they need to fill up time or because your talk is absolutely critical to a particular effort?

. How many people will attend? Ten? A thousand? Whatever the number, know it early so you can prepare yourself.

You can probably think of other questions. The point is to gather as much information as you possibly can about the event and your role in it. What you discover is, in total, the context for your talk. Knowing the context will help you make many decisions about what information to include, how to present it, how long to talk, and so on. It'll help you sell your message to whomever you're speaking to. Answers to these questions in hand, it's a lot easier to clear your mind for the next important task: figuring out exactly what you want to convey to the audience.

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