A Lesson In Basic Presentation Skills 101
In every business, at some point or the other – big or small – you will have to ‘present your case’!
Be it as an offer for new business or simply explaining a business policy. You need to be aware and prepared to always give it your best shot – because sometimes that window of opportunity is only open once.
The main points in this article revolve around four basic factors:
- facing your fear
- being confident in whatever you do
- being credulous
- dressing the part
They are commonplace points and yet we can find ourselves lacking in them. Read on, and see if this contributed article makes it come alive for you.
Face Your Fears
Most people around the world find public speaking to be a little daunting, so it’s best to make sure you’re as prepared as can be. You want to capture the attention of your audience and make sure that they’re impressed by the end of it. Presentations are given for almost anything, so in a lot of work paths, you can bet you might just have to show your own presentation at some point. How do you prepare yourself for it though? Let’s look into your image.
Confidence Is Key
When you’re giving a presentation, it can be hard to sell if you’re not being confident. Your audience will react to your tone and body language, and giving a good impression is vital for selling your ideas. Try to sound interested in what you’re presenting, enthusiasm can carry you a long way, so don’t be afraid to sound interested in what you’re saying (you should be!).
If you’re not speaking properly, it’s easy for people to lose interest in what you’re saying, and when people are lacking confidence, they tend to mumble. Look into tips for overcoming the fear of public speaking, maybe practice with friends, and just try to ensure that you won’t crumble when the time comes.
(Source: Pexels)
Add Some Polish
When it comes to your presentation, you need to make sure that it holds all the necessary information that you want to get across to others, but don’t be afraid to experiment with different formats and designs. It’s good to have a formal look, but that doesn’t mean it has to be plain and boring, so be creative in finding a suitable color scheme and an appealing format to convey your information. Be careful not to overdo it, however, as it is possible to make it too flashy.
If you need some idea for designs, try looking at google slides themes for ideas to fit your point. You’re not making the presentation to be all fun, but also interesting, so avoid things that are too colorful and tedious to look at.
Also be careful not to add distractions. Too often people can miss what you’re saying if there’s something drawing their attention away from the point being discussed. If you’re not sure about how it looks, or you fear you may be over-critical of your own work, don’t be afraid to ask others for an opinion beforehand.
Look Sharp
You’re aiming to impress, so you should dress to impress too. Remember to keep it formal, but make sure to look your best. Bad hair days aren’t an option, and people need to believe they can trust you, so making that extra effort into your appearance will really help you. Just like the presentation itself, don’t overdo it. You don’t want to make yourself look ridiculous as if you’re ready to receive an Oscar, so make sure you understand the environment and prepare for it as best as you can.
A lot of the fear comes into presenting when thinking about how people will see you at the time, and the best way to ensure the best outcome for this is to make sure you’re prepared beforehand. There’s a whole lot less to worry about if you know that people won’t start out with a negative impression, and you can rest easy that you’re getting your points across the way you intended. Just make sure to keep it interesting, and don’t make it longer than it needs to be.
Here’s wishing you a grounding experience in presentation basics 101!
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