Remember the following key things when you are making a presentation.
- Think about your message and goals
- Don't concentrate on yourself
- Have good information to deliver
- Immediate impressions
- Maintain credibility by dressing appropriately for your presentation
- Follow the 3T approach
- Tell them what you are going to tell them
- Tell them
- Tell them what you told them
- Voice
- Vary your pitch, pace, quality and volume
- Use a conversational approach and don’t talk from a script
- Convey that you really believe what you are saying
- Remember to avoid
- Monotone
- Mumbling
- High pitch
- Dropping off at the end of sentences
- Talking to your visuals
- Posture
- Develop a relaxed stance; a physical rigid posture usually conveys nervousness
- Avoid
- Slouching
- Walking back and forth
- Rocking from side-to-side
- Hanging on to equipment or podium
- Gestures
- Use smooth, natural gestures to reinforce your message
- Avoid over gesturing, it’s distracting
- Facial expressions
- Vary your facial expressions to match your material
- Smile; if you are interested and excited by your presentation, show it
- Eye contact
- Convey your interest in the audience by making eye contact with as many audience members
as you can
- Avoid looking continually at one participant
- Eye contact will give you feedback about how your presentation is going
- Common distractions to avoid
- Jingling keys or change
- Biting lip
- Playing with jewelry
- Stroking beard
- Twirling hair
- Saying "ummm" or other phrase repeatedly