These days, it’s hard to find a job vacancy announcement without the inclusion of excellent presentation skills. Being excellent in presenting creates an impression that you are confident and that you are credible enough. And indeed, having a good presentation skill is essential especially to reduce miscommunication in the workplace.
Developing your presentation skills is worthwhile considering the tremendous positive results it could give. Moreover, with the competition becoming fiercer than ever, it’s high time to up your game.
However, man is not born with certain skills like presenting. In fact, many people are still petrified at giving a speech specifically in front of an interviewer or a crowd. Presenting has always been a nerve-racking experience to many, that’s why it’s crucial to intentionally develop this skill.
Nonetheless, it’s not really that hard to enhance your presentation skills. There are various tips and tactics that are readily available nowadays. Also, note that what usually makes presenting seem to be an insurmountable task is the nervousness associated with it.
To reduce symptoms of nervousness, you can divert your attention to preparing for your presentation. The more you are prepared, the less nervous you’ll be, and the better your score will be at presenting. For instance, think about the materials and equipment you will use. You could also think about improving your appearance, or choosing an appropriate outfit to wear.
In this article, we will explore some proven tips to help you give a fantastic presentation. Incorporating these tips when you’re going to present will put you on a competitive advantage. And ultimately help you land a good job with a high paying salary.
Top tips for Fantastic Presentation
The following may serve as a useful guide when giving a presentation.
- Be an expert and do your research
It’s rare for someone—particularly a non-expert—to just show up and give a phenomenal presentation without even researching the topic. The key to a successful presentation is to know what you are going to talk about. In other words, be an expert in the topic.
Doing a research is necessary to convince your audience that you are knowledgeable and credible. So know the requirements of your presentation. Figure out its goals, and who are your audience. In addition, anticipate the possible questions your audience might ask and prepare answers.
- Construct and design your presentation
Do your best to construct and design your own presentation and aim to make it look as attractive as possible. This is due to the fact that there will be people who would rather watch than listen to you. Also, at present, there are people who have short attention spans so don’t forget to pay attention to your visuals.
Additionally, if appropriate, provide an outline of your presentation for the audience to have a good grasp of what it is about. However, keep it short and concise as possible. Don’t overwhelm your audience with too much information.
Relying excessively with text is the most common mistake committed during a presentation. Alternatively, you can use charts or graphs to present numbers or comparative analysis. To illustrate a complex thought, adding some related pictures will help as well.
- Rehearse
Dedicate some time to rehearse. Presenting is no easy task, that’s why practising is necessary. Doing so will also help you know what to say and how to say it by heart.
You can try practising in front of the mirror, or in front of your family or friends. Notice when your rehearsing if you are prone to use fillers. If yes, aim to eliminate or minimize it.
Another aspect to work on is your speech. You should prepare your speech and refrain from using useless and redundant sentences. Your speech should be clear, it should be free from mumbling or repeating sounds.
If you’re having problems with your speech, consider checking with a speech pathologist. They can help improve your speech especially if you feel confused, shy and not confident enough as these factors can have a negative impact on the clearness of your speech. Asking help from a speech pathologist is perfectly okay, as a matter of fact, it would be a good decision.
To boot, you can rehearse what your body language should be, like making eye contacts without focusing on only one person. Practice also your pace, move and talk as slowly and as clearly as possible.
- Add some humor
And lastly, while it’s important to always look and speak professionally, adding some humor to your presentation won’t hurt. In reality, showing you have a sense of humor can help put your audience at ease. It can aid in releasing tension and it will liven up your presentation too.
