When delivering a presentation, it is important to remember that your audience wants to learn something new. Some presenters forget this fact and bore the audience with their presentations.
Try to be enthusiastic about your topic and this will be passed on to the audience. Also, avoid referring to your notes during the presentation and keep your hands free for gestures. Check out more on giving presentations by reading this article.
Plan your presentation
The first step in preparing to give a presentation is planning your content. This may involve writing a script (which is optional), creating an outline or using cue cards. Whatever method you use, it is important to know the purpose of your presentation – what do you want to achieve?
For example, you might be trying to sell your idea, educate an audience or change the way that people think. Focus on the facts that will help your audience achieve this aim.
It is also useful to practice your presentation. Practicing in front of friends and family or even in the mirror can help reduce nerves when it comes to the big day. It will also highlight any areas where you might need to improve your delivery or the material itself.
Practice your presentation
You’ll want to practice your presentation to familiarize yourself with the content and ensure that you can speak clearly, concisely and in a manner that engages the audience. Start by reading the entire presentation out loud. Then, focus on highlighting or underlining words or phrases that are important to emphasize during your presentation.
You should also practice adjusting your timing to include the appropriate amount of information in your presentation. Generally speaking, it’s best to keep presentations short, but not too short, as the last few minutes are when the audience’s attention is most engaged.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to test out any visual materials that you’ll be using for your presentation (like slides) and make sure they’re working properly. There’s nothing more frustrating than having your technology act up during a presentation!
Prepare your visual materials
In a world where conferences are crowded and time slots short, it can be hard to stand out. Even the most talented speakers can lose their audience for chunks of time.
Q&A sessions are an important part of your presentation and can keep you engaged. Whether you prefer to take questions at the end or have them prepared in advance, be sure to include them in your plan.
Prepare for questions by brainstorming potential questions and preparing answers. Be careful not to get defensive or seem curt when answering questions and try to avoid long winded explanations. Also, make sure that all visual items have alternative text (text that reads aloud) provided so people who use assistive technology can access them. This is a best practice and a requirement for most presentations.
Prepare for questions
While you are preparing for your presentation, think of questions that could be asked by members of the audience. Rehearse brief, clear answers to each. Make sure to test the audiovisual equipment so that it will work as you need it to.
Some audiences love to ask questions and it’s a great way to check whether they really understand your message. However, some people can hijack the Q&A session and turn it into a defensive conversation.
If you know that the audience is likely to ask difficult or challenging questions, bring in a neutral third party to identify new questions you might not have thought of and stress-test your responses. This will help you feel more prepared and confident if such questions are raised.
Maintain eye contact
When you maintain eye contact, it makes your audience feel engaged and connected with you. It also shows that you’re confident and credible as a speaker.
Avoid looking down at the podium or at the floor. Looking at the ground or your slides can make you seem nervous or aloof. Instead, try to glance at your notes occasionally to check them without breaking your flow of thought or becoming distracted.
When addressing a large audience, be sure to scan the room and make brief eye contact with different members of the group. You may want to hold their gaze for three or five seconds before moving on, allowing them to feel personally engaged with you. Be respectful if they look uncomfortable; it could be because of the subject, their position in the audience or their own personal feelings about public speaking.