Giving an Effective Presentation
Effective Presentation Skills
In preparing a presentation, always think about your objective, which is essentially the message you want to put across. Think about what you want your audience to come away with and base your presentation on that. A lot of people lose their audience when they themselves lose sight of their message.
Practice makes perfect in the world of presentation. Practice your presentation in front of your partner or friend—and to time. While having a script will make practicing easier, reading it word for word will generally result in delivering a presentation that’s less effective than one given by someone who just uses notes. This is because we don’t speak the way we write. Our language is less formal when we speak. So if you want to engage your audience then it’s better to use notes as a reference point, which can be as formal as you wish, and elaborate on these using everyday language.
When practicing your presentation, think of all the questions you might be asked—even the ones you really hope won’t come up. Practice a worst-case scenario so that you are fully prepared. Remember that it’s OK to say, “I don’t know.” However, it’s good to take the questioner’s name and number and tell them that you will find the answer and provide it later. And then make sure you do!
If you are going to be using technology for your presentation, (e.g. PowerPoint slides), then ensure that all the necessary equipment will be available. And if you’re taking your own laptop, make sure that it’s compatible with whatever equipment your host will be supplying. When it comes to using slides, keep it simple. Use the slides as an aid—don’t let them take over the presentation. Each slide should encompass one key message, with perhaps a few bullet-pointed lines to back that message up. Unless you are presenting to people with impaired vision, it’s better to talk around the message on the slide rather than read it out word for word. Don’t put too much information on slides, either. People will be reading what’s written on them instead if listening to what you’re saying! And unless there’s a good reason for the audience to take possession of notes or similar during the presentation, hand these out after your presentation in order to help not distract from it.
Start your presentation with a good opening that will gain the audience’s attention, be it a provocative question, or a radical suggestion. Don’t assume that everyone in the room knows what you’re talking about; avoid using acronyms or jargon. If people get confused and can’t follow the thread of your presentation you will lose their attention. And if you crack a joke make absolutely certain that it’s one that isn’t going to cause offence to anyone.
Keep your body language neutral and non-distracting; don’t play with any loose change in your pockets, or fidget. Don’t stand with your arms defensively crossed over your body. Remember that, as with stand-up comedy, the audience wants you to succeed, so there’s no need to feel combative towards people—they’re on your side.
At the end of your presentation, remember to thank your host: also thank your audience for taking the time to come and listen to you. You could also put in these thank-yous at the beginning of your presentation.
And lastly, you will seldom hear anyone complain of a presentation that was too short! Be concise and succinct, and let the content of your presentation do the real work for you
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