(1) Identify a clear objective for your presentation – What do you expect the audience to do as a result of your presentation? What is in it for them? Develop this for yourself and state it for the audience in your opening. It guides your entire thought process and delivery.
(2) Have an attention grabbing opening. Use a quote, short story, analogy or significant fact to capture their attention and create interest in your presentation. Especially when they are listening to presentations all day, capture their attention early on!
(3) Connect the dots for the audience. Know your key points, outline them at the beginning and refer to them throughout the presentation to provide smooth transitions and create a clear message. Conclude with a summary of what you have presented and how they can use it.
(4) Use analogies and stories or case studies to create interest. Audiences love something that they can relate to, especially when you do a good job of taking a technical concept and relating it to an everyday story or analogy.
(5) Manage your content so that you are not trying to rush through too much information. Practice your timing of each slide. Be comfortable with moving complex, detailed slides to the appendix, replacing it with a higher level, easy to read slide.
These five points do not replace Presentation Skills training but are some of the significant items we have identified in our years of Coaching and Training. When you have a well-organized presentation, your confidence builds and your message connects!
For more information on honing your Presentation Skills, contact: debbie@nodusinc.com