The most important tip...EVER!
Make sure that you always think of your audience - when preparing your talk, writing it and presenting it. Put yourself in the audience's position at all times and your presentation will go with a swing. Remember your audience does not want to know how marvellous you are, or how brilliant your product is. What they do want to know is something that will help them. Find out what your audience needs to know first and your presentation will be bound to succeed.
The second most important tip...EVER!
When you prepare your presentation do not include any bullet points or text whatsoever. All your slides should be pictures, illustrations, charts, cartoons etc. That way your audience does not have to read anything and can concentrate on what you are saying. Equally, if you lose your way in your presentation it is not obvious - with text, the audience knows you've made a mistake!
The third most important tip...EVER!
MOVE! Whenever you are presenting make sure you move. Animation helps your audience and it helps you. Movement stops your muscles from tensing and also puts extra air into your lungs. When you move you relax. When you relax you perform better. So don't be static, get moving!
Use flow charts
If you need to demonstrate the way a project is proceeding or how you plan to achieve something, use a flow chart rather than a list of bullet points. This way you can make the flow chart visual, using icons and symbols.
Avoid too much colour
Try not to make your slides loo like an explosion in a paint factory! Too much colour will be distracting. Try to use 'complementary' colours which you'll find opposite each other on the 'colour wheel' found in most software packages that can produce slides. For instance, you'll find that yellow is opposite red on the wheel. Never use colours that are next to each other on a colour wheel as they will clash.
Prepare different handouts
Many people give printed copies of slides as their handouts. This is next to useless as the slides rarely make sense without the accompanying spoken words. So, the best handouts are those which are a written version of your talk - simply write a summary article with plenty of subheadings and bullet points. That way your audience will be able to review what you said more easily. True it takes more time to do this, but it is considerably more effective. Top presenters never give handouts of their slides.
About The Author
Graham Jones B.Sc.(Hons) B.A. (Hons)(Psychol) is one of Britain's leading public speakers and presentation educators. He is a member of the Professional Speakers Association and runs The Presentation Business (http://www.presentationbiz.co.uk)
We all fear that moment. You look out on a... Read More
Preperation is vital when conducting a successful videoconference session. Thus... Read More
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE FACILITATOR: As chairperson, focus on the... Read More
MAKING INFORMATIVE LESSON PLANS: --The performance objectives should answer this... Read More
You have presentation style habits that automatically appear when you... Read More
Where can you choose a company shirt vendor? There are... Read More
Appealing to emotions is the most powerful way to transfer... Read More
KEEPING MEETINGS PRODUCTIVE: Whether participants approve or disapprove of an... Read More
Some speakers say, "I could never use humor in my... Read More
So you're going to have a booth at a trade... Read More
Interview with Julia Apple-Smith, Manager of Employee Development at Sauer-Danfoss... Read More
When was the last time you thought about what you... Read More
Myth 1: Executives belong in meetings.Although the demands of business... Read More
There are four different ways that audience members assimilate information.... Read More
How?Try a blueprint like this: people act on their own... Read More
The CEO of a worldwide business asked me to help... Read More
"The human brain starts working the moment you are born... Read More
There are many definitions for presentations. When you present there... Read More
You're in a conference room. You're giving a PowerPoint presentation... Read More
As I travel around the world I always enjoy sampling... Read More
If you're ready to kick your career or business up... Read More
At a number of business seminars and presentations, I passed... Read More
I had been working on a logo idea for several... Read More
No matter what your business is, you will enhance your... Read More
In recent years, companies have recognized the need to expand... Read More
If you really aware and alert, your audience's behavior -... Read More
Regardless of what response technique may be convenient in a... Read More
SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATIONS: All of us have seen demonstrations in one... Read More
Summer is here! It's time to bring out your summer... Read More
Whether you are training preschoolers in the classroom or executives... Read More
Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and... Read More
The most important tip...EVER!Make sure that you always think of... Read More
Imagine you are the most amazing figure skater who ever... Read More
Last week my husband and I attended an awesome 4... Read More
1. Play "find the meeting" by changing the location and... Read More
What is it about overhead projectors that causes us to... Read More
Exhibiting in a trade show can involve a major investment... Read More
The international flavour of many people's jobs naturally means that... Read More
It is both good planning and considerate to provide auditors... Read More
As a former owner of a National Speakers Bureau, I... Read More
The quality of your sales presentation will often determine whether... Read More
Most people love to hide behind the lectern.. It makes... Read More
No matter what your business is, you will enhance your... Read More
MAKING INFORMATIVE LESSON PLANS: --The performance objectives should answer this... Read More
You're in a conference room. You're giving a PowerPoint presentation... Read More
I am of the belief that the majority of people... Read More
Have you ever had to give a speech?Do you remember... Read More
Why is throwing a seminar good for business?If you want... Read More
Like most good achievements, a magnificent meeting depends on planning... Read More
Interview with Julia Apple-Smith, Manager of Employee Development at Sauer-Danfoss... Read More
Imagine you are the most amazing figure skater who ever... Read More
Since the events of September 11th and the economy slipping... Read More
Remember back when the ability to create a slide show... Read More
Communication is a complex and often difficult process for both... Read More
(Excerpted From the Jim Rohn Millennium Weekend Event)Persistence in your... Read More
If the mere thought of standing up in front of... Read More
Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and... Read More
Eye contact is mandatory when giving a public presentation.The goal... Read More
Long long ago, it was the time when time itself... Read More
"I didn't have 3000 pairs of shoes. I had only... Read More
The communication process can be much more difficult than a... Read More
How do you come across in your emails?As I receive... Read More
So you're not a professional speaker. That's no excuse for... Read More
"I'm not an expert on this topic, but . .... Read More
I had been working on a logo idea for several... Read More
"The human brain starts working the moment you are born... Read More
Presentation |