By Dr Dave Schalow, PhD, CLU, ChFC, CFA, CFP

Career Success | November 1, 2026

The time may come in your career when you need to make a presentation, explain a proposal, or speak to a group. A clear structure can make that task much easier to prepare.

I understand the nerves. In high school and college, speaking in front of people frightened me. It is an interesting turn of events that I ended up teaching and speaking so often.

Two things helped me: finding subjects I cared about and developing enough knowledge to believe I could help the audience. Preparation gave that enthusiasm a useful direction.

START WITH THE PURPOSE

Before building slides or writing an opening, decide what the talk is supposed to accomplish. What should the audience understand, remember, or do afterward?

Choose a few main points that support that purpose. Three to five may be enough for a substantial presentation, depending on the topic and time available. More content isn't automatically a better talk.

USE THE PREP FORMULA

For each main idea, organize the explanation in four parts:

Point: State the idea clearly.

Reason: Explain why the idea matters or why you believe it.

Example: Give a concrete illustration the audience can follow.

Point: Restate the idea so the audience knows what to take away.

The example should support the point. It doesn't need to be dramatic, and it shouldn't be treated as proof that the same result happens in every situation.

A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE

Point: A specific action plan makes a career goal easier to work on.

Reason: A broad ambition doesn't tell you what to do on Monday morning.

Example: “Move ahead at work” becomes more useful when you identify a needed skill, select a training resource, and schedule the first practice session.

Point: Turn the goal into a next action you can put on the calendar.

That short sequence gives the listener an idea, an explanation, and something recognizable to apply.

BUILD THE COMPLETE TALK

Use PREP for each main point, then add an opening that establishes relevance and a close that reinforces the central message. Make transitions clear so people can follow your direction.

Rehearse aloud. Check your timing and remove material that doesn't serve the purpose. Prepare notes you can use without reading every sentence, and make sure slides are readable if you use them.

​You don't have to perform like someone else. Know your subject, care about the audience, and give them a clear path through the ideas. Confidence can grow as you prepare and practice.