Helping the Audience to Follow

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Written by Faye Binfield – 05.03.09

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Help the audience to understand what you mean by relating any of the more difficult topics in your presentation to something that is easily understandable to them. For instance make sure to rephrase and give examples whenever you feel necessary. To add gravitas to your presentation it can help to quote better known people who the audience will have heard of before and can more easily relate to.

Also try and summarise wherever possible as this will help the audience keep track. However don’t patronise or belittle your audience, it is up to you to decide where the balance lies depending on your audience. Also try and be confident  and articulate, depending on the type and size of your audience some may find it difficult to hear, remember to address the whole of the audience not just the front row or a few select people.

Dealing with Anxiety

One of the most common mistakes when it comes to giving a presentation is to be too focused on what you see and not what the audience sees. Do not be afraid to be assertive, it is important to remember that the audience is not there to judge you, no more than you would a T.V personality; it is what you are saying that is what interests an audience – not your personality.

It is all too easy to get let your own paranoia and fear ruin what would otherwise have been a perfectly acceptable presentation. What you need to understand is that these feelings are natural and even the most experienced are affected too, where the skill lies though is in the mastery and utilisation of these fears – not pretending that they don’t exist. Take your time, a slow but well thought out and to-the-point presentation will come across far better than that of a hurried and rushed one. Don’t be afraid to take a short pause and a deep breath if it helps.

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Tags

audience, audience member, good presentations, learning, opening presentations, Presentation, Presentation Skills, presentation training, public speaking, Training

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