Steps to Keep in Mind When Preparing for a Presentation

John Krautzel
Posted by


Business presentations are a common source of nervousness for both industry rookies and those with years of experience. Luckily, the right preparation helps quell even the worst case of nerves. Follow these steps to create a quality presentation and deliver it confidently.

Narrow Your Topic

One of the keys to great public speaking is keeping your listeners interested. That's hard to do if your presentation wanders all over the place. Create a thesis statement, not longer than a sentence or two, that tells just exactly what you hope to accomplish with your speech. Then, draft an outline of the points you want to cover, making sure that every point directs back to the overall purpose of your business presentation.

Know Your Audience

Avoid talking down to your audience. If your listeners are already knowledgeable in the area of your business presentation, stay away from simplistic examples or definitions of common industry terms. On the other hand, if you are talking to laymen, you should start with the basics so no one gets lost.

Avoid Repetition

It's hard to keep your confidence up when your audience isn't paying attention, so regularly introduce new material and move at a pace that is comfortable yet engaging. Check your business presentation over for unnecessary examples and other repetition. A shorter presentation that is more to the point keeps everyone listening and learning right up to the last remark. Be sure to add a call to action at the end if applicable to encourage your audience to buy your product, sign up at your website or otherwise learn more.

Practice

Practice the oral part of your business presentation until it all feels natural to you, and practice working with your tech and other audio-visual tools to help ensure a smooth production during the actual presentation. Have friends, family or colleagues watch you rehearse and provide feedback about any weak points before the big day. Arrive early at your venue, especially if you're planning on using their tech, to be sure you have adequate time to set up and relax a little before you start.

Don't Expect Perfection

Even seasoned public speakers make mistakes. If you mispronounce a word, stumble over a phrase or experience a glitch with your audio-visual content, take a deep breath, fix the problem and continue. Remember that you're the expert, and when you keep your confidence level up, your audience trusts you and takes minor mishaps in stride. Practice a friendly smile and a relaxed body position to help you remain calm and engaged throughout your display.

Fear of public speaking is common, with around 75 percent of the population listing it as their number one fear. Diminish your fears and increase your confidence by taking the time to craft a focused business presentation directed to your specific audience. Get in enough practice time to put yourself at ease, and be ready to shine when you take the podium.

Business presentations are a common source of nervousness for both industry rookies and those with years of experience. Luckily, the right preparation helps quell even the worst case of nerves. Follow these steps to create a quality presentation and deliver it confidently.

Narrow Your Topic

One of the keys to great public speaking is keeping your listeners interested. That's hard to do if your presentation wanders all over the place. Create a thesis statement, not longer than a sentence or two, that tells just exactly what you hope to accomplish with your speech. Then, draft an outline of the points you want to cover, making sure that every point directs back to the overall purpose of your business presentation.

Know Your Audience

Avoid talking down to your audience. If your listeners are already knowledgeable in the area of your business presentation, stay away from simplistic examples or definitions of common industry terms. On the other hand, if you are talking to laymen, you should start with the basics so no one gets lost.

Avoid Repetition

It's hard to keep your confidence up when your audience isn't paying attention, so regularly introduce new material and move at a pace that is comfortable yet engaging. Check your business presentation over for unnecessary examples and other repetition. A shorter presentation that is more to the point keeps everyone listening and learning right up to the last remark. Be sure to add a call to action at the end if applicable to encourage your audience to buy your product, sign up at your website or otherwise learn more.

Practice

Practice the oral part of your business presentation until it all feels natural to you, and practice working with your tech and other audio-visual tools to help ensure a smooth production during the actual presentation. Have friends, family or colleagues watch you rehearse and provide feedback about any weak points before the big day. Arrive early at your venue, especially if you're planning on using their tech, to be sure you have adequate time to set up and relax a little before you start.

Don't Expect Perfection

Even seasoned public speakers make mistakes. If you mispronounce a word, stumble over a phrase or experience a glitch with your audio-visual content, take a deep breath, fix the problem and continue. Remember that you're the expert, and when you keep your confidence level up, your audience trusts you and takes minor mishaps in stride. Practice a friendly smile and a relaxed body position to help you remain calm and engaged throughout your display.

Fear of public speaking is common, with around 75 percent of the population listing it as their number one fear. Diminish your fears and increase your confidence by taking the time to craft a focused business presentation directed to your specific audience. Get in enough practice time to put yourself at ease, and be ready to shine when you take the podium.


Photo courtesy of iosphere at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Comment

Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.

  • You Might Also Be Interested In

Jobs to Watch