Last-Minute Preparation: What to Do When You Have 24 Hours to Prepare

Life has a way of throwing curveballs, and sometimes you find yourself needing to deliver an important presentation with minimal preparation time. Don't panic! While this isn't ideal, it's absolutely possible to deliver a confident and effective presentation even on short notice.

At Riafftruti, we've coached hundreds of clients through last-minute presentation crises. This guide contains the battle-tested strategies that work when you're pressed for time and the stakes are high.

The 24-Hour Game Plan: Your Emergency Timeline

When time is limited, every hour counts. Here's how to maximise your preparation time:

The PREP Method: Your Emergency Structure

When you're short on time, complex presentation structures are your enemy. The PREP method is simple, effective, and works for virtually any topic:

PREP in Action: A Quick Example

Point: "We need to implement remote work options immediately."

Reason: "Our competitor analysis shows companies with flexible work arrangements have 40% lower turnover and 25% higher productivity. Plus, our recent employee survey revealed that 78% of our team would prefer hybrid options."

Example: "Take Sarah from our marketing team. Since her commute increased to 90 minutes each way after her recent move, she's been considering other opportunities. With remote work options, we retain her expertise and she maintains work-life balance."

Point: "Implementing remote work options isn't just about employee satisfaction – it's a strategic business decision that will help us retain talent and stay competitive."

Emergency Content Creation Strategies

The Rule of Three

When pressed for time, limit yourself to three main points maximum. This constraint forces you to focus on what truly matters and makes your presentation easier to follow and remember.

Leverage Existing Knowledge

You've been asked to present for a reason – you have relevant expertise. Focus on:

• Recent projects you've completed
• Challenges you've overcome
• Lessons learned from experience
• Industry insights you possess

Quick Research Techniques

When you need information fast:

• Industry reports: Search for recent surveys or studies
• Company data: Use internal metrics and examples
• News sources: Find recent relevant developments
• LinkedIn insights: Research your audience's interests
• Competitor examples: See what others are doing

Rapid-Fire Slide Creation

If you need slides, keep them simple and impactful:

The 6-Slide Emergency Deck

1. Title Slide: Topic, your name, date
2. Agenda/Overview: Your three main points
3. Key Point 1: With supporting data or example
4. Key Point 2: With supporting data or example
5. Key Point 3: With supporting data or example
6. Next Steps/Conclusion: Clear action items or summary

Emergency Design Principles

• One idea per slide
• Large, readable fonts (minimum 24pt)
• High contrast colours (dark text on light backgrounds)
• Minimal text (bullet points, not paragraphs)
• Professional templates (don't reinvent design)

Calming Pre-Speech Nerves Under Pressure

Last-minute presentations often come with extra anxiety. Here are emergency techniques to calm your nerves:

The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique

When anxiety spikes, ground yourself by identifying:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you can hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

Emergency Breathing Exercise

Box breathing (4-4-4-4 pattern):

1. Inhale for 4 counts
2. Hold for 4 counts
3. Exhale for 4 counts
4. Hold empty for 4 counts
5. Repeat 4-6 times

Physical Tension Release

Quick exercises to release physical anxiety:

• Shoulder rolls (10 backward, 10 forward)
• Neck stretches (gently left, right, forward)
• Jaw massage (circular motions at temples)
• Hand and arm shaking (release nervous energy)

What to Focus On (And What to Skip)

Essential Elements (Don't Skip These)

• Strong opening: Know your first 30 seconds perfectly
• Clear structure: Audience should always know where you are
• Key message: One main takeaway that you repeat
• Confident closing: End with impact, not apology
• Q&A preparation: Anticipate 3-5 likely questions

Non-Essential Elements (Skip If Necessary)

• Complex animations or transitions
• Extensive background research
• Perfect memorisation of every detail
• Elaborate visual designs
• Comprehensive handouts

Common Last-Minute Mistakes to Avoid

The Perfectionism Trap

Don't try to create the perfect presentation. Focus on:

• Clear communication over clever wordplay
• Useful content over impressive visuals
• Authentic delivery over flawless performance
• Audience value over personal image

Information Overload

Resist the urge to cram everything in:

• More slides doesn't equal better presentation
• Depth beats breadth in short timeframes
• Leave some questions for follow-up conversations
• Better to cover less material thoroughly

Technology Temptations

Avoid these tech mistakes under pressure:

• Trying new software or tools
• Complex multimedia elements
• Embedded videos or audio (they often fail)
• Relying on internet connectivity
• Using unfamiliar presentation remotes

Day-of-Presentation Success Strategies

Morning Routine

• Wake up early enough to avoid rushing
• Eat a light, familiar breakfast
• Review key points (don't cram new information)
• Do light physical exercise or stretching
• Practice your opening lines aloud

Pre-Presentation Setup

• Arrive 15-20 minutes early
• Test all technology twice
• Have backup plans (printed slides, different laptop)
• Introduce yourself to a few audience members
• Do a final sound and clicker check

During the Presentation

• Start with confidence, even if you feel nervous
• Acknowledge the short notice if appropriate
• Speak slower than you think you need to
• Use pauses to collect your thoughts
• Focus on connecting with individuals in the audience

Turning Crisis into Opportunity

Last-minute presentations can actually work in your favour:

Advantages of Short Preparation

• Less overthinking: You focus on essentials
• More authenticity: Less time to create artificial polish
• Increased energy: Adrenaline can enhance performance
• Clearer priorities: You naturally focus on what matters most
• Audience empathy: People appreciate your effort under pressure

Building Long-Term Resilience

After surviving a last-minute presentation:

• Document what worked for future emergencies
• Build a personal resource library (templates, examples, data)
• Practice impromptu speaking regularly
• Develop a network of colleagues who can help
• Create emergency presentation templates

Your Emergency Action Plan

Keep this checklist handy for future last-minute presentation crises:

Remember, some of the most memorable presentations come from speakers who rose to unexpected challenges with grace and authenticity. Your audience isn't expecting perfection – they want value, clarity, and genuine connection.

The next time you face a last-minute presentation crisis, take a deep breath, follow this guide, and remember: you've got this. Every experienced speaker has been exactly where you are now, and with the right approach, you can deliver a presentation that exceeds expectations, even under pressure.