10 Guidelines to Effective Public Presentation

In my 13 year career as a businessman and trainer, I have either attended or presented papers at seminars and I am now accustomed to this subject. I have witnessed how even with the most detailed and exciting content most people usually see their presentation crumble for one reason or the other. As a leader or someone whose influence I know is growing, you will have to start getting used to standing before audiences to sell or market your idea, to teach or even give a speech when you get an award one day. I am already receiving feedback how the experiences I have shared in my articles are helping shape the destinies of many across the globe. I am confident in the fact that you too will soon have to tell your story to others. A lot has been written on the subject and I am choosing some of the major areas. These are original thoughts and guidelines that are helping me.

1. Plan your presentation – Planning is as important as the actual presentation. Are you going to use slides on a projector. What order are they going to take? What detail are you going to emphasize and which ones are you glossing over. The idea is to convey the message which you want the audience to take home. Planning will ensure you do not spend a lot of time on trivia but you keep the main thing being the main thing.

2. Confidence is a vital element – It is a privilege to have an audience who have set aside time to hear you, don’t let them down by showing an element of not being sure of what you are talking about. Be the credible presenter who can sell ice to eskimos to the extent that the eskimos make it run out. You planned and prepared, now confidently and boldly give the audience your best. I know you could be thinking “easier said than done”. You will soon have to get over the butterflies and sweating that comes just with the thought of an audience listening to you. When you are confident, the audience stays awake in anticipation for more valuable information. Most presentations generally appeal to auditory- learner (aural) as there are elements of hearing the presenter speak in most instances hence speaker’s confidence and audibility carries the day.

3. Eye contact keeps people engaged – Presenters whose focus is on the laptop, their notes or even on the screen itself tend to lose the audience totally. You cannot afford to be afraid of what people are thinking as you present. As long as you speak genuine and authentic sense, have the relevant confidence, you have them glued for the duration of your presentation. Avoiding eye contact tells the audience that “it is ok to also do what want as you present”. I was taught a trick while in Teacher’s College many years ago. If the idea of seeing people’s eyes scares you, look slightly above the people’s heads or look at their ear. It is better. Distribute your contact across the room evenly and avoid giving the audience your back while you talk unless you are writing on a chart in which case you do not speak as you write.

4. Regulate your movements and gestures – Do not run around the stage to the point that your audience is swinging their heads continually to catch up with you. Confine such moves to gymnasium. You want people engaged, stay in a specific position moving occasionally towards the audience but not in a rushed manner. Do not rehearse and over use gestures. Be natural. Use your hands, facial expressions to emphasize a point. Smile a lot. Nothing beats a smiley presenter. Don’t look bored by your own presentation with the statement “I can’t wait to get away from here” written on your face. Look interested in giving knowledge and understanding. Depending on the nature of your presentation, a member of the audience who has Physical (kinesthetic) learning style would however appreciate body movements and emphasis by use of hand signals.

5. More visuals bring life to your presentation – A majority of audiences would rather not just hear you blurting away. Not all learners can understand by just hearing (Aural - auditory musical learners). By bringing visuals you appeal to the visual (spatial) learner as well. Bring video clips, photo slides; use a variety of visual aids e.g. flip charts or white boards, show samples or demo copies. I have learned that audiences would rather be shown that merely told. It brings credibility and since a picture is a thousand words, this is one of the best ways to say a lot in a short space of time.

6. You have limited time – maximize its use – You have no business spending time on trivia. Lengthy introductions simply eat into your time. The audience may know your CV in advance anyway hence you need to avoid boring them with the “ringing of your own bells”. Get straight to the agenda of the meeting and coffee breaks at the end or during your seminar can be for catching up on what else you have done. Show that you are concerned about making sure the audience’s time is not wasted. There is a tendency to dwell more on the one thing you know best forgetting what the overall objective is. In your planning you would have assessed what you want them to take home. Focus on delivering just that.

7. Visit venue in advance with checklist – Visit the room way in advance with your checklist on the following major issues. Is there a projector, connect it to your presentation sources and do a run through. Check sound levels for your video clips and the microphone you will be using to avoid shouting or straining people’s ears as you “whisper” your presentation, check on all visuals and samples, handouts, lighting. Check the roaming microphone for Question and Answer, Check availability of water and other facilities so that when your audience arrives you are not making inquiries concerning the venue but you look like you already own the place. If your presentation depends on power, check alternative power sources such as generators etc. This element can spoil a whole presentation. Have plan B with you. Important – where you come with your staff on flash drive or CD, ensure the files are saved in many formats to avoid surprises where your material can not be opened totally.

8. Get an understanding or overview of your audience in advance – This helps you to know how to pitch your presentation. There is nothing as wasteful as preaching to the converted. If you know you are meeting a group of MBA students, be relevant in your examples. Let you presentation be deep enough for their level. When your audience is mixed it must be relevant to the least educated and not boring the most educated. You may not always get to know people’s CVs. Self-Introductions may be necessary in small groups of 10 to 15. Use that information to give relevant examples specific to the job settings mentioned.

9. Get your audience a chance to interact – Depending on the setting, create opportunities for the audience to interact, to ask questions and let some audience provide their contribution while you facilitate and moderate. It may be interesting to you to note that there are some participants smarter and more experienced and knowledgeable on the subject. Getting them to answer will bring value to them and other participants. It does not take away from you at all. As moderator you simply take the best of all contributions and summarize, you still remain the “expert”. Obviously some settings require you to stand up, present and sit down – no question and answer. Exercise situational sensitivity. Audiences who have a social (interpersonal) learning style would enjoy learning in group interactions and from other people’s experiences.

10. Be yourself, be original – Be entertaining. Avoid trying to speak like someone else. You will strain yourself and distort your presentation by having to remember how “your model” speaks. Use original examples especially from your own recent experience. An occasional relevant joke helps people to loosen up and raise the level of expectancy and anticipation. When the audience looks excited it will in turn boost your confidence and help you settle in. Most people miss it right at the beginning. Have a punchy introduction which will set the mood for the rest of the presentation. When you present, avoid hurrying through to just finish quickly. Slow down and pause while you check your audience. Throw a relevant question once in a while. A logical question will appeal to the audience which has logical (mathematical) learning style. You can also use question to test the level of understanding of what you are about to present.