|
|
 Presentation Delivery Many people are nervous when it comes to standing up in front of an audience to deliver their presentation. My advice is don't worry, it is perfectly natural to be nervous. You can reduce the nervousness through good preparation and practise but it really doesn't matter that you are nervous, nobody will mind and you can use the extra energy, which the adrenalin flowing round your body generates, to make your presentation delivery more exciting and more enthusiastic.
Step 1
Are you properly prepared? Have you structured your presentation well? Have you written and numbered your cue cards? Do you know when you are expected to finish your presentation? The acronym OSRAM will remind you of the 5 essential components of an effective business presentation. OSRAM stands for: Objective Speaker Room Audience Message
Step 2
Arrive early. No matter where you are presenting it pays to arrive early. That way you can ensure all the equipment is working, that the room is tidy and there are no potential distractions. By getting there early you can become more familar with the surroundings and there is then less to think about when you stand up to speak. Step 3
Make sure the equipment is all working. Turn off your mobile phone and the screensaver on your PC, if you are using PowerPoint. Ensure that the projector is lined up with the screen, that the pens all work on the whiteboard/flipchart and that the sound level has been tested on your microphone. Decide where you are going to stand or walk about while you give your presentation. If you have to move up on to a stage at the start of your presentation, then practise doing so before the audience arrive. Step 4
Give the chairman or MC a card with how you want to be introduced. Step 5
Stand up. Weight mainly on the balls of your feet, hands at your side, face the audience, take a couple of deep breaths and say nothing. Step 6
Smile and look round the room. Wait until everyone is looking at you and nobody is talking. Step 7
Start your presentation, with your attention grabbing opener. Step 8
During your presentation, look people in the eyes while you are talking. Randomly move for one person to the next as you talk. Only look at a person for a second or two, just enough time to say a sentence or even just part of a sentence. Try not to turn round and look at the screen. When addressing large audiences, with too many people to look at each individually, split the room into sections and look at each section instead of the individuals. e.g look front-left, mid-right, back-left etc. Step 9
Remember not to talk too quickly, especially if you are nervous. When presenting you need to talk slightly slower then you would in an ordinary one to one conversation. This allows the audience time to hear what you have said. Talking to fast will casue people to stop listening because they can't take it all in. Step 10
Try to put some emotion into your voice. Vary the pitch, speed and volume of your voice in line with the material you are presenting. Pausing before important statements adds emphasis to the words you are saying. |
|