When it comes to presentations, one of the biggest myths is that the very best presenters - the ones who leave you on the edge of your seat begging for more - are just more gifted and talented than the rest of us. Nothing could be farther than the truth. However, all the highly effective presenters do have one thing in common: they are constantly working to improve their skills, especially in ten key areas. Do you want to become a Big League presenter? Start paying attention to the following important principles.
1. Do your homework. A great presentation starts days, or even weeks in advance. Be sure you allow adequate time to think through what needs to be said, how you want to say it, and then practice and refine your delivery strategy. Jotting a few notes on the back of napkin, or downloading an article off the Internet, is the kiss of death if you are hoping to give an effective presentation.
2. Follow some kind of relaxation routine right before your speech. No matter how it looks to you, ALL presenters have butterflies before going on stage. It is just a normal part of human nature. The best way to counter that is to practice some very easy relaxation techniques like slow, deep breathing, or stretching and relaxing key muscle groups. Visualizing your presentation and seeing yourself smiling and hitting a home run also works very well. Then take the stage, take a deep breath, and go get 'em.
3. Develop a strong opening that will instantly get your audience's attention. It could be anything - a bold, outrageous statement; an amazing statistic or a challenging quote; perhaps even a quick, tasteful joke or funny story. You must draw the audience in so they will be anxious to hear what you have to say next.
4. Use note cards with bullet points, rather than a speech printed out - and then read - word after boring word.
