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Devan Moonsamy
One of the most crucial skills to have in the working world is presentation skills. Being able to put together a presentation and then have the confidence to pull it off, can be stressful and nerve wrecking if not done correctly. Presentations pose as a challenge for most staff members who feel inadequate taking the floor to present to their colleagues.
Whether it is presenting the latest sales figures of the month or even presenting on a new policy or procedure needed in the office, the way in which the presentation is done can have an impact on your audience. Not all staff members might be outspoken and bold enough to stand up and address a boardroom of people.
The truth is the art of a presentation is directly related to the amount of preparation that goes into the presentation. Usually there are a group of people that work together to put the information together. This then results in the one person with the skills of charming a room delivering the information.
It doesn’t always have to be this way. It is possible to get team members to feel comfortable enough to share information with their colleagues. Sometimes a presentation might not even be to people that they work with. It could be to potential new business. This can be stressful and lead to pressure and anxiety.
There is hope and potential for even the most reserved staff member to present to a group of people. All it takes is the right steps to ensure the presentation gets going without any glitches.
Here are 5 ways to ensure you ace you next presentation:
- The first step is to ensure the research and information gathered is easy to understand. Before putting the information together, break it down and become comfortable with it. Use the time given to prepare the presentation well and this will help you to ensure the information is one that you are confident to present. If you use information straight of the internet, without putting in your own word’s chances are you won’t be confident when executing the presentation. Once you have made the information your own, broken down the difficult or challenging phrases, the presentation will start to feel like your own. This way you would feel confident to present this to your team.
- Know you audience. When preparing for a presentation do your homework in terms of who you will be presenting to. Knowing your audience will help you prepare the way you introduce your topic and it can also play a role in the way in which you need to deliver this. You can decide whether the presentation needs to be formal. If the presentation is with colleagues, it usually can include a few jokes and perhaps even inside jokes that your team will get. If the presentation is with new buyers, then your presentation would need to exceed their expectations.
- Incorporate visuals in your presentation. Your presentation does not only need to have you standing up to a group of people describing a topic. Accompany your verbal presentation with visuals. Get a video for motivation or even include pictures relevant to the topic to ensure your team has a solid understanding of what you are trying to say. Another great way to leave your make would be to put together little flyers or pamphlets with the relevant information so that the team can flip back and take note of the most important points. The addition of visuals and other multimedia can take the pressure off needing to be on the spot speaking all the time.
- Be passionate and engage with your audience. Once you show your passion on what you are presenting the audience realise, they need to connect with this with the same passion that you have. Engage with them and give your audience the opportunity to ask questions. Never shy away from questions. This is a great way to pick up on who has been listening to the information and it also gives you a chance to recap and go back to important points that your audience might have missed.
- Maintain eye contact, focus on your body language and never be intimidated by your audience. When your audience observes that you not maintaining eye contact with them, they lose interest in what you are saying. Don’t glare at them. But rather ensure that while you are speaking to your audience, you are acknowledging them. Try not fidget and shake your shake your leg during the presentation. This will cause the audience to be distracted. Knowing they are distracted can also add to your nervousness. Try a few breathing exercises before getting in to the room. Have a glass of water. Keep the presentation short and be present when speaking to your audience.
It is important for these skills to be enhanced even for those not regularly presenting. Get your manager to get training on presentations done regularly to improve skills and build confidence for staff members around presenting.
Devan Moonsamy is the CEO of ICHAF Training Institute, a South African Corporate Training Provider & National Learning Institute. He is the author of Racism, Classism, Sexism, And The Other ISMs That Divide Us, AND My Leadership Legacy Journal available from the ICHAF Training Institute.
The ICHAF Training Institute offers SETA-approved training in business skills, computer use, and soft skills. Devan specialises in conflict and diversity management, and regularly conducts seminars on these issues for corporates. To book a seminar with Devan or for other training courses, please use the contact details below.
Tel: 011 262 2461 | 083 303 9159 |
Email: admin@ichaftraining.co.za devan@ichaftraining.co.za |
Website: www.ichaftraining.co.za | www.devan-moonsamy.com