Newsletter

Deliver a Knockout Presentation, 20-Feb-2008

Public speaking can be great for your career, it can be very rewarding and FUN! More organisations are now recognising the importance of having skilled staff who can not only deliver the content, but who can also deliver it in an interesting, convincing and even passionate way.

Presenting your material with passion and confidence can be learned.

A dynamic presentation requires preparation - of your materials and of yourself. So before you stand up to speak consider these crucial issues:

1. What is the topic of your presentation?

2. What is the aim of your presentation? Do you want to give them information or do you want to convince them? Do you expect them to now do something as a result of your presentation? (Ensure your audience is clear on this - don’t leave them guessing.)

3. Who is your audience? What are their needs, their knowledge and their attitudes? If you don’t know, find out.

4. What style will you adopt? One-way communication (lecture), questions at the end? Questions during your presentation? Opportunities for break out groups?

5. How long do you have for your presentation. Prepare early (not the night before). Aim to speak for 2-3 minutes less than you have been allocated.

6. Check out the venue. What equipment do you require - whiteboard, data projector, microphone, lighting....? Does the venue have it available? What about seating, refreshments, exits, toilets......Be prepared - it really reduces the nerves.

7. Brainstorm your ideas for the content of the presentation. Begin writing your presentation at any point, not necessarily at the beginning. (Ignore what Julie Andrews told you as a child - "Let’s start at the very beginning....")

8. Spend some time on developing an interesting, attention-grabbing introduction. You can use an anecdote, a humorous story, a simple statistic, newspaper headlines, a question, a cartoon, a challenge, a statement, something controversial....

9. Add variety - this is crucial (and a whole story on its own!). Add variety by using interesting visual aids, changing the tone, volume and pitch of your voice, use appropriate gestures to emphasise key points, don't read your talk

10. End your presentation with the message - what one message do you want your audience to take away with them?

11. Rehearse your presentation - this makes for a well-organised and professional presentation, delivered with confidence

12. Prepare for the question and answer session (if there is to be one). Do you need to do more research on your topic?

13. Reward yourself after the presentation - buy a more expensive bottle of wine, have a massage, buy something fattening (just this once!) - you deserve it.

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Realisations Consultancy can assist you in your staff learning and development programs. Give us a call on 08 9470 2662 and we can arrange a meeting to discuss your organisation’s specific needs and tailor a program to meet them.