Remember that public speaking class that was required in college? You dreaded it, put it off until senior year, or bailed altogether. I remember the nerve-wracking fear of giving my first professional presentation. I remember the sweaty palms, nervous stutters, and uncontrollable alteration in the pace of my words. Public speaking is intimidating for most people, but with a few professional tips and some practice, you can conquer your fears and deliver high quality speeches and presentations.
Understand the Purpose of the Presentation
When you begin the preparation stages of your presentation, have the end in mind. Think about the ultimate point that you are trying to make and craft your entire script to lead to that main point. Having a clear understanding of your purpose will help you avoid including ineffectual information in your presentation. It will also help your main point hit harder and resonate with your audience.
Be Human
Nobody wants to sit through a presentation given by a robot. When you’re presenting, interact with your audience. Prepare questions that will capture their attention and engage them early. Let your presentation tell a story by adding in personal experiences. This will help keep you on track throughout your presentation and make you more memorable.
Simplify Slides
If you are using a slideshow for your presentation, for the love of speaking, DO NOT clutter your slides with a ton of text. People want to hear you speak, not read your bullet points. Slides should only be used for visual support of your presentation. Keep your slides simple and clean.
Mix it Up
During your presentation, avoid speaking with the same tone, pace and body language. Doing this can bore your audience and cause their minds to start drifting off. Bring some energy into the room and move your body around. Be consistent with your hand gestures and use your voice to emphasize important points.
Practice, Practice, Practice
I can’t stress this enough. Don’t wing it. The best way to ensure your presentation will go smoothly is to know your stuff inside and out. Practice your presentation in the mirror or film yourself on video and observe your pace, tone, hand gestures, and timing. Figure out your weaknesses prior to your presentation so that you have time to improve upon them.
No matter how comfortable you grow to become with public speaking, there is always room for improvement. Think about ways you can make your presentation more creative and intriguing to the audience. Experiment with new strategies and techniques to learn what works and what doesn’t. The more you speak, the better you will become. Use these tips to sharpen your skills and kill your future presentations!
I’d love to hear from you about how you prepare for public speaking opportunities!
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.