Presentation Skills

Effective Presentations

1. Know the room

Arrive in plenty of time, become familiar with the room, see it as your territory and ensure the technology is working (slides, microphone).

2. Know the audience

Speak with some of the audience as they arrive, it will make it easier for you to make eye contact later and you will get a sense of where they are coming from.

3. Keep it simple

Remember, one slide for every three minutes you are speaking and no more than five or six bullet points per slide. If possible bring each bullet point up separately, so the audience is not reading ahead, but focused on what you are saying. Use colour and graphics to keep things interesting. Don't read from your slides as this will mean you will have your back to the audience.

4. What is your core message?

Clearly know the three or four key things you want to communicate during your presentation. Make sure you hit these core messages several times. Ensure the audience knows what is expected of them, particularly if you are seeking decisions from them.

5. Put yourself in the audience's shoes

What do you want the audience's experience of your presentation to be? How can you deliver that? How do you want the audience to feel and think after you speak?

All audiences want presenters to be interesting, informative and entertaining. They want you to succeed - not fail.

6. Audience connection (a)

Try to talk with, not at, your audience (Never see yourself as superior to your audience, as all the audience will see is arrogance). Use conversational language and avoid large, multi-syllable words. Get the audience involved, even if it means having them stand and shake each other's hands or asking the audience questions during your presentation. Avoid lecterns, podiums and platforms when possible.

7. Audience connection (b)

Depending on the size of the group, use participants' names whenever possible and encourage them to use yours. If appropriate use humour (and only if it comes naturally to you) as it is a great way of generating rapport. Personal anecdotes and stories will also give your audience something to relate to and make the presentation experiential.

8. Know your presentation

Make sure you are familiar with the content of your presentation. Practice your presentation until you can deliver it with ease.

9. Practice relaxing

You can reduce stress and anxiety by inhaling slowly and holding your breath for 4 to 5 seconds, then slowly exhaling. Loosen your neck by rolling your shoulders.

10. Visualise yourself speaking

Imagine delivering your presentation in a confident and relaxed way. Hear the audience clapping. Hear yourself speaking articulately. When you visualise yourself as successful, you know what you are aiming for.

11. Focus on what you are saying not how you are saying it

Stress and nerves will reduce if you focus on what you are delivering and on your audience rather than on yourself.

12. Harness your nerves into positive energy

Most great performers get nervous before going on stage. It is a sign that you care about what you are doing. View your nerves as a signal to get excited and as a reminder of the 'buzz' you will feel when you complete your presentation successfully.

13. Learn as you go

The more you speak in public and deliver presentations the more confident you will become in your own abilities. Embed your learning by asking yourself 'what did I do excellently during the presentation?' and 'what did I learn from it?'

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