Need to make a presentation and wondering where to start. Follow our handy hints to get you started and most of all remember not to panic!
- Keep it brief.
- Vary the tone of your voice. ‘Punch’ certain key words that you want your listeners to remember.
- Pause to ‘energise’ your audience: a pause will spark immediate interest in what is coming up.
- Control the pace and stay calm and steady. When you rush, words tumble over each other and points get lost. Slowing down allows your mind sufficient time to select vocabulary.
- Imagine your feet in concrete. Avoid rocketing and fidgeting. Your audience should be allowed to concentrate on your message, not on your movement.
- Watch your hands. Avoid the choirboy (hands clasped in front) and military (hands behind your back) poses. If standing hold a pen in you free hand to avoid looking awkward.
- Where appropriate, try to illustrate your points with anecdotes.
- Be careful how you use Powerpoint. If you show the audience a list of words revealing the presentation’s direction they will get bored and stop listening.
- Reveal your emotions. Inset phrases such as: ‘I am sure you understand that I was worried.’
