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3. Presenting information clearly and effectively is a
key skill to get your message or opinion across and,
today, presentation skills are required in almost
every field.
Whether you are a student, administrator or
executive, if you wish to start up your own
business, apply for a grant or stand for an elected
position, you may very well be asked to make a
presentation. This can be a very daunting prospect.
Our guide is designed to help.

4. If, in this position, the first thing you do is open
up PowerPoint, then you should probably first
spend some time developing your presentation
skills. Delivering an inspirational or captivating
presentation requires a lot of preparation and
work, and you may not even need PowerPoint at
all!
Many people feel terrified when asked to make
their first public talk, but these initial fears can be
reduced by good preparation which will also lay
the groundwork for making an effective
presentation.

5. Structure is important because a well organized
presentation creates an impression that you know what
you are talking about-you will gain the audience's trust
and they will be more likely to listen to you. A structure
provides a logical flow so that you can provide the
information that the audience needs to follow your
presentation. The structure will help you become more
comfortable following this flow. There is a natural
structure to presenting and the following structure
formalizes this process.
STRUCTURING YOUR PRESENTATION

6. PURPOSE
To determine your purpose ask "What are the main points I want my audience to
take away from my presentation"? This provides focus for you and the audience is
clear on what they will gain listening to your presentation.
AUDIENCE PRE-ASSESSMENT
It is important to identify the characteristics, knowledge and needs of your
audience so that you are delivering the 'right' presentation to the 'right' audience.
Know who your audience is, what they want/need to know and what is their
background. This step is done before the presentation or throughout.
OPENING YOUR PRESENTATION/BRIDGE
This is also known as the hook. It is designed to grab the audience's attention and
provide them with a reason to be interested in the presentation.
BODY OF PRESENTATION
This is the major portion of the presentation. It is necessary that it connects
directly to your purpose or bridge. Cover enough points to achieve your purpose
(no more) and be sure to support your points clearly and concisely.
CLOSING YOUR PRESENTATION
This is the final impression that you will leave with your audience-make sure it is a
strong one. Connect back to your purpose and let them know where you have
been. Leave your audience with a clear understanding of your points.

8.  PRESENTATION SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT TO INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS
For many individuals the first important presentation they deliver might be to
the selection committee. It might be labeled as a "job interview" but it's really a
presentation. Success rides on their presentation outshining the competition.
The results are black and white but the skills are a rainbow of colors.
In most organizations day-to-day business entails teamwork. That means
presenting to your team or on behalf of your team. Career growth necessitates
presenting your ideas to others. And if you want to be promoted you need to
train others to handle your old job. If you want to fast track your career -
volunteer to work on projects and deliver more presentations.

9.  PRESENTATION SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT TO BUSINESS SUCCESS
Having the superior product is never enough to guarantee business
success. Apple is acknowledged as offering leading edge technology
and Steve Jobs is often modeled as a superior presenter. If you are not
the Apple of your industry just imagine how much better your
presentations need to be.
Business leaders are often expected to present their message with
confidence and clarity to staff, clients, partners, investors and
sometimes the public. Millions of dollars can ride on these
presentations.

10.  PRESENTATION SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT TO STRESS REDUCTION
The financial cost of stress to organizations is huge. Work related
stress can be demoralizing to staff, management and executives.
Effective presentation skills reduce miscommunication, which is
likely the biggest cause of work related stress. Better presentation
skills also reduces the stress on presenters which means they will
be more willing to present and more effective with their
communication. The principles and techniques of presentations
apply to other methods of communication. Become a better
presenter and you will become a better communicator.

11.  PRESENTATION SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT TO TIME MANAGEMENT
Many presentations take too long and thus waste time because the
presenter was trying to fill the time period. Better presenters get their
message across in less time because they respect time, focus on the
message and use the most effective techniques to communicate. Better
presenters can deliver their 30 minute presentation in 5 minutes or 90
seconds when needed. Better presenters also save time while preparing
because they prepare their presentation more efficiently. They know
where they are going and how to get there faster.

12.  PRESENTATION SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT TO LEADERSHIP
Winston Churchill was praised for his inspiring presentations that
helped England fight back against Nazi Germany. Leadership in your
community, association or organization demands effective
presentation skills.
Every cause needs a leader. Every leader needs to be able to stand
up and deliver a clear and inspiring message. The team and
followers will often judge the leader and the cause on the
presentation skills of that spokesperson.

