Being able to present information clearly and concisely is an effective tool to keep in your back pocket. For business professionals, this is an especially useful skill to have during meetings. In an effort to avoid having a presentation fall flat, learning how to be a better presenter can go a long way.
How many business presentations have you sat through where the presenter lost the audience's interest? How could this have been avoided? If you're looking for ways to improve your presentation delivery, here are a few tips that may help you avoid creating a forgettable experience:
It sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how many people try to wing it when they're presenting. Before you step into the meeting room, make sure you know your stuff inside and out. This way, you'll be able to answer questions confidently and keep the presentation flowing smoothly.
Again, this seems like a no-brainer, but having a clear outline of what you're going to say will help keep you on track during the actual presentation. Plus, it'll give your audience a road map so they know what to expect.
Practice is one of the key ingredients for how to be a better presenter. Practice makes perfect, so run through your presentation a few times before the big day. Doing so will allow you to avoid getting tripped up on your words or forgetting what you're supposed to say next.
When it comes to slides and visual aids, less is definitely more. No one wants to be bombarded with a million slides, so keep it short and sweet. And make sure your visuals are easy to understand - no one wants to spend the entire presentation trying to decode a complicated graph or chart.
If you're reading straight from your slides, chances are you're going to lose your audience pretty quickly. Instead, try to keep things moving along at a good pace, and summarize the slides rather than reading them word for word. This way, people will actually want to listen to what you have to say, as you’ll be more engaging.
We all have them - those little words that we use to fill up space when we're talking. But during a presentation, filler words can make you sound nervous and uncertain. So instead of saying "um" or "like" all the time, take a deep breath and pause for a moment before you start talking again.
When you're presenting, it's important to make eye contact with your audience and use positive body language. This will help engage people and make them more likely to listen to what you're saying. Conversely, avoid crossing your arms or looking down at your feet - this will only make you look more nervous.
Before you even start putting together your presentation, try to visualize who your audience is. What are their needs? What are their expectations? Tailoring your presentation to fit your specific audience will help ensure that they're actually listening to what you have to say.
This one's pretty self-explanatory - arriving early will give you time to set up and make sure everything is in working order. Plus, it'll help you calm your nerves before the presentation starts.
If you really want to enhance your presentation, hire a professional presentation designer. They can help you create visuals that are both informative and visually appealing. Your audience will definitely notice the difference.
At Kristian Olson Art & Design, I specialize in creating custom visuals for presentations. I’ll work with you to understand your needs and come up with a design that's sure to impress. So if you're looking for a professional presentation designer, contact me today.
Ask questions. Get a quote. You know what to do.
