Presentations can be daunting. Many people balk at the mere thought of standing up there in front of a large audience. Presentation and public speaking may not come naturally to everyone, but they don’t have to be scary! This article gives 3 practical tips you can apply to enhance your presentation skills.
Learn from people who present well. The first part of learning a new skill always entails, more or less, observing others. Whether that’s reading example solutions to maths problems or perusing sample essays, we’ve all be there. The same goes for presentations. If your school holds public speaking or debating competitions, attend those to watch how your peers present. If you’re sitting in front of your laptop not knowing what to watch, search for a Ted Talk. Often, universities will also hold workshops on public speaking and presentations, so try and attend those to gain tips from experts in the field.
Build rapport with your audience. Ok, you’ve watched some exemplar presentations, now it’s your turn to put what you’ve learnt to the test. The fundamental aspect of a successful presentation is connecting with your audience. If you’re giving the most eloquent presentation but the audience is asleep, or if you’re talking about the most complex model you’ve built but no one understands what you’re talking about, your presentation won’t have achieved its purpose. When you’re writing your speech, make sure you know who your audience will be, and alter your register appropriately. If the setting is informal, you might even want to throw in a few jokes to relax the atmosphere, or ask the audience some questions to increase their engagement. If your audience does not come from a highly technical background, don’t use too much jargon and instead use simple, comprehensible language. Additionally, pay attention to your body language. Instead of being stiff or jittery, try to walk around, use your hands, and smile as appropriate. This will all contribute to making your presentation seem more like a two-way conversation.
Finally, practise practise practise! After you’ve written the speech and polished it to perfection, you should practise reading it out in front of a mirror, in front of your family and friends, and even in front of your camera so you can record yourself and watch it later as if you were part of the audience of your own presentation. The most confident presenter will almost always have started off in your shoes, and many of them have only gotten to where they are today owing to the thousands of presentations they have done in the past. Don’t be disheartened if the first attempt doesn’t go to plan, because this will be an invaluable learning experience that will improve your next one.
Hopefully that has given you some practical tips you can apply in your next presentation. Talking in public is always difficult, but with the right preparation and practise, you can nail the skill and become a more confident presenter.
