Because a lot of us are used to seeing subpar presentations, we tend to resign ourselves to delivering bad presentations as well. Luckily, there are three simple things that you can do to markedly improve your skills. These may seem obvious, but they can turn your lackluster presentations into engaging discussions.
Change your outlook towards presentation delivery by giving these three tips a try:
Talk to—not at—your audience
If your presentations aren’t turning out as you’ve imagined, it’s probably because you’re not engaging with your audience enough. They’ll listen to what you have to say if you make them feel like you’re both on the same level. These days, audiences appreciate being part of a conversation, as opposed to being lectured at.
Give your audience an opportunity to speak their mind by making use of some interactive presentation tools, and don’t underestimate the power of making eye contact.
Keep your points brief and exciting
No one wants to hear a litany of details that could very well be told in a brief summary. Your presentations can be 10 times more engaging if you keep your points brief and straight to the point.
Not only will it make your points easier to follow and understand, a simple presentation can also leave you more room for to address specific questions coming from your audience.
Use your nerves to improve your skills
Feeling nervous about delivering a presentation is normal. But did you know that you can use your feelings of anxiety as fuel to improve your skills? The best way to rid yourself of presentation anxiety is by practicing your presentation as much as you can.
The more you practice, the more you have the chance to examine your performance and improve on parts where you feel like you could do better. Embrace your anxiety and use it to motivate yourself further.
The Takeaway
No one ever has a smooth-sailing presentation. Sometimes it takes some time to master your skills as a public speaker. But don’t give up. Even the best presentation experts have had their share of bad turns. Constantly strive to improve yourself and your skills, and you’ll get to the level you want to achieve.
What other presentation delivery tips would you share? What do you do to improve your performance? Give us a shout out through our social media profiles!
Featured Image: Ryan Dickey via Flickr
About SlideGenius
SlideGenius.com is your business PowerPoint guru. Based in San Diego, California, SlideGenius has enhanced the presentations of more than 500 clients all over the world, including J.P. Morgan, Harley-Davidson, Pfizer, Verizon, and Reebok. Let SlideGenius help you with your presentation needs! Call us at 1.858.217.5144 today.
