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Quotes can often reassure an audience that the presentation you are giving is both reliable and verified. They can give gravitas to a presentation and are often used to add weight to an argument. Quotes can be direct or indirect:
A direct quote is when the quote is taken directly from what that person said. These are always included in quotation marks, i.e. “ ”, and are normally introduced or concluded by giving the name of the person you’re quoting.
With indirect quotes, you can summarise or paraphrase what was said. Indirect quotes are useful for summarising and condensing information so it is easy to understand, but should still be credited to the original source.
The main reason for using quotes is to add weight or credibility to your argument. Quoting someone who is famous or acknowledged as an expert in the field that agrees with your point makes it more persuasive.
Avoid quotes that doesn’t mean anything. You should always make sure that the quotation is warranted and that you refer it back to your argument.
Next Step: A Business Presentation
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Posted by Faye Binfield in Presentation Skills Resources on April 27th, 2009 | No Comments »
When it comes to the day to present, don’t forget about the practicalities. There’s nothing worse than preparing a brilliant presentation, only to have it ruined by simple problems you could have forseen.
For instance, consider:
- Where exactly is the training taking place?
- Where is the nearest parking or train station?
- Where will you stand?
- Do they have the correct equipment or will you have to bring your own?
- What length of presentation is the audience expecting?
- Will you be able to have access to the room before people arrive?
- Will my laptop be compatible with the projector?
- Could I still give the presentation if the projector failed?
It’s best to assume that if it can go wrong it will go wrong, and to prepare accordingly!
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Posted by Faye Binfield in Presentation Skills Resources on March 5th, 2009 | No Comments »
What you wear is also important; make sure that you know your audience and know what is expected.
Studies have shown that over 90% of a first impression comes from non verbal communication. Appearing either too casual and too formal can be off-putting to your presentation’s audience.
To get a better idea of how what you should wear you should list five adjectives that describe how you want your presentation to be perceived and then try to dress accordingly.
Here are some examples:
- Creative: means being more original and imaginative
- Efficient: means paying attention to grooming
- Innovative: means modern and with the times
- Friendly or approachable: means avoid looking too severe
It is important that before you give your presentation that you pay close attention to every aspect of your appearance.
When choosing what to wear take into consideration how comfortable you will feel in it, a tight and unflattering outfit will only serve to distract an audience and make giving your presentation harder. Something you will also want to take into account is the colour of the stage and whether or not this will complement what you are wearing, if possible try and make sure that this is the case.
Before you give your presentation take everything out of your pockets so as to remove any awkward angles that may emerge (and to stop you from fiddling with things in your pockets). If you’re wearing smart shoes make sure they’re polished – tattered and dirty shoes can often be very visible to an audience. One important thing to remember is to never travel long distances in the outfit that you will give your presentation in as you’ll turn up looking disheveled.
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Posted by Faye Binfield in Presentation Skills Resources on March 5th, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Giving a presentation is, for many people, a nerve wracking experience. However you would be surprised how just a few simple changes in your technique and perspective on giving a presentation can help. Here a few such changes:
Don’t expect too much of yourself
People often have unrealistic expectations of what they can achieve in a presentation. The reality is you need to be more grounded in your estimations, the reaction you will get is probably be not going to be the whirlwind of fist pumping enthusiasm you may have expected, probably. Set yourself realistic targets.
Act naturally
There is always going to be an element pandering to the audience in a presentation, but know when to draw the line. Something like laughing at a joke that isn’t funny, which will probably be the case, is fine however it doesn’t take much for an audience to realise that you are being fake and, if they do realise this, then in many ways your ship has been sunk. Acting natural will also be picked up and has the added advantage that the less you force it, the easier it will come.
Don’t memorise every word
Although it is generally a good idea to not use too many notes it is not such good idea to learn your entire presentation word for word. This will only be putting more pressure on yourself and if you get lost or forget something it will not only have a negative effect on the flow of your presentation but will probably end up making you even more nervous. Instead have a few short and simple trigger notes that point you in the right direction. They should be more reminders than notes. This will help you find your feet and your confidence to grow.
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Posted by Faye Binfield in Presentation Skills Resources on April 22nd, 2009 | No Comments »
Practice, Practice, Practice!
We can’t emphasise this enough: To help your presentation run smoothly and to avoid any mishaps or freezing up on stage it is important to practice your speech beforehand as many times as possible. You may find it helpful to do this in front of a mirror or to film yourself so as to get a better idea of what the audience sees. Better still – find a willing audience – your wife, husband, kids, colleagues – anyone who’ll lend a critical ear. It’s easy to get so caught up in a presentation that you can’t see the wood for the trees.
As a guide to how much is enough – you should have practiced your speech enough times that you know it completely. If you find that you have to be constantly buried in your notes and have to read straight off of them then you’re not ready. Not only will being prepared help you keep track and get through your presentation more easily it will help you engage with the audience and help them to follow what you are saying in your presentation.
This is especially important if, at the end of your presentation, you want to ask the audience for any questions as there is nothing worse than being stumped by a question that, if you had practiced your presentation, you would have been able to answer.
In short – to give a presentation you need confidence in your knowledge and abilities on the subject at hand, and this will only come from practice.
Address the Audience
Don’t just dive straight in! When first addressing the audience introduce yourself, give them your name and any relevant information about yourself that could reflect well on your presentation and help you to establish your authority on the matter. Although also bear in mind not to make this too long and make sure that it is only relevant information about yourself you are giving, one sentence should be enough.
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Posted by Faye Binfield in Presentation Skills Resources on March 5th, 2009 | No Comments »
Body Language
Statistics have shown that people will be more predisposed to an idea if it is accompanied by positive body language. Negative body language will often mean that you get negative results. Being too aggressive can also work against you, too much energetic movement will become baffling and irritating to an audience. However a little positive body language in your presentation will go a long way, generally it is best to abide by the rule that if it feels unnatural don’t do it.
Tone
Tone plays a huge role in how we communicate to others. Tone is as, or even more important, than your word choice when it comes to how an audience will interpret your presentation. An inappropriate tone can lead to confusion and can undermine an audience’s understanding . You must differentiate from how you would speak casually and how you speak in your presentation. Choose your words carefully but choose how you say them even more so.
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Posted by Faye Binfield in Presentation Skills Resources on March 5th, 2009 | No Comments »
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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Posted by Faye Binfield in Presentation Skills Resources on March 5th, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Any number of things can go wrong during a presentation, and often do.
If something should go wrong then it is important not to panic. Apologise to the audience and try and make the best of it, you could even joke with them about it if you feel that it would be well received.
If you understand your presentation well enough then your message still should come across and you will be able to recover. Part of giving a presentation is the ability to think on your feet and adapt, this is not just when something goes wrong but this is also in how you answer any questions put to you by your audience.
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Posted by Faye Binfield in Presentation Skills Resources on March 5th, 2009 | No Comments »
