10 Things To Do During Presentations

On April 26th I wrote 10 Things to Avoid During Presentations. Following up on that post I would like to look at presenting again, but from a more positive side.

This time the list is not particularly focusing on the content of the slides we’re using but on our appearance and the structure of our presentation. Every situation is different of course. Some presentations are more important than others. Some presenters tend to be very nervous, while others seem very confident. A few things that might help you during a presentation:

1. Rehearse
   So you made a great slideshow and good notes, but when you don’t rehearse your presentation there are a few things you will not know beforehand. What is the actual time it will take you to say those words? How does your story connect with the information on the slides? Are there some sentences you’re struggling with you might want to change? Take some time and say it out loud!
2. Introduce Yourself
   Even if you’re almost sure everybody already knows your name, tell them again. You want to make sure your audience is aware of who you are and what subject you’re going to talk about. If you’re using slides you can have a title slide with just the title of the presentation and your name on it as an introduction.
3. Outline Your Presentation
   It depends on the situation if you want your audience to know what your presentation will cover and how much time you will spend on it, but when you show your audience the outline of your presentation before you get to the content it will give them a good idea of where you are and how you’ll make your point clear.
4. Address All Listeners
   I was listening to one student’s presentation the other day, and while she was presenting her work she was only looking at my colleague. Maybe she wasn’t even really aware of it, and addressing this specific person because it felt comfortable. Whatever the reason may be, make sure you address all your listeners. Even if you think some are more important then others, you’ll never make a good impression to the other people, and you want to make a good impression to your whole audience!
5. Have Notes on Paper
   In case you want to use a few notes during your presentation, use a small piece of paper or a notebook. If you have a computer screen in front of you you can use it, but it might not make you look very good. Just a few keywords on a piece of paper in the palm of your hand should be enough to get you back on track when you get lost in your words. In any case, avoid looking at the slides behind you at all times.
6. Start Over
   It might happen that those great sentences you prepared in your head don’t come out as well as they should. Having to speak for an audience can mess up the structure of your thoughts a bit. So you might end up saying something strange or inappropriate. Just stop, take a second to think about it and start anew.
7. Breath
   Take a deep breath before you start. It will make you feel more relaxed when you’re nervous. During the presentation, don’t rush, make sure your audience understands what you’re saying, and don’t get upset when they don’t. Breathe, then tell them again.
8. Be Yourself
   I witnessed how another student’s presentation was such a slick performance it was like he was trying to sell a car in stead of presenting his work. You can learn a lot about how to present (by reading articles like this one), but you don’t want your presentation to look like you just opened a box of tricks or showing off your presentation skills too literally. Don’t sell cars, rather be yourself and thus make it look sincere.
9. Keep an Eye on the Clock
   Be aware of the time. If somehow you find out you prepared to much material for the time you have, don’t just keep going. Also don’t rush through your slides like a maniac. Make a good selection of slides you want to show and skip the less relevant parts. Your listeners will be grateful!
10. Smile
    A positive attitude can make a big difference. Don’t be too serious, even if your presentation is of great importance. Try to create a pleasant atmosphere so your audience will enjoy watching you and you will feel more comfortable.

Is this list helpful for you? Do you have another great tip we all should know about? Please leave a comment and let me know!

Photo by melodygates