How to Deliver Effective Presentations

Whether you are speaking in front of three colleagues or a full auditorium, delivering a great presentation can be tough. Keep your head held high, and focus on a presentation as a job that can be done well if you're prepared.

Instructions

1. Prepare for the presentation. Research your topic to the point that you're an expert on it. Take good notes, create an outline and practice your delivery.

2. Practice in front of someone or a mirror, especially if it's your first presentation. Watch for any nervous movements like rocking, fidgeting or repeating phrases too often.

3. Add visual aids to keep your audience interested. A PowerPoint presentation, slide show, a few strategically placed charts or photos can keep an audience's attention. If you're using any computer or other equipment, test it out beforehand.

4. Outline your presentation on a handout to allow the audience to follow along. A few handouts are a great way to keep people involved in the presentation. Keep your handouts to a minimum.

5. Ask the audience to participate. Select a person to come up to assist you at certain times. Use the audience members names, if you're speaking to a small group of colleagues.

6. Be brief and cover your subject well. Make all your points accurately, keep your sentences short and brief to keep your audience's attention.

7. Signal the audience that your presentation is ending soon. Tell them you will start taking questions next, after your closing point. Create a closing synopsis of the entire presentation. Reiterate the main points of your presentation and reinforce any ideas to support the conclusion.

Tips & Warnings

• Handouts can be a double-edged sword because you can loose a lot of listeners when they focus on the handouts and stop listening to you.

• The audience tends to remember the last words first. Make them count when presenting the conclusion.