Tips for Improving Presentation Skills

 Who is your audience? What is the layout of the room? How long do you have to speak? Will there be time for questions? The more you know about the logistics of your presentation, the more comfortable you will be. Arrive early to get comfortable with the location and ensure equipment is working properly.

 Don't wing it.  Practice your presentation out loud several times, in front of another person or a mirror if possible.  Make sure you get all the way through.  It doesn't have to be memorized but you should have a good idea of where you are going.  When using Power Point, know the order of slides and what you are going to say.  

The  open (or introduction) and close is when you will definitely have people’s attention. The open should be a "grabber"; an analogy, personal story, quote, etc. to give them a sense of who you are and what you will be talking about. Saying your name and title is not an open. The close is your last chance to make an impression and drive home your message.  

  The more you read, the more wooden it sounds. You become a slave to the exact wording of your script and lose a lot of potential emotional impact. This becomes a big problem when using Power Point because it is tempting to just read the visual presentation out loud. Don’t do it. This makes your presentation boring and takes away from your credibility as a speaker and expert in your field. 

 An audience’s first impression will be of how you look, not what you say.  What you wear shouldn’t be a distraction.  Good rule of thumb is to dress one level up taking into consideration where you are speaking, the type of event, and your audience.   Make sure you are comfortable with how you look. Presentations are not the time to try out a new haircut, shoes, or outfit.   

Rule number one: ENERGY SELLS! It shows that you are confident and have a positive attitude about your topic. That energy should  come from your entire body; facial expressions, the tone of your voice and body gestures that help emphasize a point. Avoid slouching or rocking back and forth. Depending on the size of the room, make eye contact by looking at different people or sections. 

 Use humor, analogies, interesting or personal stories throughout your presentation to keep the  audience interested and engaged. Statistics are fine but don't overdo it as too many numbers are easily forgotten and less impactful.

 Consider the worst case scenario and realize it is unlikely to happen.  Before presenting, do some exercises such as taking some deep breaths and focusing on a single object for thirty seconds,  stretching, walking around, or pushing the fist of one  hand into the palm of the other for ten seconds.  During the presentation, focus on the audience and topic, not yourself. 

 Use any mistake as an opportunity to grow. What did you do wrong and how are going to handle it in the future? Also be sure to ask what did you do right and what worked?