Introduction:

Whether you are a seasoned orator or a novice speaker, you can improve your presentation skills and enhance your credibility through planning, presentation, and practice. This section contains essential information on every aspect of public speaking, form the researching and writing of your material to overcoming tension and dealing with questions form audience. Practical advice, for example on choosing the best audio-visual aids, will furnish you with the confidence to handle real life situations professionally and help you to develop and perfect your skills.

This month we will cover:

Preparing a Presentation

The sub topics that will be covered this month are:

1) Defining Your Purpose

Preparing A Presentation

There are two secrets to making a good presentation: preparation and practice. Take the time too prepare properly, and your chances of success will increase enormously.

1) Defining Your Purpose

What do you want to communicate to your audience? Before you start to prepare your presentation, decide what you want to achieve. Focus on the purpose of the presentation at every stage to ensure that your preparation in relevant and efficient.

A) Considering Your Aims

The first points to think about are what you intend to tell your audience and how best to communicate your message. Your strategy will depend upon three things: the type of message you wish to deliver; the nature of the audience; and the physical surroundings of the venture.

Review the purpose of your presentation, and ask your self whether its is simple enough or too complex. Think about who might be in your audience and how they might be in your audience and how they might receive your speech. Then ask yourself if this is how you want your speech to be received. If not, modify your purpose.

Points To Remember

Your presentation should be relevant, simple, and to the point

Your audience will be impressed by the debt and breadth of your knowledge rather than a show of a false intellect and wit

Your positive attitude, energy, and enthusiasm for the subjects will speak volumes. They will be remembered by your audience long after the details of your speech have been forgotten.

Note:

Once you have written your speech, cut it, cut, cut it, and cut it.

B) Assessing Abilities

Unless you are a trained actor, it is difficult trying to be anyone other than yourself. Concentrate on defining and utilizing your best assets. For example if you have a good clear voice, use it to your advantage; if you have the talent for such things, tell a humorous but relevant short anecdote. Next, confront your fears and anxieties about the presentation, so that you can make sure that you are prepared for them on the day.

Speaking Confidently

Use techniques that you are comfortable with in your presentation. This will help you control your nerves once you are standing in front of the audience.

Note: Group similar ideas together to establish themes.

Reducing Your Fears

Excessive Nerves - You cannot relax. You forget what you are trying to say and dry up.

Practical Solution - Prepare by rehearsing in front of a mirror and, if possible, at the venue. Make sure that you can see your notes clearly at all times. take a deep breath, and smile.

Bored Audience - The audience loses interest, and fidgets and talk among themselves

Practical Solution - Ensure that the point you are trying to make is relevant - if not, cut it. be enthusiastic. vary the pace of your presentation, and maintain eye contact with the audience.

Hostile Audience - You are heckled. Questions from the floor are aggressive in tone.

Practical Solution - Remain polite and courteous. If your audience has specialist knowledge of your subject, defer to them. Redirect difficult questions back to the audience.

Breakdown of Visual Aids - Equipment fails to work of you do not remember how to work it.

Practical Solution - Avoid using any technology with which you are not thoroughly familiar. Immediately before the presentation, check all the equipment that you will be using

By Manik Thapar