Great ways to make your presentation a winner
Great ways to make your presentation a winner.
- When preparing a presentation you must have it clear in your mind what you want to achieve and what is the main objective?" Write it down and keep it in front of you because you need to keep referring to it. For every point in your presentation ask yourself is it relevant to my main objective….does it help me achieve my objective? If not axe it!!
- Always think that your audience is more important than you". With this in mind you will focus on what they need and want instead of it being something that you assume they may want…. There’s a big difference! Your audience may not know as much about your subject as you do, so it is imperative that you help them. Ensure the flow structure is easy for them to follow; don’t use jargon unless you are able to explain it. Leave them besotted not baffled!
- Never have more than 3 main points. A long list of points will certainly ensure that your audience will miss the key ones. Write out a list of all the points you would like to make and then prioritise them. Drop the ones that don’t make the cut of the top three. If they need more of the lesser points you can supply that information at a later date.
- Interact with the audience immediately. People are always a lot more open to take onboard what you are saying if you have engaged them personally. Use the word "you" at least once in the first 20 seconds of your talk. If you don't, you are not engaging your audience and more likely to be talking about yourself….how boring is that??
- Get off to a flyer by using an attention grabber and practice the first part of your presentation so you know it inside out. It helps the nerves and also puts your audience at ease as they want to listen to someone who is going to keep them interested. Losing them at this part fatal. Practise every aspect of your opener…. the words, your body language, voice, tone etc.
If you are using PowerPoint ensure the following;
· Put your main points at the top part of the slide.
· Keep the slide simple and pleasing to the eye
· Inject colour but not yellow ….it never shows up.
· Use imagery to illustrate a point ….. never clip art!!
· Get rid of annoying slide effects…. Only use them when required.
- Bring in the main points early as an audience’s concentration levels can waiver in the middle of a talk. Use the grabber and hook and bring it in again at the end of the presentation.
- If making a sales presentation use your unique selling points (see the selling expert course). Be different to everyone else in the market place, be memorable, be smiling and finally be you!
Date: 07/07/2008
Category: BUSINESS EDITORIAL