5 Great Tips To Improve Your Presentation Skills

Today I have invited Jill Simpson from DEVA Training in Kilmarnock Scotland to share her 5 Top Tips on Presentation Skills Training and Public Speaking Tips.

There are only a few certainties in life and taxes are probably way up there at the top of the list but not far behind must be the realisation that at some point in business you will have to present something. It could be that you will need to convey your ideas to colleagues in a management meeting, present your business plan to your bank or a potential investor, or pitch for new business. Whatever the situation here are Jill’s 5 Top Tips to help make your presentation fly.

Tip One. Preparation is everything. Don’t leave it to the night before because come the presentation you’ll neither do yourself nor your business justice. If you were an actor, singer or band you wouldn’t go stage unprepared:  that way madness lies. Structure your talk well, and practise it out loud – to the dog, if you must – but preferably to your webcam so that you can see and hear for yourself what needs to be changed.

Tip Two. Consider your audience. One size doesn’t fit all – the principles of marketing apply here as anywhere else. Instead of, “what am I going to say?” you should be asking: what do they want to know? If your content is relevant to your listeners, they will pay attention; if it’s not, they won’t.

Tip Three. Consider your message and the purpose of your talk. Are you selling a product, building awareness of your expertise, or trying to impress your peers? If you aren’t clear about your message from the outset, your audience certainly won’t be. Present your message from an angle that really interests your audience. And remember, don’t give too much away: leave them wanting more.

Tip Four. Less really is more. You’re the expert and you have a library of knowledge at your fingertips, but the experienced communicator is selective with what she shares. Make every point carry weight with your audience: a memorable five minute talk is worth so much more than twenty minutes of boring detail. Check every point you make against its relevance to the listener and its place within your key purpose.

Tip Five. Be yourself. Your audience has come to see you not dozens of PowerPoint slides or the back of your head as you fumble at your laptop. Find your voice and your personality as you present material that you know to be engaging and relevant to your audience. You’ve practised your presentation. Remember to speak slowly -more slowly than in a normal conversation, and pause to allow the audience to take in what you’ve said. Remember to smile and share your enthusiasm for your subject. And finally, enjoy yourself:  your audience will appreciate it and learn more because of it.

So whether you will be making a Powerpoint presentation, presenting to business people or doing a bit of public speaking I hope these presentation ideas and tips were of use.

For a guide to presentations (amongst many other subjects) from the University of Hull click here. or for more effective presentation skill follow this link.