PRESENTATIONS: THE STRUGGLE AND SOLUTION
ALEXANDRA GUIMARAES
Presenting in front of your classmates, professors and your employer can be an overwhelming task if you do not know how to properly prepare yourself. Presentations are your opportunities to demonstrate not only your oral communication skills, but your written skills by creating a compelling slideshow or visual support. As students, sometimes we fear presentations because we are afraid of the judgment of others and of having all eyes on us, but we shouldn’t. Here are some tips I’ve learned through the past couple of years to deliver a strong presentation:
Before Giving a Presentation
Tip 1: Prepare
Make an outline of the most important points you need to cover well in advance. You should also sketch or draft what you want your visual aids to look like. Whether it’s a PowerPoint or a Prezi, always remember that less is more and follow simple rules like keeping words to a minimum and using various graphs and illustrations.
Tip 2: Do Not Memorize
This one was a hard one for me. Before, I was used to learning my presentations word by word, this meant that as soon as I lost one word, I would go completely off track. If you understand and study the material by preparing, your presentation will feel more natural and genuine.
Tip 3: Practice
To achieve mastery of the topic and fully avoid memorization, you will need to practice. How many times? This will depend on the way you learn, but I would encourage you to practice at least four to five times prior to the day of the presentation and once on the day of.
Tip 1: Prepare
Make an outline of the most important points you need to cover well in advance. You should also sketch or draft what you want your visual aids to look like. Whether it’s a PowerPoint or a Prezi, always remember that less is more and follow simple rules like keeping words to a minimum and using various graphs and illustrations.
Tip 2: Do Not Memorize
This one was a hard one for me. Before, I was used to learning my presentations word by word, this meant that as soon as I lost one word, I would go completely off track. If you understand and study the material by preparing, your presentation will feel more natural and genuine.
Tip 3: Practice
To achieve mastery of the topic and fully avoid memorization, you will need to practice. How many times? This will depend on the way you learn, but I would encourage you to practice at least four to five times prior to the day of the presentation and once on the day of.
During a Presentation
Tip 4: Be Yourself and Smile
Relax, and remember you are the “boss”. This is your project and you are sharing your knowledge with the audience, so be confident.
Tip 5: Connect
Use body language like moving around, moving your hands and making eye contact. This will boost your confidence and help project yourself better.
Tip 6: Look the Part
Dress appropriately for all your presentations. Read Kara’s tips on professional attire here.
Tip 4: Be Yourself and Smile
Relax, and remember you are the “boss”. This is your project and you are sharing your knowledge with the audience, so be confident.
Tip 5: Connect
Use body language like moving around, moving your hands and making eye contact. This will boost your confidence and help project yourself better.
Tip 6: Look the Part
Dress appropriately for all your presentations. Read Kara’s tips on professional attire here.
Tip
7: Be timely
Remember to keep your presentation concise and relevant to the topic you are discussing.
Tip 8: Interact with the Audience
Make sure to integrate some kind of interaction with your audience at some point of the presentation. For example, a great way to start a presentation is to ask a question. This will break the ice.
Tip 9: Do not let the audience influence you
This goes along with the confidence I previously mentioned. Deliver a powerful presentation regardless of the audience’s mannerism, and do not let them intervene in your positive energy.
After a Presentation
Tip 10: Have time for Questions
Always leave the floor open for questions after your presentation.
Remember to keep your presentation concise and relevant to the topic you are discussing.
Tip 8: Interact with the Audience
Make sure to integrate some kind of interaction with your audience at some point of the presentation. For example, a great way to start a presentation is to ask a question. This will break the ice.
Tip 9: Do not let the audience influence you
This goes along with the confidence I previously mentioned. Deliver a powerful presentation regardless of the audience’s mannerism, and do not let them intervene in your positive energy.
After a Presentation
Tip 10: Have time for Questions
Always leave the floor open for questions after your presentation.