Improve Your Presentations Today!
- Practice
- Know The Material
- Work Off Notes
- Slow Down
- Be Genuine
Presentation skills are undeniably useful, and often necessary, in life. Unfortunately, giving presentations is very difficult for many people, whether they simply feel discomfort or outright fear at the prospect. The following are some of the best ways to approach public speaking, overcome any fear, and ultimately give the best presentation possible.
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1. Practice
As the old adage goes, practice makes perfect. The same is true when it comes to giving presentations. Whether practicing a specific presentation or public speaking skills in general, practicing beforehand will make it less likely for a speaker to stumble over their words, forget something they intended to say, or get out of order. Practicing individual presentation skills such as volume and eye contact can help one give a much more cohesive and engaging presentation. Practice also helps speakers ensure their speech lasts within any established time limits. To practice effectively, try doing so in front of a mirror or in front of a trusted test audience for feedback.
2. Know The Material
One of the best ways to give a good presentation is to already be familiar with the material inside and out. Speakers are then more likely to be able to speak naturally as well as off the cuff, which contributes to giving a better-sounding presentation. To do this, perform considerable amounts of research beforehand. It is much easier for speakers who already are passionate and knowledgeable about the material they will be presenting. Speakers should remember their strengths and play to them when giving a presentation.
3. Work Off Notes
While reciting a speech word-for-word from notes is not advisable due to the delivery often coming across as flat and wooden, it is still a good idea to work off of notes. This can be on traditional notecards or a PowerPoint presentation, but the general idea remains the same. Use the notes as a guide, not as a script. When creating a slideshow presentation, ensure the text is large enough for the audience to read. Keep text short and simple – bullet points rather than complete sentences. This avoids overwhelming an audience or distracting them from what the speaker is saying. Visual aids should support, not distract.
4. Slow Down
Speaking too quickly is a common issue when giving presentations. It usually happens because the speaker is nervous, although there are other reasons as well. For example, the speaker may be rushing to get through their material if time is running short or simply trying to cover too much material to begin with. Speakers need to be conscious of this and deliberately slow down. Going too fast can confuse the audience, compound the speaker’s nervousness, cause listeners to not retain the material, and be the cause of other issues. However, speakers shouldn’t go so slowly that they go over their time or sound monotonous or boring.
5. Be Genuine
Finally, to make a presentation seem as natural and engaging as possible, speakers want to work at being as genuine as they can. Listeners pick up on genuine emotion and, if leveraged correctly, it can create a lasting bond with the audience that helps them remember what the speaker said long after the presentation is over. Inc.com confirms this. Being genuine also improves the speaker’s credibility, allowing them to be more effective at informing or persuading their audience of their main point.
Public speaking doesn’t have to be terrifying. With some effort, it isn’t difficult to improve presentation skills and actually have fun sharing knowledge with others.