To coincide with the launch of our new Good Management online resource, Edna Robinson will now be contributing a regular advice column on some of the big and small problems that managers face in their day to day lives. This will be available to HSJ readers exclusively online in the Good Management section of our website.

Edna is national lead for NHS Networks, the website that connect leaders and innovators across the NHS, and was previously chief executive of Salford PCT. If you want Edna’s advice on an issue, email in confidence to hsjcontributions@emap.com marked Dear Edna

Edna, I've got to do a powerpoint to the board on my new project proposal - never done a board presentation before and don't know what is expected of me and how to be effective. Any advice?
AN

Preparation, preparation, preparation…
There are two objectives when undertaking a presentation, entertain and inform, never assume your audience are interested in what you are saying. The responsibility to capture and retain their attention sits entirely with you. Know your subject well and anticipate questions from your audience. 

Test your presentation on a sympathetic audience eg: your mates, do your homework on your board members interests, avoid acronyms and jargon at all costs and whatever time-slot you have been allocated aim to finish 5 minutes earlier.

Make the board understand what it is you want from them by articulating clearly the risks and benefits of your proposal. 

Wear comfy clothes, don't drink too much the night before - good luck.

Edna, I'm an HR manager working in an acute directorate. I feel cut off from the central HR department who don't seem interested in helping my development or my practice. No-one in the directorate seems to appreciate HR. How can I plug into wider networks - and make my directorate colleagues notice HR a bit more?
NE

This needs to be approached on a range of levels. Talk to your manager about a mentor from the Central HR department, this will then connect you on a regular basis. 

In relation to your colleagues in the directorate, why not hold a lunch-time briefing with good food in a nice setting and use this opportunity to talk to them in their language about the benefits for their teams of taking your skills seriously eg: convince the finance guy about lost working days of unhappy staff. This cannot be solved by him but working with you could have an effect.

And NHS Networks can connect you to the wider groups of HR people.

Edna, I'm not a public health person but for a project I need to get an idea of smoking rates both across the three PCTs that use our hospital and how it might break down by wards. And what rates might be in five years time. I don't know where to start...
EF

Make a call to your public health team in one of the PCTs and find out who and where your smoking cessation team is based. These teams are likely to have the data of the specialist public health teams. Make an appointment to see one of the team. There will also be a public health observatory within your area that will have helpful data and PCTs will have contact details and be able to help with work around anticipated smoking rates.

Other places to look are the local authority health scrutiny committee, some councillors will have a special interest in this subject - the secretariat of the scrutiny committee will be able to put you in touch. 

Remember any project relating to trends and data will also be enhanced by human anecdotes.  When you meet with smoking cessation capture some stories about individuals as well.