A presentation is a form of communication with an audience. When you prepare for a presentation, you must consider elements such as situation for which the presentation is designed, the method used and the response the audience will make. The object of a presentation is to transmit information and opinion to an audience in your own words, within a limited amount of time.
- Be Prepared
Being prepared is by far the most important element. It demands you to spend major hours on preparation and rehearsal. This will help you to get an accurate picture of how you speak.
- Give yourself to the audience
Use personal examples and stories in your speech. Make sure that your stories help to emphasize or support your point. The stories must match your message. Use examples from your professional and personal life to make your point. In either case, be willing to give yourself to your audience by sharing some of your bit with them.
- Stay Relaxed
To stay relaxed, you should be prepared. Also focus on your message and not the audience. Make usage of gestures, including walking patterns. Practice the opening of your speech and plan exactly how you will say it. The audience will judge you in the first 30 seconds, they see you.
- Add Natural Humour
Use natural humour by poking fun at yourself and something you said or did. Do not try to be a stand up comedian. Be sure of not to make fun of anyone in the audience. People will laugh at you, when you make fun of yourself but do not overdo it.
- Plan your Body and Hand Positions
During the practice of your speech, look for occasions where you can use a gesture. Pick three positions, one on the center stage, one on your right and one on your left. Maintain eye contact with the audience.
- Pay attention to all details
Make sure you have the right location; you know how to get where you are speaking. Ask how large an audience, you will be speaking to. Arrive early, so you can check out where you will be speaking and make any last minute changes.
- Maintain your anxiety-
Most of the nervous symptoms you experience before a presentation are exactly the same as those you feel when excited. If we call it Energy or Excitement, its Good, but if call it Anxiety, its Bad. Tell yourself that you are excited about the opportunity to speak in front of the group. This is because, the excitement is mush more manageable and positive emotion than anxiety. Use this excitement to energize you and help you communicate your enthusiasm to your audience.
- Never Apologize, Confess or make Excuses
When you apologize, confess or make excuses at any time during your presentation, you are saying to your audience- Do Not expect a lot from me today, I will disappoint you.
- Give the audience all the enthusiasm you want back
You cannot expect your audience to be enthusiastic about a product or a program, if you are yourself not excited about it. The audience will have about as much excitement as you do and no more Enthusiasm is very catchy, most audiences will match your level of enthusiasm.
- Get the audience involved in your presentation
According to a survey, an average attention span of an individual is nine seconds. With so much fading in and out, it makes sense that the audience remembers major part of what you are trying to convey. Your goal is to transform the audience from Passive Listeners to Active Listeners.