| If you've been tasked with giving a presentation, you | | | | slides are key to an effective PowerPoint presentation. |
| want to impact and impress your listeners. | | | | Limit the amount of text on each slide. Narration should |
| Experienced presenters know that careful preparation | | | | come from the presenter and need not be transcribed |
| is essential. Take the time to consider your strategy in | | | | on the PowerPoint slides. Slides are great for graphs, |
| advance and start strong. Your audience will sum up | | | | charts, statistics, and main bullet points - keep their use |
| your style of presenting within the first few seconds, | | | | limited to that. Stay away from "eye charts"-slides |
| and if it is unexciting, you've lost their interest for the | | | | crammed with so much content that only those with |
| rest of your session. | | | | 20-10 vision can read them. They are deadly with a |
| You may even find that your presentation will be | | | | live audience, and even worse online. |
| captured on video for future use in online events. That | | | | Arrive Early. Nothing shakes nerves like running late to |
| means that your lecture will be offered indefinitely, | | | | your presentation - trying to beat the clock and set up |
| good or bad, so take these tips into consideration and | | | | before your audience starts walking through the door. |
| make your presentation count for both your live and | | | | Allow ample time to arrive, ensure all equipment is |
| virtual audiences! | | | | working correctly, check the accuracy of your slides, |
| People Do Judge a Book by its Cover. Before the | | | | and adjust lights and temperature in the room to |
| audience has the chance to assess you on the quality | | | | comfortable settings. Particularly if your presentation |
| of content you will be sharing with them, they gauge | | | | will be video captured, you may face additional |
| your professionalism and significance by the way you | | | | technical issues that will take time to resolve. It is also a |
| carry yourself. Wear a jacket, or better yet, a suit. | | | | great idea to find and meet the A/V or technical |
| Dark colors, such as black or blue appear most | | | | contact in case you have a glitch and need a quick |
| professional and look good on camera as well. | | | | equipment fix. |
| Consider a trim and neat haircut or hairstyle and limit | | | | Deliver, Don't Distract. Delivery is an art that is honed |
| amount of jewelry and accessories. | | | | with experience and practice; however, even |
| Learn the Subject, Not the Script. You need to know | | | | seasoned presenters can keep certain tips in mind |
| your subject matter inside and out. The audience is | | | | during their delivery to ensure they make an impact - in |
| coming to learn from you, hear your ideas, and come | | | | a good way. Avoid distracting movements during your |
| away with a slice of your expertise on the topic. | | | | presentation such as touching your face, swaying |
| Anyone can simply do research on a subject matter, | | | | back and forth, jerky hand motions, and fidgeting with |
| jot down a script and read from it. If your audience | | | | clothes. Hesitations in voice, filler words such as "um" |
| witnesses you taking this route, your credibility is | | | | and "uh", and awkward pauses as you try to find your |
| weakened, and you've just joined the ranks of the | | | | place are all recipes for a distracted physical and |
| "boring presenters". If your presentation will be available | | | | virtual audience. Practice your speech repeatedly. The |
| online, you want to make sure your content and | | | | more comfortable you feel with the subject, your |
| delivery is stimulating to avoid being "closed out" | | | | presentation, and its delivery - the more confident you |
| prematurely due to lack of interest. Thoroughly | | | | will come across, reducing all the awkward aspects |
| knowing the content will also ensure your ability to | | | | that come with unpreparedness. |
| answer any range of questions asked if you | | | | Yes, Feedback is Necessary. Though it might be |
| incorporate a Q&A session at the end. | | | | intimidating to open the door to critiques, it shows true |
| One Theme - Four Main Points. Your overall | | | | professionalism when you ask your colleagues for |
| presentation should revolve around a main theme. And | | | | feedback. It displays your desire to address any |
| with that theme, try to bullet out up to four points during | | | | weaknesses and your will to work on improving them. |
| your speech. Though you have been called upon to | | | | Pass out brief questionnaires at the end of your |
| provide a presentation and share your knowledge, that | | | | presentation to get your audience's fresh reaction to |
| doesn't mean you need to cram everything you know | | | | your presentation. Provide the same opportunity for |
| into your slotted delivery time. Your audience should be | | | | your virtual audience via online polls or surveys. Don't |
| able to walk away from your informational session | | | | take the negative comments to heart, incorporate |
| having learned the topic and be able to recount at | | | | them to make corrections in your next speech. Soak in |
| least two of the main points that were discussed. | | | | the numerous positive remarks received and applaud |
| Say It, Don't Display It. Simple and visually stimulating | | | | yourself on a successful presentation. |