How can I make a good presentation?
It’s almost time.
Your hands are sweaty and so is almost everything else – thank goodness for choosing this dark top!
You hope and pray that your tech works and the power point actually plays.
Will the video on slide 5 play? I hope so! Damn, why did I get clever with adding videos?!?
This is not uncommon and you are not alone.
Presenting is an integral part of most people’s professional lives, whether it is presenting to colleagues, clients, or stakeholders.
However, the thought of presenting can be daunting and overwhelming, leading to feelings of anxiety and stress.
The good news is that presenting need not be boring or nerve-wracking. With the right training and techniques, anyone can become a confident and engaging presenter, yes even you.
Present with confidence
The course, “Presenting Skills,” is designed for anyone who has to deliver presentations as part of their role. Whether you are new to presenting or have some experience, this course will help you to brush up your skills and boost your confidence in all areas of presenting.
Nerves of steal
One of the most challenging aspects of presenting is managing nerves and the psychological impact of presenting. The course will teach you techniques to handle nerves, stay calm, and project confidence.
You will also learn how to prepare effectively for your presentation by knowing your key messages and understanding your audience’s needs. By structuring your presentation with a powerful beginning, middle, and end, you can ensure that your key messages are delivered clearly and concisely without all the butterflies.
Make it interesting
Using effective visual aids and activities during your presentation is another key aspect of engaging your audience. The course will teach you how to keep your audience engaged by using appropriate visual aids and activities. You will also learn how to use the power of communication and the ‘3Vs’ (verbal, visual, and vocal) to deliver a compelling and persuasive presentation.
Got questions?
Handling audience questions can also be a challenging aspect of presenting. The course will teach you techniques to handle audience questions confidently and effectively. You will also learn how to deal with difficult situations and larger audiences.
Practical
The course includes a live practice session with feedback, allowing you to put your new skills into practice and receive constructive feedback. Finally, all delegates will leave the training with a personalised action plan, helping you to continue to develop your skills and confidence in presenting.
Tips to make a killer presentation
What is your story?
To give a good talk, you must have something worth talking about, and framing the talk as a journey is crucial.
You should consider the audience’s knowledge and interest in the subject, and avoid using jargon or technical language. Presentations often try to cover too much ground, leading to abstract language that may not make sense to new listeners. You should try to limit the scope of the talk to what can be explained with specific examples and provide more detail about your unique contribution rather than your entire field of study.
It’s all in the delivery
To deliver a talk, there are three main approaches: reading off a script, using bullet points, or memorizing the talk. Reading or using a teleprompter creates distance between you and the audience, while memorizing the talk is often the best way to go if there is enough time to prepare.
However, memorizing a talk requires a significant investment of time and effort, and there is often a “valley of awkwardness” during the learning curve where you haven’t quite memorized the talk. The key is to rehearse enough times that the words become second nature, allowing you to focus on delivering the talk with meaning and authenticity.
My personal opinion: don’t be a robot and read off a script or teleprompter. Your audience will spot it a mile away and it can ruin any chance of an intimate connection. Before you know it, your audience will be bored, and the whole thing will feel more formal than a black-tie affair.
Stage Presence
You should not underestimate the physical aspect of being on stage even though it can be daunting rather be aware and make the necessary changes beforehand.
The substance and delivery of the presentation are not necessarily more important than body movements.
You can have excellent knowledge and top notch slides but if you are shifting constantly or playing with your hands for example your audience will be quite distracted.
Rather work on how you plan to stand, head high and shoulders back firmly, weight planted on both feet and remember to make eye contact with the audience – it is crucial for a successful presentation. It is also common to feel nervous before and during a presentation, but this can be used to improve performance. Authentic vulnerability, such as acknowledging nerves, can also help to engage the audience.
Media
I suggest that as a presenter, you should consider using slides only when necessary and avoid using them as a substitute for notes. If you do decide to use slides, you should explore alternatives to PowerPoint, such as Prezi, to enhance visual impact.
When using videos, you should keep them short and avoid being self-promotional or having soundtracks.
Finally, you should avoid showing clips of yourself being interviewed as it can come across as self-centered.
In conclusion, presenting is something most people have to face at some stage, but it need not be boring or daunting. The tips here will definitely get you started in the right direction.
By attending the “Presenting Skills” course, you will learn how to handle nerves, prepare effectively, engage your audience, and handle audience questions confidently. With the right training and techniques, anyone can become a confident and engaging presenter.