44 / IMPROVING YOUR SKILLS
Presenting
It is wholly possible to become successful and achieve high performance
without being good at speaking in public. However, presentations give
you an unrivaled opportunity to shine and, most of all, become visible
within your organization. There are two aspects to learning how to
present well: the psychological
side, overcoming your fear; and
the process side, learning the
techniques to do it well.
Being prepared
Successful speakers make delivering
a presentation look effortless. In fact,
the opposite is true: the key to speaking
well is all about exhaustive preparation
and practice. You need to get the content
right, plan how to deliver it, and then
rehearse your delivery until you are
entirely confident with your speech.
Before you start to plan the content
of the presentation in great detail,
make sure that you know:
•
Who your audience are, what
they need from you, and how
much background information
they will need
•
How much time you have for your
talk, including question time
•
What audio-visual equipment
is available
•
How the seating for delegates
will be arranged in the room.
SET OBJECTIVES
Decide what your objectives
are—what do you want the
audience to take away with them?
PLAN THE INTRODUCTION
Describe what you will be covering
in the presentation, setting the
scene and preparing your audience
for what is to come.
PLAN TRANSITIONS
Plan how you will “signpost” the
start of each section—this helps
your listeners concentrate and
remember what you have said.
Planning your presentation
The key to speaking well
is exhaustive preparation
and practice. You need to
get the content right
01
04
07
/ 45
SUMMARIZE YOUR NOTES
Write out your presentation,
using bullet points or short
sentences, on small cards
that are easy to handle.
SET THE STRUCTURE
Structure your talk in three
sections: scene setting, the
main content, and a summary.
MAP OUT THE MAIN CONTENT
Be selective about what you
include. It is better to make three
or four key points than try to rush
through too much information.
USE COLOR
Color code your notes to help you
quickly identify the transitions
between different sections.
MAKE NOTES
Jot down notes for each section,
keeping detail brief and only
focusing on the key issues.
WRITE THE SUMMARY
In the summary, briefly go over
the main points that you covered
in your talk, and emphasize any
actions that need to be taken.
02 03
05 06
08 09
46 / IMPROVING YOUR SKILLS
Practicing your delivery
Research has shown that your voice—
how you say something—is better
remembered than the words you use,
so practice how you deliver your speech.
Begin by standing up, both feet firmly
on the floor. Don’t be too rigid and don’t
hunch, because you will smother your
voice. Move your head gently from side
to side to help you relax.
Speaking with conviction
When you speak, imagine your voice
reaching the very back of the room like
a wave rolling onto a beach. Voice control
isn’t just about projection: you need to
add expression, depth, and resonance.
Vary the pace of your speech to make
it interesting. Cast your mind back
to speakers you have heard who talk
in a monotone—it’s very difficult to
concentrate on what they are saying
without letting your mind wander. One
of the best ways to practice putting
expression and interest into your voice
is to read children’s stories aloud.
Are your slides clean,
clutter free, and
consistent in their
style and typeface?
Do you have too many
slides? As a general rule,
aim for no more than one
or two slides per minute.
How you say something is
better remembered than
the words you use
Think about the visuals
PRESENTING / 47
LEARN FROM THE GREATS
Take every opportunity to listen to the
speeches of the great orators. Concentrate
on their delivery. Notice how they grab
your attention, how they use silence to
give emphasis, and how they vary the
tone and pace of their speech.
Tip
Do your visuals—slides,
photographs, or props—
add sufficient value
to your words?
Do your slides include
too much data?
Restrict the numbers
and words on each
slide to a few key facts.
Voice control
isn’t just about
projection: you
need to add
expression,
depth, and
resonance
48 / IMPROVING YOUR SKILLS
Going with the flow
Giving a presentation is a two-way
process. You may be the person at
the front of the room doing most
of the talking, but the audience will
be giving nonverbal feedback all the
time. Try to catch the eyes of people
around the room throughout the
presentation. Smile occasionally
during your talk, but don’t adopt a
false, fixed grin.
Move around and use gestures if that
feels natural for you. The more relaxed
and natural you appear, the more rapport
you will be able to create. Be careful
not to move around too much, though,
because it can make you seem nervous.
Coping with problems
If something does go wrong, such as your
papers falling off the table or the bulb in
the projector failing, take a deep breath.
Techniques to help calm your nerves
•
Banish negative “what will happen
if...” thoughts. If you have prepared
well, you needn’t worry.
•
Visit the venue ahead of time and
familiarize yourself with the room
you will present in.
•
Stand at the podium and imagine the
room full of people. Say a few words
to get used to how your voice sounds.
•
Visualize yourself delivering your
presentation confidently and the
audience applauding.
•
Use relaxation techniques to keep
you calm as the time of your talk
approaches. For example, think
about each part of your body, from
your feet upwards, and imagine
you are tensing and then relaxing
that part.
•
Say to yourself: “I can do this!”
•
Picture a relaxing scene that you
can call up if nerves threaten to
get the better of you—practice
this beforehand.
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