Presentation Tips?

GoldenGlory

GoldenGlory

GoldenGlory

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Joined
17 Jul 2006
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410
Dear Sirs,
I have myself a presentation this Friday, it's 7 minutes long and there are 40ish people in the audience. It's for uni and the topic is my summer placement.

I'm absolutely bricking it as i've done no preparation and in the past my presenting skills have been poor. I'm about to do the powerpoint but does anyone have any tips on how to look less nervous?!

All the best,

-GoldenGlory
 
Speak slowly and loudly. Look around, don't keep looking at your notes - and try not to wear something that will show you sweating :)
 
if you have hand outs dont give them out at the biggining as the audience will just read that and not concentrate on you. start off with a nice clear point at the biggining and get in to details after youv grabs there attentions.
get some evidence to support your point if you can.

shimy
 
Be prepared, very very well prepared. I'm like you hate talking in front of large groups I don't know. However I found if you prepared and new the content was good and accurate then I did fine. Its when I didn't plan, Didn't know it was interesting that I messed up.

1) plan
2) have a very professional looking power point presentation.
3) cards, but usage points, you don't want to be looking though large areas of texts for what your talking about. Built points are fine.
4) ask a close friend or 2 to let you present it to them. Especially if they have no knowledge on the area. Make sure they understood the content and that it was interesting. If it wasn't go back and change it.

5) if you mess up don't be afraid to stop, take a big breath, look at you cards and then start again.
 
Throw your notes away, you'll be suprise how much you remember. It'll make your presentation a lot more audience friendly.

If you must have notes, have single words, NOT sentences, you'll ended up reading off it.
 
Notes are fine, but whatever you do don't end up reading from them. Remember that your powerpoint presentation is just a visual aid. Just use it to summarise points, not as the sole medium of communication (You don't want your audience to just read the text on the slides and ignore you). Do not end up reading from your powerpoint presentation - that is a cardinal sin when it comes to giving presentations.

Practice, practice and practice some more. Adapt to the audience; if you're stringing off a load of information and see half of them nodding off, make it a bit more exciting. If you're scared of improvising, plan for every eventuality and throw in what seems appropriate at the time.

Move about a bit if you can. Speak loudly and with expression; sound as if you are genuinely excited, concerned etc. about the subject you are talking about. Make eye contact with all members of the audience (just make contact for a few seconds then move on), don't get caught staring at your notes or with your back to the audience looking at the powerpoint presentation for more than a few seconds at a time.

Do all of this and you will ooze confidence :)
 
And don't do death by Powerpoint, and see how many slides you can cram into the time.

Plus don't just read the Powerpoint Slides the audience can do that themselves.
 
Approach a speech exactly like you'd approach a written presentation. Have a clear intorduction in which you briefly tell the audience what you'll be talking about. Then make your points, going into as much detail as you can and supporting everything with documentable facts. Have documentation ready and available on request. Since the audience won't be able to re-read passages like they'd be able to do if it were written you need to be extra sure to use clear diction and choose your words for maximum efficiency and impact. When you're done go back over the material you covered restating your main points. Leave time for questions if you feel that there will be some.

Don't wear a watch or else you'll be tempted to look at it. If there's a clock in the room that's good for you. If not see if you can get a comrade to discreetely signal to you when yopu've got a minute remaining. Don't stand behind the podium for the entire time. Feel free to step away and engage the audience as you feel comfortable with it.

Above all be prepared with knowledge about your topic. Know exactly what you want to say and the order in which you want to say it. Be confident. :)
 
As others have said plan and definately practice. Another sin is finishing early or late. You have 7 minutes, aim to finish bang on 7 minutes.

Try to engage your audience and as said eye contact. If you don't like the idea of looking into someones eyes, look at their forehead or just above their heads - even look at the back wall, just rove around. No one will have a clue you aint looking at them :D

SiriusB
 
SiriusB said:
As others have said plan and definately practice. Another sin is finishing early or late. You have 7 minutes, aim to finish bang on 7 minutes.
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I had a speech class in high school where the teacher would penalize you 5% for every two seconds that you were under or over the specified time. :eek:
SiriusB said:
Try to engage your audience and as said eye contact. If you don't like the idea of looking into someones eyes, look at their forehead or just above their heads - even look at the back wall, just rove around. No one will have a clue you aint looking at them :D
Click to expand...
Looking at foreheads is a fine way to go but take care not to stare at the same foreheads the whole time. If you're uncomfortable take a look at the audience's faces every once in a while and judge if they're understanding your message or not.
 
GoldenGlory said:
Dear Sirs,
I have myself a presentation this Friday, it's 7 minutes long and there are 40ish people in the audience. It's for uni and the topic is my summer placement.

I'm absolutely bricking it as i've done no preparation and in the past my presenting skills have been poor. I'm about to do the powerpoint but does anyone have any tips on how to look less nervous?!

All the best,

-GoldenGlory
Click to expand...
Hmm, I had to do a 7 minute presentation yesterday, it isn't a Shell Step placement by any chance is it? :p

I find that the best thing is to become confident in what youre presenting beforehand. Do a lot of practice, if you keep getting stuck or stumble on a particular point then practice it over and/or make extra notes to help you get through that particular part.

The best presentation I saw yesterday was by someone who had practiced the presentation so many times that he needed no notes to get through it, and as a result came across as very confident and knowledgeable on the subject that he was talking about.
 
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