|
Everyone experiences
some form of diffidence or stagefright when presenting. Even
seasoned resource speakers and orators had the usual jitters
on their first outing. The following are simple guidelines
that will show you the way whether it's your first or your
nth presentation. |
|
|
Prepare,
prepare, prepare |
|
|
It cannot be stressed enough that the bulk of success in your
presentation would come from you being prepared. By being
ready, whether in terms of presentation materials or fielding
questions, your audience would surely appreciate you being
credible of the information you give by giving an extensive
background on the topic. |
|
|
Maintain
Eye Contact |
|
|
When you maintain eye contact, you give the impression that
you are sincere and honest with your presentation. Always
remember though, that maintaining eye contact is a far cry
from starting a staring war with your audience. Doing a sweep
of the people present by making eye contact with the majority
would only mean that you are establishing a certain rapport
with them. |
|
|
Moderation
is the way to go |
|
|
A lot of speakers make the mistake of going overboard in terms
of visuals or in terms of the information that they convey.
You must remember that you have to strike a balance between
the visuals and the data that you impart so as to have one
support the other and vice versa. |
|
|
Be
organized |
|
|
Nothing would frustrate your listeners more than to have you
jump from one subject to another without any apparent relationship
between topics. Providing cohesiveness in you presentation
would convey a suitable beginning and ending to your discourse
and eventually leave them with a sense of fulfillment. |
|
|
Cite sources |
|
|
Never think that your audience will just accept everything
you say at face value. Backing up your claims with factual
and well-researched information would only endear you to your
audience and would eventually gain their respect and support. |
|
|
Be
vivid |
|
|
Liven up your presentation by exuding liveliness and vividness.
Not only will an upbeat method of presentation make for a
lively discussion but it will also ensure that the information
you give to your audience will be retained because of the
"entertainment" value you offer them. |
|
|
Lay
man's terms |
|
|
You've probably seen this look before: scrunched foreheads
and raised eyebrows, after you've just explained a particularly
complex definition. This probably indicates confusion, but
you can easily avoid this by discussing matters in a simple
and logical manner. Remember that its best to start with the
basics then gradually move to the intricate part of the presentation
when you have established that everyone has understood what
you wanted to say to from the start. |
|
|
In
a nutshell |
|
|
No one can unequivocally say
that they have never experienced being nervous in front of
a crowd. Following the tips above can help you go through
that presentation with no more than the initial cold feet.
|
|
