Giving Presentations – Ignite Your Audience!

No need to worry, this is very common and EVERYONE has felt like this at some time in their life- so why do some people seem cool and in control when they speak? Follow these tips and you’ll be presenting like Steve Jobs in no time.

A handy pointer is to try and sit in on as many presentations/ client meetings as possible with more experienced colleagues if you can. Here you can see how they deal difficult situations. However, if a group of you is going to seriously overcrowd the audience it may be best to give it a miss.

This guide focuses more on tips for giving presentations rather than writing them so it can be applicable to a wide variety of people.

1. The first step is to know your material.

If you know what you have to say then there is one less thing to worry about. This is why it is easier to give presentations you have prepared from scratch.

2. Believe in what you are saying.

If you feel you are misleading or lying to people then everything gets a lot more difficult.

3. Complete a run through (or five).

This will help you improve your confidence by proving you can actually perform well. Try and drag in a friend and ask for some (constructive) feedback. Thousands of people in the world at all levels have made all sorts of mistakes, never feel self conscious about asking questions or not getting things right. People who are excellent at giving presentations are not born that way, it has come through experience, hard work and learning without exception.

4. Never give up!

Things may not go great for a number of reasons, if this happens it is not a major problem at all. Keep trying and you can only improve in the future.

1. Visit the building or room.

One major mistake that is never helpful is arriving late, the day before make sure you can get to where you will need to be. Note how long it take and add some emergency time. I remember running to rent a large white van from a commercial rental company after my car’s tyre blew out in the middle of nowhere, life throws up lots of surprises.

2. Find out about the room.

Some questions can be asked. Don’t be afraid to ring up and ask a client one of these:

- What technology does the room have? I have known people arrive with a flashy Powerpoint presentation only to find out there is no projector! It is fine to bring one with you.

- How big is the room and how many are attending? Will you have to use larger text? How initiate will the presentation be? Will you have to project your voice a long way?

3. Find out who you are giving the presentation to.

Do you have a prior relationship to them, what knowledge do they already have?

4. Bring copies.

Always bring multiple copies of both the presentation and handouts. Computers fail, paper gets coffee spilled on them, and producing a handout for an unexpected guest looks great.

5. Look in the mirror.

Lay out your clothes beforehand and ensure you look smart. Be wary that it is possible to look too smart and this can be perceived as you being rigid. For example, arriving at a casual clothed dot com business in a Kiton three piece may give the wrong impression. While it is fun to look exciting and individual with your latest ‘Neighborhood’ Japanese streetwear, it is worth considering if you are trying to give a professional impression.

6. Arrive together.

It does not look good if a team of 5 arrives over a long period of time.

1. Greet them.

Saying hello, expressing your gratitude for the opportunity, asking about their journey can help build up that valuable connection with the audience. Check out the ‘Building Rapport’ section for more information on this area.

2. Determine when questions are to be asked.

Presentations are a two way process that should draw in and involve the audience. Early on you should establish if you would prefer questions to come at the end (this can be easier) or during. This avoids confusion and puts the audience more at ease.

3. Look into my eyes…….

People go on about eye contact a lot, and they should. If you are staring at the ground or at the screen you won’t be engaging with your audience and its hard to build up trust. This can be quite difficult to begin with but a useful trick to fall back on is too look at the bridge of their nose. Your audience will never know the difference and it is a lot easier to do.

4. Think a little about posture.

Body language can help you make the impact you desire. Look in the mirror and see how you stand, do you look rigid? Try and relax a little if you can with your chin up projecting confidence in what you are saying. Avoid putting your hands in your pockets or playing with things such as pens or keys.

5. Be animated but not manic

Try not to stand completely still, point to important points and move around the room. Some excitement and enthusiasm in your presentation makes a world of difference.

6. Your voice.

Monotone presentations never excited anybody. Try and speak clearly and project your voice if possible. If the place is huge then look into a microphone system (don’t forget to test it!). Try to enthuse with your words, avoid slang, simplify complex issues, and communicate at their level. Never be arrogant or ‘talk down’, you will just come across as an idiot.

7. Don’t lose your personality.

Presentations are a human process and people are not interested in engaging with ‘presentation robots’. Try and bring part of yourself into the mix.

8. Keep going.

If something goes wrong, don’t worry. Whatever you do it will not be fatal and continuing on after a mistake shows signs of strong character traits. This is the best way to learn more about your presentation style and progress forward.