While hard work and good ideas are essential to success, your ability to express those ideas and get others to join you is just as important. Much of this is on one or in small groups but periodically you will be involved in more formal and public speaking in front of larger numbers. If this thought makes you nervous you are not alone. Many speakers lack the skills and confidence to make effective presentations. The fear of public speaking is the second largest fear in the world.
Tips to improve your presentation:-
A. Formulate a strategy for the specific audience:- Be clear about the purpose of your communication. Knowing the audience will be a critical determinant in what information is presented. Be concrete, specific, practical and relevant. Clarify your objectives-Is it to motivate?.. Inform?… persuade?…. Teach? Each calls for a different approach.
B. Write the presentation in rough, never read from a script. You should know most of what you want to say, if you don't then you should not be giving the talk ! Prepare cue cards which have key phrases and words, Don't forget to number the cards in case you drop them.
C. Greet the audience and tell them who you are. Then follow this formula:-
a. Ø Tell the audience what you are going to tell them.
b. Ø Then tell them
c. Ø At the end tell them what you have told them.
D. Keep the time allowed.
E. Use your hands to emphasize points but don't indulge in too much hand waving. Move around. But don't block the projector.
F. Look at your audience and try to make eye contact with each person. Eye contact helps to move your presentation from "speech" to "conversation" involving everyone in the audience. Don't lock your gaze with one person. That may be intimidating.
G. Avoid too much information on the slides. Just display the points then elaborate them.
H. Some presenters fill slides with so much detail that the audience just reads the slides ignoring the presenters. By keeping the slides lean, you convey the essentials with greater emphasis and you force the audience to turn to you for detail. Use color on slides but avoid orange and yellow which do not show well when projected.
I. Speakers, who pound the podium, jingle change in their pockets or do other things focus attention on themselves rather than the subject.
J. Speak clearly. Don't shout or whisper.
K. Room Lightning should be considered. Too much light near the screen will make it difficult to see the detail. On the other hand a completely darkened room can send the audience to sleep.
L. Use numbers to help the audience follow and grasp your information. For example: - I have two major objectives for today's meeting.
M. Don't worry if you are not grammatically sound. It is more important to remain cool and try to convey your ideas. Of course it is advisable to improve your language as it does have an impact on the audience. However your presentation will be better if you stop worrying about the audiences' reaction to lack of grammatical correctness.
N. Stage Fright:- Following are some techniques to cope with this fright:-
a. Ø Your audience understands your nervousness; they will forgive any honest mistakes.
b. Ø Chat with members of the audience before the presentation. You will not find them that threatening.
c. Ø Practice deep breathing exercises before taking the podium.
d. Ø Rehearse your presentation a few times.
O. Use language that can move people. Churchill might never had made such a strong impact on the world had he written" Essentially my contribution includes sanguinary composition, diligence effort and commitment". Fortunately he spoke in language that could move people "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, sweat and tears".
P. Get your audience involved. Ask them questions. Give various anecdotes to liven up your presentation.
Q. The only way to be a good presenter is through practice. You can form small groups with friends to practice.
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