Here are simple presentation tips for the majority of people that are anxious about getting up in front of people and giving presentations.
We present to impress, to please, to sell, and to educate. Content only makes up half of it, so presenting with confidence and sincerity is important.
1. Preparation
Dedicate a lot of your time to researching and preparing your content.
It is important to do this well in advance because you want to feel confident with what you know. Being certain of your facts and your information makes you feel self-assured.
Ensure your information is correct and legitimate, and avoid bending the truth because you will likely be found out.
It is also important to spend the bulk of your time perfecting the deliverance of your presentation.
2. Practice
It’s the oldest rule in the book, but practice does make perfect.
Practice in front of people who you know will give you honest feedback. These can be friends, family, or colleagues. Try recording one of your run-troughs and honestly critique what you see.
Practice until you feel confident enough not to rely on your notes or slides. You want to be addressing your audience, not reading off the slides.
3. Storytelling
Try and personalize your presentation.
This can be done by injecting some humor but only do so if it is appropriate. Make your presentation current by making it identifiable with a global event.
Get the audience involved by asking questions. It may be helpful to imagine you are addressing friends or family but make sure you maintain the right degree of formality.
4. Body Language
Your presentation isn’t all about the content.
Your audience will be interested in how you deliver it, so open body language is crucial. Use hand gestures to illustrate your point but don’t force them.
It is important to establish eye contact and smile to exude approachability. If you don’t feel confident, pretend and act like you are.
Real confidence and enthusiasm will follow.
5. Tone and Breathing
Practice breathing techniques to increase blood and oxygen flow.
It will also aid in controlling any tremors. Take pauses if you need to because this also allows an opportunity for the audience to think about what you are telling them.
Speak with an animated tone but don’t rush what you are saying, and always think before you speak. Make sure you can be heard with a clear tone.
6. Arrive Early
Allow yourself ample time to set up and prepare your presentation.
Use the opportunity to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. You want to feel prepared by the time your audience enters the room.
Run through your presentation to ensure there aren’t any glitches or problems. If there are, you have time to sort them out.
7. Never Apologize
If you stammer, don’t apologize for it.
It is important to remain calm and confident if you mess up because it isn’t the end of the world. Don’t allow them to doubt you but learn from the experience.
End strong with a powerful final point.
Don’t be put off by interruptions and questions. This is a sign that your audience is listening to what you are saying and is interested.
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How Do You Present?
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All are applicable Paige. As the French actors would say — Practice, Practice, Practice (In your own French dialect of course). I would also add a couple: eye contact with listeners; voice inflection and pauses; and ask questions. Thanks for the article.