Effective Presentation

Few people are naturally endowed with good presentation skills, so it is important that we constantly practice out presentation technique. In any setting, presentations are very important, and so is the way you deliver them. A single presentation could make or break a whole fortune.

The initial planning consists of familiarizing yourself with the factors surrounding the presentation. Primarily, these factors are the type of talk you are expected to give, the composition of the audience, the time allowed, and the expectations for the informational content. Being familiar with all these aspects and what they all cover will help greatly in giving your presentation.

Once you have gathered the general idea of what you wish to say, you must now focus on how to say it. Unlike other things, however, a presentation only allows one chance for you to say what you need to say. It is important that you know everything you wish to cover, and to know it well, with no ambiguity. Tips for preparation are many, and include starting way in advance, try to develop a single thesis statement for the whole presentation, avoid using lists, and many others. The most important and useful tip is to simply rehearse.

The purpose of a presentation is to offer your audience information which they can recall at a later date. This must be kept in mind at all times while you create your presentation. Small details are not only unnecessary, but will bore your audience, and they won’t be remembered anyways. It is essential to remember that quality is more important than quantity; a good, full presentation doesn’t need to be long.

A good way to organize your ideas is to come up with a simple outline of your presentation. Include all your main ideas, ordered by importance, and add all your smaller details to those main ideas, respectively. This can be an invaluable tool in writing your presentation, and can help you remember it much better.

There are five principal elements to keep in mind when actually presenting. The first is the rate, the speed of which you talk. Try to keep it slow enough for people to follow yet not too slow, as to not bore them. The second is to have a ‘hook’ introduction; something that will catch their attention from the very beginning. Try to avoid cliché phrases in your opening. The third element is transitioning between subjects. Try to make your transitions as smooth and successive as possible, so that the presentation seems more like a whole talk than just a bulleted list. Fourth, be sure to have a clear and concise conclusion that adequately recaps everything in your presentation. Last, quite simply, do not go over your time, ever. Cut out any concepts or small details you need to in order to keep your time.

Practice is the most important tool you could ever have in preparing for your presentation. There are many useful practice techniques, such as reading through the text several times before beginning. Keeping good airflow in and out of your body helps as well. Try not to procrastinate at any step in preparing your presentation. Try not to memorize phrases word-for-word as to avoid being monotonous; rather, memorize the ideas, then elaborate on them as you go.

Using notes can also be of great help while giving your presentation. However, the correct use of notes can make the difference between a great and a poor presentation. As previously stated, make sure any notes that you use revolve around the concepts of what you are presenting rather than actual text; this keeps the presentation from turning into a recital. Also, try to run through the talk several times, and each time writing comments as you go.

When the actual presentation is at hand, it is imperative to keep focused on your talk. Try to run through your presentation just once more, as soon as you can before the actual presentation. Familiarize yourself with where you will present, and always have ready any extra materials you will have, if any, to assist you in your presentation. Try to rely on your host as least as you can. If you are using any computer equipment, be sure everything is set up correctly, and you know who will be operating it and when. Occasional hand and body gestures for emphasis show that you are involved, which is a good thing, but be sure they are not a distraction.

During the actual presentation, there is another set of tips to help. First of all, as always, be sure to be taking deep breaths. State all your objectives at the beginning and end of your talk. Try to keep the same pace all the way through, as we have a natural tendency to rush through parts that we know better (remember, the audience, unlike you, is hearing all this for the first time). Also, don’t assume that the audience knows beforehand any allusions you make. If you feel something needs clarification, be sure to do so accordingly. Try to keep a conversational tone with your audience, and involve them in your presentation. Lastly, be prepared for anything; late arrivals, technology malfunction, sudden decrease in time, etc. Be ready to continue and still cover all parts of your talk, no matter what.

Going along with being prepared, be ready to answer any and all questions your audience has (they will have questions, that’s guaranteed). When asked a question, repeat the question so that the whole audience knows what it is. Take a moment to reflect on the question yourself, as to not stumble your way through the answer. Always remember to answer after the entire question has been asked. Try to postpone all questions until the end of the talk, unless it is of immediate consequence. Avoid prolonged discussions, lengthy answers, and most of all arguments. If you do not know an answer, just say so, and do not apologize. However, offer alternatives to the questioner. Lastly, always end your answer by asking the questioner if the response clarified his answer.