7 Top Tips to Improve your Presentation Skills

The usual approach to preparing a presentation is putting the points into slides, right?

But the best presentations do not seek to merely inform. They need to inspire…

Martin Luther King’s speech, “I have a dream”, inspired a nation to reconsider their assumptions around race and social injustice; Ronald Reagan’s speech, in Berlin, was a passionate plea to bring down the Berlin Wall and Winston Churchill’s 1940 speech rallied the hearts of the people of Great Britain. None of these speeches will be remembered for their PowerPoint presentation, but for the heartfelt messages they all delivered.

Most people in employment have to know how to communicate, so improving your presentation skills will always serve you well, whatever your career path.

I have never been a natural public speaker, and it took many years to overcome my fears and perfect my presentation style. We can’t all be the Winston Churchill of presenters, but there are a lot of things that I have learnt over the years that can help set you up for a great presentation.

Here are my 7 top tips to improve your presentation skills.

1.  Treat your presentation like a drama show

Think back to the last time you were really engaged when listening to someone… I would hazard a guess that it definitely wasn’t a ‘death by PowerPoint’ presentation.

The very best presenters are story tellers. They perform and have dramatic flair. Now, I know you are probably thinking that you don’t have these skill sets, but with a few little tips, you can change your dull, but informative presentation, into a much more enthralling, engaging and exciting one.

Ask yourself this…”What is the point of this presentation?”

Once you have the answer to this question, you can then decide: What emotions do you want your audience to feel? How do you want to inspire them? What action do you want them to take as a result of your presentation?

     2.    Know your audience – Who are they? What might interest them?

Your audience are the most important thing in your presentaation so be sure to include your audience. Don’t just talk AT them – make them feel like they matter!

Personal Pronouns and Rhetorical Questions get your audience thinking and they leave feeling the presentation was relevant to them.

Use direct language when speaking to your audience – the word ‘you’ is very powerful and helps your audience build a relationship with you.

Actively engage your audience – Asking the audience what they think, inviting questions, and other means of welcoming audience participation can boost engagement and make attendees feel like a part of a conversation. It also makes you, the presenter, seem much more relatable.

Smile – smiling increases endorphins, replacing anxiety with calm. Smiling also exudes confidence and enthusiasm to your audience. This tip also applies if you are doing a webinar and people can’t see you – you can actually hear a person smiling when they talk. Don’t believe me? - try it next time you are having a phone conversation.

Meet and greet your audience, if possible – talking with your audience makes you seem more likeable and approachable. Event attendees may even give you some inspiration to weave into your talk.

Most audiences are very sympathetic – the vast majority of people have exactly the same fear of public speaking, so they can definitely relate to how nerve racking it can be. No one is out there secretly waiting to laugh at you.

Remember, your audience wants you to succeed – no one wants to sit through a bad speech, so they really are right behind you, and they want to see you nail it!

     3.    Content is king

One of the most important things to remember is to make yourself the focus and not let your backdrop overpower you.

Your slides, if you are using them, should be simple, simple, simple! Never, ever let them steal the limelight. When you only provide a little on the slide, people will look to you for elaboration. If you put too much on the slide, they will focus on digesting the information behind you and will zone you out. All that work you’ve put in and you’ve just gone and lost them!

Images are far more effective and engaging than words. People retain 10% of what they hear three days after a presentation, but if the information was accompanied by a picture, this figure jumps to 65%.

Have confidence in what you are saying. If necessary research your topic and talk to experts – the more research you do, the more confident you’ll be about giving your presentation

     4.    Use relaxation techniques to overcome nervousness

Meditation - Use positive visualisation and instead of thinking ‘I’m going to be terrible,’ visualise yourself making everyone laugh, being energetic and really enjoying yourself. Positive thoughts are incredibly effective.

Arrive really early – Give yourself time to settle in before your talk. Reduce fear and the unnecessary stress of being late by planning your time effectively, so you don’t feel rushed.

Glass of water before presentation – dry mouth is common result of anxiety – stay hydrated (just don’t forget to hit the bathroom before starting) and remember to take a bottle of water in with you.

Take deep breaths – we often hold our breath when we are nervous, so take a few really deep breaths to get oxygen to your brain and relax your body.

Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm – listen to some energetic music before presenting. Studies have shown that an energetic speech can win over an eloquent one.

Practice your speech – do not memorise because it can come across as robotic. Use a mirror, practice in the shower, and to your close family and friends. Their feedback will be invaluable and help boost your confidence.

   5. Learn how to project your voice and pause to dramatise your point

When you're nervous, it's easy to speed up your presentation and end up talking too fast, which, in turn, causes you to run out of breath, get more nervous, and panic! Ahh!

Don't be afraid to slow down and use pauses in your speech. Pausing can be used to emphasize certain points and to help your talk feel more conversational. If you feel yourself losing control of your pacing, just take a nice pause and keep cool.

 6. Expertly handle difficult questions and situations

If someone asks a question that stumps you, it’s okay to admit it. This can also increase your credibility with the audience, as it demonstrates that, no matter how knowledgeable a person might be, we’re all learning, all the time.

Nobody expects you to be an omniscient oracle of forbidden knowledge – they just want to learn from you.

 7. Communicate clearly with clarity and conviction

Exude confidence – keep your head held high and spine straight.

When your body is physically demonstrating confidence, your mind will follow suit. Studies have shown that using power stances a few minutes before giving a talk (or heading to a big interview) creates a lasting sense of confidence and assurance. Before you go on stage, strike your best Power Ranger stance and hold your head high!

Be able to laugh at yourself – the audience will connect with you as someone they can relate to.

Use forceful words and speak with conviction, as if everything you say is a fact.

Use strong openings – start with a related fact or engaging anecdote. Speak clearly, slowly and fluently and…..

Finish strong – end your presentation on a solid note, something profound or thought provoking.

Still feel like you need a little help? Book a Presentation Skills course today, either on-line or in-house, and allow K3 Training to give you the confidence to really WOW when you deliver your next presentation.