How to Create a Winning Presentation
By John Gumas
It doesn't matter what department you're in. It doesn't even matter what your job title is. The fact is, we all have to make presentations at some point in our careers. We make them to boards of directors. We make them to prospective clients. We make them to internal staff. Some presentations are casual and some are formal. With each presentation, there is typically a lot riding on your ability to convince the audience you are addressing.
So, what can you do to improve your presentation skills? The following suggestions may help:
1. Do a Little Research.
Know your audience. Who will be attending? What are their issues and concerns? The more you can tailor your presentation to your audience's specific needs, the more impact you will make.
2. Engage Your Audience.
Don't let your audience get bored. Keep them engaged. If possible, make your presentation interactive. For example, involve those on the receiving end of your talk by asking questions and having them shout out answers.
3. Make It Interesting.
Have you ever sat through a presentation of facts and figures? It's not too long before you start dreaming of that "happy place." Don't let this happen to you. Make your presentation interesting by illustrating your points through stories, famous quotes or by using metaphors and analogies that your audience can relate to.
4. Make the Information Relevant.
Ask yourself, "Why should my audience care?" Good presentations should be relevant to the audience, not the speaker. To hook observers into your message, include nuggets of information that they won't have heard before or be able to find elsewhere. You'll leave a lasting impression by providing necessary information they can chew on afterwards.
5. Keep Your Visuals Simple.
Visuals can "break up" a presentation in a good way - saying with simple images what you can't say with many words. They also add a professional polish that can move your message one level beyond the norm. Whether you are using PowerPoint or good, old-fashioned flip charts, make sure that your visuals are simple to understand. Use them to emphasize key points and not to outline your entire presentation.
6. Show Some Passion.
The more dynamic you are, the more powerful your presentation will be. Demonstrate the passion you have through your facial expressions, the tone of your voice and your hand gestures. And always make eye contact with your audience. If you are finding it hard to put passion into dry material, ask yourself why it matters, who benefits or why you are singling it out among many things you could talk about. Even the driest material can be put forth passionately when you care about it.
7. Dress the Part.
The way you dress should establish credibility and should never become a focal point for your audience. If your audience focuses on something you are wearing or the overall way you are dressed, they will get distracted from your message. Remember that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. When in doubt, buy a new suit or ask someone's advice on what to wear.
8. Be Prepared.
Yes, this is an obvious one. But the simple fact remains, the better prepared you are, the better your presentation will be. It never hurts to practice a few times before doing it for real.
9. Be Your Own Best Judge.
Use yourself as a test case - if you're not entertained and enjoying giving your presentation, there's virtually no way your audience is enjoying receiving it. Conversely, when you're feeling good about your content and overall presentation, your audience is too. Lastly, most people have a fear of public speaking. There's only one way to get over it - by doing it again and again. Each time, it will get easier, and you'll find yourself learning more about this critical aspect of professional life.
February 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue