Thursday, 01/16/2025
Education
20 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills – Ending Part
Update: 26/11/2016
People love to talk and make their opinions heard,\r\nbut the nature of presentations can often seem like a one-sided proposition. It\r\ndoesn’t have to be, though.
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Asking the audience what they think, inviting\r\nquestions, and other means of welcoming audience participation can boost\r\nengagement and make attendees feel like a part of a conversation. It also makes\r\nyou, the presenter, seem much more relatable. Consider starting with a poll or\r\nsurvey. Don’t be put off by unexpected questions – instead, see them as an\r\nopportunity to give your audience what they want.
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15.\r\nBe Entertaining
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Even if your presentation is packed with useful\r\ninformation, if your delivery bombs, so will your session.
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I find that including some jokes and light-hearted\r\nslides is a great way to help the audience (and myself) feel more comfortable,\r\nespecially when presenting them with a great deal of information. However, it’s\r\nimportant to maintain a balance – after all, you’re not performing a stand-up\r\nroutine, and people didn’t come to your presentation with the sole intention of\r\nbeing entertained. That said, don’t be afraid to inject a little humor into\r\nyour talk. If you’re not sure about whether a presentation is “too much,†run\r\nthrough it for a couple of friends and ask them to tell it to you straight.
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16.\r\nAdmit You Don’t Have All the Answers
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Very few presenters are willing to publicly concede\r\nthat they don’t actually know everything because they feel it undermines their\r\nauthority. However, since we all know that nobody can ever know everything\r\nabout a given topic, admitting so in a presentation can actually improve your\r\ncredibility.
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If someone asks a question that stumps you, it’s\r\nokay to admit it. This can also increase your credibility with the audience, as\r\nit demonstrates that, no matter how knowledgeable a person might be, we’re all\r\nlearning, all the time. Nobody expects you to be an omniscient oracle of\r\nforbidden knowledge – they just want to learn from you.
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17.\r\nUse a Power Stance
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Practicing confident body language is another way to\r\nboost your pre-presentation jitters. When your body is physically demonstrating\r\nconfidence, your mind will follow suit. While you don't want to be jutting out\r\nyour chest in an alpha gorilla pose all afternoon (somebody enjoyed Dawn of the\r\nPlanet of the Apes a bit too much), studies have shown that using power stances\r\na few minutes before giving a talk (or heading to a big interview) creates a\r\nlasting sense of confidence and assurance. Whatever you do, don't sit--sitting\r\nis passive. Standing or walking a bit will help you harness those stomach bats\r\n(isn't that more appropriate than butterflies?). Before you go on stage, strike\r\nyour best Power Ranger stance and hold your head high!
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18.\r\nDrink Water
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Dry mouth is a common result of anxiety. Prevent\r\ncottonmouth blues by staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water before your\r\ntalk (just don't forget to hit the bathroom before starting). Keep a bottle of\r\nwater at arm's reach while presenting in case you get dry mouth while chatting\r\nup a storm. It also provides a solid object to hurl at potential hecklers.\r\n(That'll show 'em.)
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19.\r\nJoin Toastmasters.
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Toastmaster clubs are groups across the country (and\r\nthe world) dedicated to helping members improve their presentation skills.\r\nGroups get together during lunch or after work to take turns delivering short\r\ntalks on a chosen topic. The more you present, the better you'll be, so\r\nconsider joining a Toastmaster club to become a top-notch orator. Just don't\r\nforget, it's BYOB (Bring Your Own Bread).
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20.\r\nDon't Fight the Fear
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Accept your fear\r\nrather than trying to fight it. Getting yourself worked up by wondering if\r\npeople will notice your nervousness will only intensify your anxiety. Remember,\r\nthose jitters aren't all bad – harness that nervous energy and transform it\r\ninto positive enthusiasm and you'll be golden. We salute you, O Captain! My\r\nCaptain!
Larry Kim - WordStream