how to give an effective presentation

How to give an effective presentation Deliver content to really engage your audience

1. PREPARATION

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

•  What do they know? •  What do they know about you? •  What do they know about the subject?

•  What effect will this have on your presentation?

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

•  What do you want them to think, feel, or do as a result of your presentation?

•  Have you tailored your examples to their experiences?

KNOW YOUR SUBJECT

•  What’s your story? •  What’s your headline? •  What’s the one thing you want the audience to go away

with at the end?

KNOW YOUR SUBJECT

•  Do you have your three key messages? What are they?

KNOW YOUR SPACE

•  Find out where you’re presenting and visit the room beforehand if you can

•  Is it too hot? Too cold? Too bright? Too dark?

KNOW YOUR SPACE

•  Make sure everything works as it should •  Does the computer work? Does the clicker work? Is there a

microphone? •  What’s the room set up? •  Challenge the layout if it isn’t as you want it

2. GETTING ZEN

CHANGE YOUR MINDSET

•  Turn nervous energy into speaking energy

CHANGE YOUR MINDSET

•  Remember, the audience are on your side – they want to be informed, entertained, and enthused

CHANGE YOUR MINDSET

•  Don’t apologise if something goes wrong during your presentation

•  Believe me, your audience won’t realise unless you tell them

THE AUDIENCE ISN’T YOUR ENEMY

•  Get to the room early and get ready •  Talk to people and learn some names

THE AUDIENCE ISN’T YOUR ENEMY

•  Establish rapport – make conversation, be friendly! •  Use any relevant information you learn from your

conversations in your presentation

3. DOING THE DEED

HUMANS ARE FUNNY THINGS

•  First impressions are based on:

7% 38%

55%

SPOKEN WORDS TONE OF VOICE

BODY LANGUAGE

USE YOUR VOICE

No one likes to listen to a presentation in monotone

USE YOUR VOICE

•  Try to be conversational in style •  Vary your volume – project, don’t shout

USE YOUR VOICE

•  Speak at different rates to heighten enthusiasm •  Use inflection and tone to add emphasis

USE YOUR VOICE

•  Master the pause •  It allows you to think about what you want to say next •  It gives the audience time to consider what you’ve just said •  It slows your pace down

USE YOUR BODY

•  Make eye contact and stand with an open and confident stance

•  Use gestures (if they suit your style)

USE YOUR BODY

•  Are you dressed appropriately for the audience?

•  Are you in shorts and they’re all in suits? •  Watch out for flashy jewellery or watches –

they can distract from what you’re saying

USE YOUR BRAIN

•  Keep an eye on your audience •  Are they looking interested? Bored? •  Are they worried about the time?

USE YOUR BRAIN

•  Be prepared to speed up or slow down •  If possible, ask your audience what they want

to focus on •  Listen. Don’t assume you know what your

audience thinks

MY 3 KEY MESSAGES

The old cliché – fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

You’re probably talking too fast. Slow down.

Presenting isn’t torture. Be enthusiastic and have fun and your audience will too.

GET IN TOUCH

Don’t be a stranger...

@talktobeaumont

imogen@talktobeaumont.com

/imogenhitchcock

www.talktobeaumont.com

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