13.  PRESENTATION SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC IMAGE &
OPINION
It might seem unfair, but we will often judge you, your organization
and your product on how you, your staff or executive delivered a
presentation. We will tend to remember the extremes - really bad or
really good. Remember that our perception is relative to how
everyone else presented.
Better presentations don't guarantee you success but they give you a
better fighting chance of success. Almost everything you want to
accomplish is a fight. Why not gain a powerful edge in your favor?
Improve the presentation skills of you and your team.

15.  What it is: If you’re a firm believer slides simply exist to complement
your talking points, this style is for you. With this speaking style, you
might need to work a little harder to get your audience engaged, but the
dividends can be huge for strong public speakers, visionaries, and
storytellers.
 When to use it: This style is helpful when speaking to a large audience
with broad interests. It’s also great for when you need to throw together
slides quickly.
 Freeform style presenter: Steve Jobs
VISUAL STYLE

16.  What it is: This presentation style allows you to deliver complex
messages using figures of speech, metaphors, and lots of content --
just like your teachers and professors of old. Your decks should be
built in logical order to aid your presentation, and you should use
high-impact visuals to support your ideas and keep the audience
engaged.
 When to use it: If you’re not a comfortable presenter or are
unfamiliar with your subject matter (i.e., your product was recently
updated and you’re not familiar with the finer points), try
instructor-style presenting.
 Instructor style presenter: Al Gore


17.  What it is: Energetic and charismatic speakers gravitate towards
this style of presenting. It allows them to connect and engage
with their audience using role play and listener interaction.
 When to use it: Use this presentation style when you’re
speaking at a conference or presenting to an audience who
needs to be put at ease. For example, this style would work well
if you were speaking to a group of executives who need to be
sold on the idea of what your company does rather than the
details of how you do it.
 Coach style presenter: Linda Edgecombe

18.  What it is: This impromptu style of presenting doesn’t require slides.
Instead, the speaker relies on strong stories to illustrate each point. This
style works best for those who have a short presentation time and are
extremely familiar with their talking points.
 When to use it: Elevator pitches, networking events, and impromptu
meetings are all scenarios in which to use a freeform style of speaking.
You’ll appear less rehearsed and more conversational than if you were
to pause in the middle of a happy hour to pull up your presentation on a
tablet.
 Freeform style presenter: Sir Ken Robinson

19.  What it is: In this style, the speaker relies on anecdotes and
examples to connect with their audience. Stories bring your
learning points to life, and the TED’s Commandments never let you
down: Let your emotions out and tell your story in an honest way.
 When to use it: Avoid this style if you’re in the discovery phase of
the sales process. You want to keep the conversation about your
prospect instead of circling every point or question back to you or a
similar client. This style is great for conference speaking,
networking events, and sales presentations where you have
adequate time to tell your stories without taking minutes away
from questions.
 Storytelling style presenter: Jill Bolte Taylor

20.  What it is: In this style, presenters connect with their audience by showing
how they’re similar to their listeners. Connectors usually enjoy freeform
Q&A and use gestures when they speak. They also highly encourage
audience reaction and feedback to what they’re saying.
 When to use it: Use this style of presenting early in the sales process as
you’re learning about your prospect’s pain points, challenges, and goals.
This type of speaking sets your listener at ease, elicits feedback on how
you’re doing in real time, and is more of a dialogue than a one-sided
presentation
 Connector style presenter: Connie Dieken

22. It is advised not to overload your slides with excess of
information about a particular topic, as it may confuse the
audience instead of proving to be beneficial for them.
Adding too many examples or case studies will hamper
your presentation.
Solution: Circumvent overcrowding of slides with excessive
information.

23. Remember, overloading slides with excessive information
as well as overloading presentation with excessive slides
are two different parameters. If you add surplus slides, it is
possible that viewers lose interest in the presentation as
they feel it bulky.
Solution: Do not include unnecessary slides or it may
divert attention and focus of your listen.

24. Normally, presenters do not bother about the audience
attending their seminar and prepare a presentation
without focusing on this aspect.
Solution: Main motive of a presentation is to grab
audience’s attention. Therefore, to capture maximum
attention or focus of viewers, presenter must be aware
about the level of audience for whom the presentation is
being oriented.

