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Improve your oral presentation skills by incorporating pauses in your speech. Oh, I’m sure you pause on occasion. Everyone does naturally. But for maximum effect after a particularly dramatic or funny comment, pause for 4 to 6 seconds. (You may need to count in your head to make sure you wait long enough.) Doing so will … Read more
I attended a seminar recently, and noticed several mistakes by the presenters. These are fairly common presentation mistakes, so perhaps you’ll recognize some or all. Even if you don’t usually make these mistakes, it’s good to be reminded of them.
1. Stay within your allotted time. Running long disrupts the rest of the program.
Public speaking is fun, and it can be very rewarding with the proper preparation. The following presentation tips will ensure a successful presentation next time.
1. Prepare well. Even if you’ve given this presentation before, start from scratch. Establish a goal or objective for your presentation. What do you want your audience to know or do at the conclusion of your presentation? Use that to develop an outline. The outline will keep you focused on your objective.
Do your research. Could be online, off-line; maybe even include some interviews. The more effort you put in, the more effective your presentation will be.
2. Develop a checklist of your needs. You’ll include the usual items (laptop and projector, for example), but don’t forget a marker and/or pointer, your reading glasses, and other details. Don’t rely on memory. It’s too easy to forget those things.
I had the pleasure of offering a presentation to a class of business students on Tuesday. We reviewed a number of important writing tips as well as presentation skills. I always enjoy speaking to groups. Presentations allow me to educate an audience, enhance my presentation skills, and even learn from the event. Each presentation you give is unique. This one offered reminders of certain presentation principles, which I’d like to share with you.
1. Adjust your presentation style to fit class size. I was expecting six students, which would’ve been small anyway. (The classroom was standard size.) Instead, only three attended. All sat in the back row. I used PowerPoint for one presentation and the whiteboard for the other. A tiny group like this forced me to approach and speak from just a few feet away.
While rehearsing and visualizing your presentation, you might picture a full (or nearly full) room. Be prepared for something less. Don’t act shocked if only a handful of audience members arrive. Adjust your presentation style accordingly.