Tips to Good Presentation

* Somewhere i taken

1. Get Clarity

Sitting down and thinking about what it is you want to get across is the very first thing you need to do. What is the presentation about? What are the main points you need to get across?

2. Create Your Story

Think of your presentation as a story – you have a story to tell and you want to tell it in the most effective way possible. So you need to have a beginning, a middle and an end, just like any other story. Make sure that it’s clear, concise, sticks to the point, and doesn’t try to fit in too many points. Think of crafting a story – you want it to flow, to be entertaining, to engage – all the things that make a great story. Telling a story that the whole audience can relate to is a great way to start a presentation. It piques attention and creates interest from the get go. The same goes for the end of the presentation; tell an interesting story to close and you’ll be onto a winner.

3. Practice

Practicing your presentation is one of the most important things you can do. Reading from a slide or directly from notes are a no-no – you need to be comfortable enough with the content so that when the presentation is taking place, you can focus on connecting with your audience, as opposed to trying to remember the information. If you need prompts, a few bullet points on a card that you can glance at every now and then should get you through.

4. Connect with your audience

Eye contact is another clincher. You’re attempting to connect with your audience, so look at them. If you’re too busy looking at notes or staring at your feet through nervousness, you’ll lose the connection straight away. Equally, projecting your voice so that it comes across as commanding and engaging, without being aggressive, will hold the audience’s attention. If you’re using a Powerpoint Presentation, using a maximum of ten slides is recommended. Try not to focus your whole presentation around the slides. They should be used as a guide, not a focus. 

5. Fake it till You Make It

Staying confident is essential. While you might be quivering with nervousness, remaining calm and in control is key. Believe you’re going to give a great presentation. Nerves are a normal part of presenting; try channeling them into giving a great presentation, into having a more powerful voice and into putting more passion into your presentation.