25. Many individuals use singular voice pitch throughout their
presentation. This can hamper their presentation skills.
Usually, presenters forget to change the level of their pitch
leading to involvement of monotony in their presentation..
Solution: Try to maintain height of voice that is clearly
audible to listeners attending your seminar regardless of the
seat occupied by them. If you aim to maintain a constant
interest of the listeners, then changing rank of pitch
according to the requirement gets important.

26.  Sometimes, in order to make a presentation more
attractive, we end up with adding some complicated
graphics into it which ultimately makes it shabby and
vague.
Solution: Avoid using complicated graphics and designs as
far as possible.

27. Special effects include animation like bells, whistles etc.
they may ruin your ability to present well in-front of the
spectators. Excess effects will divert attention of presenters
as well as viewers.
Solution: Do not add flying text or overload slides with
builds.
Finally, note that an effective presentation should be Clear,
Concise and consciously delivered.

29.  Naturally, you'll want to rehearse your presentation multiple times. While it
can be difficult for those with packed schedules to spare time to practice, it's
essential if you want to deliver a rousing presentation. I’m famous around
the office for staying up late the night before a big presentation, practicing
over and over. If you really want to sound great, write out your speech rather
than taking chances winging it – if you get nervous about speaking, a script is
your best friend.
 Try to practice where you'll be delivering your talk. Some acting strategists
suggest rehearsing lines in various positions – standing up, sitting down, with
arms open wide, on one leg, while sitting on the toilet, etc. (OK, that last one
may be optional.) The more you mix up your position and setting, the more
comfortable you'll feel with your speech. Do a practice run for a friend or
colleague, or try recording your presentation and playing it back to evaluate
which areas need work. Listening to recordings of your past talks can clue
you in to bad habits you may be unaware of, as well as inspiring the age-old
question: "Is that what I really sound like?"

30. It may sound strange, but I'll often down an energy drink
and blast hip-hop music in my earphones before presenting.
Why? It pumps me up and helps me turn jitters into focused
enthusiasm. Studies have shown that an enthusiastic speech
can win out over an eloquent one, and since I'm not exactly
the Winston Churchill of presenters, I make sure that I'm as
enthusiastic and energetic as possible before going on stage.
Of course, individuals respond differently to caffeine
overload, so know your own body before guzzling those
monster energy drinks.

31. If you're giving a talk as part of a conference, try to attend
some of the earlier talks by other presenters to scope out
their presentation skills and get some context. This shows
respect for your fellow presenters while also giving you a
chance to feel out the audience. What's the mood of the
crowd? Are folks in the mood to laugh or are they a bit
more stiff? Are the presentations more strategic or tactical
in nature? Another speaker may also say something that
you can play off of later in your own presentation.

32. It's always best to allow yourself plenty of time to settle
in before your talk. Extra time ensures you won't be
late (even if Google Maps shuts down) and gives you
plenty of time to get adapted to your presentation
space.

33. The more adjusted to your environment you are,
the more comfortable you'll feel. Make sure to
spend some in the room where you will be
delivering your presentation. If possible, practice
with the microphone and lighting, make sure you
understand the seating and be aware of any
distractions potentially posed by the venue (e.g.,
a noisy road outside).

34. Do your best to chat with people before your
presentation. Talking with audiences makes you
seem more likeable and approachable. Ask event
attendees questions and take in their responses.
They may even give you some inspiration to weave
into your talk.

35.  Whether or not you’re a Zen master, know that plenty of studies have
proven the effectiveness of positive visualization. When we imagine a
positive outcome to a scenario in our mind, it's more likely to play out
the way we envision.
 Instead of thinking "I'm going to be terrible out there" and visualizing
yourself throwing up mid-presentation, imagine yourself getting tons of
laughs while presenting with the enthusiasm of Jimmy Fallon and the
poise of Audrey Hepburn (the charm of George Clooney wouldn't hurt
either). Positive thoughts can be incredibly effective – give them a shot.

36. One of the hardest fears to shake when speaking in public is
that the audience is secretly waiting to laugh at your missteps
or mistakes. Fortunately, this isn’t the case in the vast majority
of presentations.
The audience wants to see you succeed. In fact, many people
have a fear of public speaking, so even if the audience seems
indifferent, the chances are pretty good that most people
listening to your presentation can relate to how nerve-racking
it can be. If you start to feel nervous, remind yourself that the
audience gets it, and actually wants to see you nail it.

37. The go-to advice for jitters has truth to it. When
we're nervous, our muscles tighten--you may
even catch yourself holding your breath. Instead,
go ahead and take those deep breaths to get
oxygen to your brain and relax your body.

