The Preparation Checklist

Preparation is the variable you control. The checklist is how you verify that you have controlled it. Before every executive presentation, run through every item. The items you skip are the ones that become problems in the room.

# Pre-Presentation Preparation Checklist

## AUDIENCE PREPARATION
- [ ] List of every attendee and their role in the decision
- [ ] Each attendee's stated or likely priority (financial, operational, strategic, risk)
- [ ] Anticipated objection for each attendee — and your prepared response
- [ ] Identification of the actual decision maker vs. influencers
- [ ] Pre-meeting conversations completed for key stakeholders (ideally 48hrs before)
- [ ] Known pre-existing positions: who is pre-sold, on the fence, opposed

## DECK PREPARATION
- [ ] Recommendation on slide 1 or 2 — confirmed
- [ ] All slide headlines are points, not labels — confirmed by headline-only read
- [ ] One idea per slide — confirmed
- [ ] Cost of inaction included and quantified
- [ ] Three most likely objections pre-answered in the deck body
- [ ] Appendix built for anticipated technical challenges
- [ ] Pre-read version vs. walkthrough version — correct version sent/prepared

## LOGISTICS
- [ ] Deck distributed 48 hours before (if pre-read format)
- [ ] Room/video link confirmed and tested
- [ ] Backup: PDF version of deck on local device (not only in the cloud)
- [ ] Opening sentence prepared and rehearsed
- [ ] Specific ask prepared — exact wording: amount, deadline, decision required

## ONE-SLIDE VERSION
- [ ] One-slide summary exists and is ready if the meeting is cut short
- [ ] The one-slide version contains: recommendation, strongest evidence,
      primary risk/mitigation, specific ask

## THE ASK
- [ ] Specific ask written out verbatim before the meeting
- [ ] Deadline stated explicitly in the ask
- [ ] Next step defined: what happens if they approve, what happens if they delay