Ten Tips for Perfecting Your Presentation Skills
Whether you work in a corporate organisation or run your own business, you will likely have many opportunities to present in front of a large group of audience.
Presentations can be daunting experiences. However, by being intentional about mastering the "Art and Science" of communication, you will command the room, capture the audience's attention, and make it look effortless.
In this week's newsletter, I will share ten tips I learnt through my personal presentation experiences and watching the master keynote speakers in action.
1. Understand Your Audience
Always personalise.
Spend time researching your audience, ideally have a few conversations with them to understand their needs before working on your presentation:
What are their common challenges?
What would they be keen to learn from you?
What are the audience's communication and learning preferences? Do they resonate more with data and logical know-how or interactions and demonstrations?
What examples should you include in the presentation that are relatable to them?
2. Start with an Impactful Self-Introduction
Even if most of the audience already knows you, you should still "set the tone" for your presentation.
Your introduction should be crisp and impactful - including a welcome message, how you wish to be addressed, your mission, your credentials related to the topic, and your current role.
Adding a relevant personal touch, such as an individual story related to the topic or a picture of you with one of the participants, will allow you to build rapport with the audience instantly.
3. Design an Alliance with Your Audience
Share the agenda, explain your presentation style and how you expect to co-create the experience with the participants — e.g. get permission to challenge the team, invite everyone to participate, and emphasise confidentiality.
Invite the audience to add their perspective and ensure everyone feels safe to contribute.
4. Check How Your Voice Carries Across the Room
Checking whether everyone in different corners of the room can hear you sounds simple and obvious, but it can be easily missed, especially when you are nervous.
5. Include Anecdotes and Stories, Especially Ones of Your Own
People like real-life examples that they can relate to, especially from credentialed speakers.
Don't be shy about sharing your struggled examples or bringing the audience on an emotional roller coaster.
6. Enrich the Variety of Sensory Stimulation
Most speakers mainly use PowerPoint presentations that relate to visuals.
If possible, incorporate other relevant senses that enrich the learning. These could be video content, music, props, and smell.
7. S.L.O.W Your Pace
"When you slow down, it signals to whoever is listening that what you're saying is important - even if it's not." I learnt this from Vinh Giang, a renowned international keynote speaker.
This is a simple communication tactic to help emphasise your words and highlight key points.
8. Up the game for Q&A
When appropriate - prepare a small present to "surprise and delight" the courageous ones who raise their hands.
You will have a more engaging audience for sure 😊
9. Dedicate Time to Thank The Working Crew
As Simon Sinek rightly emphasized, "All customers and employees should be treated equally and treated well."
Thank the working crew or anyone else who supported you in making your presentation happen. A thoughtful gesture of courtesy goes a long way.
10. Nurture the On-Going Relationships
The end of your presentation marks the beginning of the relationship building journey.
Continue engaging the audience by giving everyone something to ponder. This could include your contact details, a recommended Call-to-Action list, a handout to download or a token of your appreciation.
