EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION SKILLS

Introduction

In the business world today success is all about communication and how you “sell” yourself. Individuals and companies the world over are developing new methods of communicating and influencing customers with innovative methods. We see that the tone and content of advertising has changed from what it was a few years ago. Though advertising is not the subject of this paper, it is worthwhile to mention that advertising is meant to capture the consumer’s interest with a good audio or visual presentation. The print and electronic media offer a platform to companies to “present” and advertise their brands.

Just as advertising is important for brand building, it is also important that the company’s business and operations are showcased in a manner that will capture the customer’s imagination. Presentations are an excellent method to do exactly this. I will attempt, in this brief paper, to put forth some tips on how to make a presentation effective

Tips for an Effective Presentation

First of all let us be clear on the purpose of a presentation. Why should we make presentations? Are reports not good enough? Presentations have an advantage over reports in communicating ideas and information to a group and allow “live” interaction between the presenter and the audience. So to make a presentation successful there should be a “connect” between them.

The advantage of using presentations depends on how they are packaged and put forward to the audience. This makes the content and structure of utmost importance apart from the fact that the presenter has to come across to the audience as a person with whom they share rapport

Here are some tips on how to make a presentation effective:-

1. Posture and Body Language

It is very important to engage well with the audience. Smiling when talking is very important as is eye contact with the audience. If these are absent the presentation becomes a monotonous affair. Life is injected into the interaction when the presenter connects well. Posture is also very important. A good presenter stands erect and leans forward while talking. He should not look at the floor and talk with his back turned.

It is necessary to maintain the right space from the audience. Getting too close to them can make them restless. If it a big room it may be necessary to move and walk while talking to maintain the right distance

2. Listening

A good presenter is also a good listener.  Listening consists of hearing the other person and understanding what he or she has to say. A good listener will not complete the other person’s sentence, will not interrupt him midway and will empathise with him. It is also necessary that answers to the person’s questions relate to what he asks

3. Disagreements with the audience

It is necessary to keep your cool when a member of the audience disagrees with you there may be different points of view that have to be respected. In such situations it is advisable to discuss the point with the person and try to explain your point of view and letting him or her know that they are entitled to their own opinion. Never lose your temper or raise your voice

4. Prepare well for your presentation

Presentations need preparation. You should be clear about the topic and possible areas where discussions can occur. Always do a “dry run” before the actual event

5. Time Management

It is necessary to know the time limit allowed for your presentation. Even if there is no time limit, don’t make it too long as audience interest cannot be sustained for long. Prepare the number of slides accordingly. Normally a slide with content takes about a minute.

6. Format

The slide should not only 4 or 5 bullet points. Never make the mistake of crowding your slides with a lot of written matter.

Conclusion

These small tips can go a long way in making your presentation enjoyable and lively. It should always be remembered that, apart from conveying an idea, a thought or a narration of events, the presentation projects yourself and your organisation.