Effective Presentation Skills

Anyone who understands some principles about presenting will be a more confident speaker. Some of these principles are:

Knowledge of the subject

The more you know about the subject to be presented, the more confident you will be.  Deal with material that is fully researched for preparing your presentation.

Advance preparation

How you initially organise the amount of information and knowledge on the subject matter is equally important.  Often people put off preparing the speech until the time to deliver it has almost arrived. Effective presentation relies on adequate preparation.

Prepare points to convey

It is important to be clear on the number of points that you want to convey. People will only remember few points; you cannot expect to present a lot of ideas in a short period of time.  You may find it helpful to write your key points and select the ones that you regard as most important.

Duration of presentation

The length of time that has been allotted to your presentation has critical implications for what you select for the content.  This will influence the degree of detail that you can deal with. Consider the amount of time that the presentation will take, including any question time.  Twenty minutes is the ideal length of time for a speech that will keep an audience listening.

Structure of presentation

Your responsibility to the audience is to be clear, accurate and analytical.  A strong structure is one of the most vital points to distinguish a good presentation from an average one.  In order to keep the listeners interested and involved, you must arrange facts and ideas in an effective manner.

Choice of words

An audience’s ability to understand is effected by the vocabulary we choose. Long words are harder to understand than short words. Eliminate words or phrases that may be inappropriate, insulting or stereotypical. Avoid overuse of similar words. 

Know your audience

The composition of the particular audience can be known by considering the questions such as: what is the demographic background of the audience in terms of age, gender and work experience; do some members of the audience already know something about the subject.

Know the venue
The better you know the venue, the more comfortable you will be.  If the presentation takes place in your own classroom, or in the conference room of the company where you work, preparations will probably be less complicated. 

Purpose of your presentation
Your level of comfort may be influenced by the occasion and purpose of presentation.  Prepare your presentation according to the occasion and purpose such as a formal occasion for an interview or a casual, informal gathering for an annual day celebration.

Overcome anxiety

A certain amount of anxiety and tension before addressing a group is natural and even energising.  What you need to do to succeed is to turn the experience around and focus on the positive implications of giving a presentation, rather than on the negative ones.

Keep eye contact

By eye contact with the listeners you make the audience feel that you are addressing it. This will make a point across that you like them; you are honest, open and direct.

Use a variety of gestures
Do not fidget with your notes, play with your clothes or put your hands in your pockets.  Use your hands to describe and reinforce your verbal message.  Avoid pointing at the audience.

Be aware of your posture

Stand straight, with assurance, chest up, shoulders relaxed. A little movement is helpful so long as you do so with clear purpose. 

Be aware of your voice

Speak louder than normal and try to vary the pitch of your voice. Project your voice to the back of the room, not down at the table in front of you.  Speak slowly enough for the audience to capture the meaning of what you are saying.

Dress appropriately

Do not wear clothes that distract attention from what you are saying. Dress comfortably and appropriately. 

Face your audience

Your facial expression should reinforce your message. Smile from time to time. The warmth that you will emit can affect the listeners’ level of interest or attention.