Preparation is essential to the success of an engaging and memorable business presentation. The advance planning and production of your material is the only way to exemplify a sense of readiness and real authority. Analyzing your audience, defining the objectives of your presentation and rehearsing are all key aspects to delivering a stellar talk.
Practice makes perfect, many people struggle to properly prepare themselves, which can lead to forgetting lines and losing their train of thought. Here are some tips to help better develop your next presentation:
- Find out who your audience is and what they are trying to get out of your presentation
- Make an outline of your presentation with key points highlighted
- Show, don’t tell. Find creative ways to portray hefty information such as using charts and appropriate visuals
For your opening and closing segments, make sure your words are unequivocally linked to your presence on stage, that you know where you’re going to stand when you deliver the bookend remarks. The introduction is the most important part of the presentation because its primary purpose is to capture the attention of the audience.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
— Maya Angelou
What makes a good presenter?
Many of the best presenters share common qualities that set them apart from the rest of the crowd. Generally, good speakers have a very high sense of self-awareness. This means understanding what your strengths are and how to utilize them for best results. Another trait is the ability to tell an engaging and emotion-provoking narrative. The best stories appeal to the audiences deepest emotions. This involves a deep understanding of how human emotion works and the emotions you are trying to evoke.
What makes a bad presenter?
Bad presenters often lack a clear purpose in their presentation. They may ramble and get off track, which quickly loses the audience. Distracting visual animations such as unnecessary transitions and inferior clipart often plague poor presenters and damage their professionalism and overall brand. Poor body language can make an interesting presentation lifeless. Not standing straight up, making minimal eye contact with the audience and nervous pacing can all lead to the downfall of a presentation.
Presenting is a skill that is developed over time through hard work, research and practice. It’s based around being assertive, not aggressive. Some of the most famous people in the world are where they’re at because of their ability to capture and genuinely influence an audience. At the end of the day, just remember to be yourself. Following the tips above will help improve your presentation abilities and make your next appearance stand out from the crowd!
Still interested in learning more about how we can help aid your next presentation? Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you win the day with your presentation.