Making a presentation

Presentations are never easy and whilst some people appear to be better at them than others the key is practice and preparation.  The more you do them the more confident you feel. 

The importance of presentation skills

High standards have been set for 21st century business practices around the world. When presenting yourself to another within an organisation – whether it's on the phone, face-to-face or via a satellite communications network – you are transmitting vibes that automatically translate to the workplace. They portray signals about your company culture, ethos and how you present yourself outside work. After all, many business decisions are made based on the confidence the ambassadors of the product consciously or subconsciously portray. This not only applies to sales people, but each and every individual within an organisation.

Learning to present your ideas in a structured and logical fashion is a skill that can be translated to everyday working life. It is useful during meetings, on the phone and when convincing your director to purchase a particular product or service. The more you present your ideas in this way the more your confidence will grow and the more successful you will become.

Making a presentation is not essentially a natural ability – although it does help – anyone can perfect the art with good training skills.

Whether you're shy, confident or arrogant, you have to overcome certain obstacles in order to achieve success. No matter what the personality type, when faced with a crowd of people and the pressure to perform, the harsh reality of the situation sets in – the fact that there is one voice only – your voice! This, combined with a multitude of eager eyes all looking at you, can create a sense of panic for the speaker. Some people tend to focus on one particular person throughout the presentation. Although this can be effective when large audiences are present, it can be off-putting for a smaller group.

The key to effective presentations if to practise – get used to the sound of your own voice. Rehearse in front of friends or colleagues, and gain as much feedback as possible.

Preparing your presentation

The planning, preparation and delivery of a presentation can be likened to an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg – the actual delivery – is all that can be seen. Underneath the surface is the bulk of the iceberg: in this case, the planning and preparation.

The most important part of a presentation is the planning and preparation. If it is not structured – with background information and relevant content – it does not appear credible to the listener. Therefore, all attempts to educate or inform, are overshadowed by the negative aspects of the presentation.

During the presentation

Maintaining and sustaining interest throughout the presentation is essential if you're to reach your goal in convincing or educating your audience. You could vary the layout of your presentation and include pictures or illustrations.  It is also worth remembering that if handouts are distributed during your presentation, it can draw the audience's attention away from you, and act as a distraction. However, if the subject is more of a technical nature, a copy of the sides can be useful for those wanting to take notes. It's often best to distribute them before the presentation begins.

A good presentation is one which transmits a clear, concise message that is relevant to the audience. This is easily recognisable, as the audience will remain upbeat and their questions will reflect their curiosity in the subject matter. An unsuccessful presentation is one that fails to entertain the audience, in that the subject matter or stance bears no relevance to them. When the speaker fails to prepare for the speech, when they mumble the words or have no intonation in their voice, the audience does not respect the speaker's views; therefore they do not listen.

Have you ever attended a meeting where an over-confident sales person turns up to sell you something, and disaster strikes when he tries to set up the laptop with your system? This is one of the most common experiences during a meeting – the presentation might be prepared to perfection, but what's the use if the audience cannot see it? The key to success is preparation. Make a few phone calls to find out what systems are compatible with your laptop; arrive early to set up the room. And, remember, a wise person always anticipates crisis, so if the unforeseen happens – a power cut – make sure you have a hard copy of your presentation so that you can use a flipchart or an OHP if all else fails!

So, what's the golden rule to making a great speech? Preparation. A sound structure can automatically set the ground rules for allowing you to tell the audience what you want to say, and then say it. Click here for the complete guide to a successful presentation, 'Presentation techniques.' If you use these simple steps, you'll feel more confident before you present, and the after-effects will be amazing!