People write quick study books for every other skill under the sun these days; why not an article on presentation skills for “dummies?” After all, for most people there is no other time when they feel dumber and more out of place than when they must stand up in front of a room full of people and deliver a presentation. I will be the first one to tell you that nothing helps relieve that feeling of anxiety and chronic “dumbness” like enrolling in one of our Exceptional Presentations classes. However, sometimes a presentation will sneak up on you so fast that you don’t have the luxury of scheduling a class. If you find yourself in such a position, using the following strategies will significantly improve the quality of your presentation.
1. Practice your presentation over and over and over again. Video tape yourself each time to help you identify and correct distracting mannerisms. Just like practicing anything else, rehearsing your presentation will help you build confidence and increase your effectiveness.
2. Write out the text of your message word for word, and read it out loud in your initial practice sessions. You will eventually switch to note cards, but writing and reading word for word helps you measure the length of what you are going to say (it is never a good idea to go over time) and helps you get used to hearing the sound of your own voice.
3. Always face your audience while you are talking. If you have to write something on a display board, finish your sentence, turn and write, then turn back to the audience and resume speaking.
4. Limit unnecessary motions with your arms and hands. Too much “fly away” activity distracts your audience and telegraphs the fact that you are nervous. You may use gestures to emphasize important points, but otherwise, keep your arms at your sides and your hands OUT of your pockets.
5. Vary your pace and your tone of voice. Speaking too fast is a sign of nervousness. Speaking too soft indicates you lack confidence. Speaking too low and too slowly can give people the idea you really don’t care about what you are saying. Try to speak in a conversational style, except at a slightly louder, firmer volume.
6. Act like you care. Sure, some things are harder to care about than others – actuarial tables, for instance. But if nobody cares about the material, why are you talking about it? If you act like you believe in the importance of what you are saying, others will believe it is important too.
7. Keep your eyes out of your notes and on your audience. People will pay attention to you, if you act like you are paying attention to them.
8. No matter what, keep smiling. People are amazingly responsive to facial expressions. A positive expression on your face will elicit a positive response from your audience.
There you go; use these guidelines and you will definitely avoid coming off like a dummy. Then, if you are really smart, you will enroll in our Exceptional Presentations training course as soon as a can. We will turn you into a presentation genius!
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December Presentation Quick Tip of the Month - Develop a Key Word Outline
The last person to read out loud to you was probably your mother, and she was trying to put you to sleep! Reading your presentation word for word to your audience will have exactly the same impact on them. While it makes sense to start your preparation by writing your material out word for word, reduce your text to a set of key words as soon as you can. Use a key word for each point of your topic outline, and let that key word trigger the information you already have stored in your head regarding that topic. Speak conversationally and sincerely about that point, and then move on to the next key word. You and your audience will both stay awake for the whole presentation, and you will actually find yourself becoming more relaxed as you get your focus off of your speech and on to the act of sharing your thoughts with your audience.
