Public speaking is not most people’s idea of a good time. True, some thrive in the limelight and on the stage, but if you are like most of us the idea of getting up and talking in front of a group gives you palpitations and sweaty palms. We are terrified of making a mistake, of looking foolish, of going blank, of being judged, of failing, of falling flat on our faces.
The fact is that, jitters aside, there are some very simple changes you can make
If you are looking forward to – or dreading – an upcoming presentation, here are a few things you should avoid doing, and what you should do instead:
There’s an old adage that says “failing to plan is planning to fail,” and it’s quite applicable to presentations. Very few people are gifted with the ability to “wing it” in public speaking.
Take the time beforehand to get all your ideas down on paper, organize them in a way that makes sense, and streamline them so that the big picture doesn’t get lost in a lot of little details. If all the audience wants to know is what time it is, you don’t have to tell them how to make a watch. Always remember that your primary goal is clear communication.
Once you have your presentation planned and organized, you can just stand up on presentation day and read the speech, right? Wrong! Trying to cold-read a presentation in front of an audience is harder than you think – nervousness will make you stumble, skip pages, and mumble into the podium. Worse, the audience will be subjected to the excruciating boredom of watching someone read.
Instead, practice your presentation until it is familiar and smooth. Don’t memorize it; take notes or use a PowerPoint deck to keep you on track and remind you of your main points. Good preparation also means familiarizing yourself with the audience, the room, and any equipment you’ll need to use during the presentation.
There is a lot of “connecting” that must occur for a presentation to succeed. If there is no connection, there is no communication, and the presentation fizzles.
First, you must connect to the material. A presenter must convey some sense of enthusiasm or interest in the subject – if you don’t care, the audience certainly won’t.
Second, you must connect to the audience. Use body language, eye contact, and personal energy to draw them in. Give them a reason to listen to what you have to say, and do your best to keep it interesting. It’s possible to deliver a boring presentation on even the most interesting topic, but you don’t want to be that speaker.
Third, you must “connect the dots” by clearly spelling out for the audience what you are talking about, why it is important, and what you expect them to do, think, or decide after hearing what you have to say. What exactly is the point or purpose of your presentation? Make sure it’s clear – both to you and to your listeners.
Bad delivery skills will kill any presentation. Don’t stand there mumbling at the slide projector or looking at your feet! Face the audience and stand tall. Support your voice with good posture, deep breathing, and proper volume. Support your words with appropriate inflection and gestures. Don’t shout – gauge your voice to reach the back row or the farthest members of your audience without straining. If you can’t do that without shouting, use a microphone.
Presentations may be challenging, but knowing how to prepare and deliver an effective presentation might keep your palms from sweating. Keep these tips in mind for your next presentation to eliminate the fizzle - and turn up the sizzle!
Baker Communications offers leading edge presentation and public speaking training solutions that will help you address the goals and achieve the outcomes addressed in this article. For more information about how your organization can achieve immediate and lasting behavior change that will help your team members or executives quickly connect with their audience, build credibility, and persuade listeners to take action click here.
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