Seriously, what are you talking about? If you can’t explain in less than 3 sentences what your presentation is about, then you don’t know. Sadly, many presentations are just a list of facts in no particular order and not getting to a particular point, just information. If you don’t know what you are talking about, neither will your audience.
To determine the specific message, it is essential to understand the audience and their needs of you in that particular meeting at that particular time.Your role is never to “cover” a topic; textbooks cover a topic. Your purpose is interpretation, wisdom, insight, controversy, tips or suchlike but never simply to relay a pile of facts. Consideration of the audience needs prior to construction of your presentation will allow you more effectively to determine which of those stances is appropriate for that audience. It is never about the data but about its interpretation, turning a “what” into a “so what”.
The best way to consider this is an elevator pitch. It allows you to construct a theme to which you (and the audience) return to again and again during the presentation and will be memorable after the talk. It stimulates discussion, even disagreement but at least interest. The audience know what you are talking about.
FAST scanning (Focused Abdominal Ultrasound in Trauma) in paediatric trauma is as effective as tossing a coin. Its sensitivity even in expert hands is less than 50%. Now, let’s talk about its use…