38. Smiling increases endorphins, replacing anxiety
with calm and making you feel good about your
presentation. Smiling also exhibits confidence and
enthusiasm to the crowd. And this tip works even
if you're doing a webinar and people can't see
you. Just don't overdo it – no one enjoys the
maniacal clown look.

39. When you're nervous, it's easy to speed up your
presentation and end up talking too fast, which in turn
causes you to run out of breath, get more nervous, and
panic! Ahh!
Don't be afraid to slow down and use pauses in your speech.
Pausing can be used to emphasize certain points and to help
your talk feel more conversational. If you feel yourself losing
control of your pacing, just take a nice pause and keep cool.

40.  Yes, your presentations should be full of useful, insightful, and
actionable information, but that doesn’t mean you should try to
condense a vast and complex topic into a 10-minute presentation.
 Knowing what to include, and what to leave out, is crucial to the
success of a good presentation. I’m not suggesting you skimp when it
comes to data or including useful slides (some of my webinars have
featured 80+ slides), but I am advocating for a rigorous editing
process. If it feels too off-topic, or is only marginally relevant to your
main points, leave it out. You can always use the excess material in
another presentation.

41.  People love to talk and make their opinions heard, but the nature of
presentations can often seem like a one-sided proposition. It doesn’t
have to be, though.
 Asking the audience what they think, inviting questions, and other
means of welcoming audience participation can boost engagement and
make attendees feel like a part of a conversation. It also makes you, the
presenter, seem much more relatable. Consider starting with a poll
or survey. Don’t be put off by unexpected questions – instead, see
them as an opportunity to give your audience what they want.

42.  Even if your presentation is packed with useful information, if your
delivery bombs, so will your session.
 Including some jokes and light-hearted slides is a great way to help the
audience (and myself) feel more comfortable, especially when
presenting them with a great deal of information. However, it’s
important to maintain a balance – after all, you’re not performing a
stand-up routine, and people didn’t come to your presentation with the
sole intention of being entertained. That said, don’t be afraid to inject a
little humor into your talk. If you’re not sure about whether a
presentation is “too much,” run through it for a couple of friends and
ask them to tell it to you straight.

43.  Very few presenters are willing to publicly concede that they don’t
actually know everything because they feel it undermines their
authority. However, since we all know that nobody can ever know
everything about a given topic, admitting so in a presentation can
actually improve your credibility.
 If someone asks a question that stumps you, it’s okay to admit it. This
can also increase your credibility with the audience, as it demonstrates
that, no matter how knowledgeable a person might be, we’re all
learning, all the time. Nobody expects you to be an omniscient oracle
of forbidden knowledge – they just want to learn from you.

44.  Practicing confident body language is another way to boost your pre-
presentation jitters. When your body is physically demonstrating
confidence, your mind will follow suit. While you don't want to be jutting
out your chest in an alpha gorilla pose all afternoon (somebody
enjoyed Dawn of the Planet of the Apes a bit too much), studies have
shown that using power stances a few minutes before giving a talk (or
heading to a big interview) creates a lasting sense of confidence and
assurance. Whatever you do, don't sit--sitting is passive. Standing or
walking a bit will help you harness those stomach bats (isn't that more
appropriate than butterflies?). Before you go on stage, strike your best
Power Ranger stance and hold your head high!

45. Dry mouth is a common result of anxiety. Prevent
cottonmouth blues by staying hydrated and drinking
plenty of water before your talk (just don't forget to hit
the bathroom before starting). Keep a bottle of water at
arm's reach while presenting in case you get dry mouth
while chatting up a storm. It also provides a solid object
to hurl at potential hecklers. (That'll show 'em.)

46. Toastmaster clubs are groups across the country (and the
world) dedicated to helping members improve their
presentation skills. Groups get together during lunch or after
work to take turns delivering short talks on a chosen topic.
The more you present, the better you'll be, so consider
joining a Toastmaster club to become a top-notch orator. Just
don't forget, it's BYOB (Bring Your Own Bread).

47. Accept your fear rather than trying to fight it. Getting
yourself worked up by wondering if people will notice your
nervousness will only intensify your anxiety. Remember,
those jitters aren't all bad – harness that nervous energy
and transform it into positive enthusiasm and you'll be
golden. We salute you, O Captain! My Captain!