How to make killer presentations in English!

The seven points every presenter needs to know.

Does the thought of standing up in front of an audience and making a presentation leave you a quivering wreck?

Don't worry, you are not alone! It's natural to feel nervous about any kind of public speaking and in fact, you can use your nerves positively.

Making effective presentations is not easy but with preparation and practice we can master the skills needed to be a top presenter.

So here are the top seven tips to ensure your presentation starts with a bang and goes on to be a success.

1. Preparation

Know both your subject and your audience before you start your presentation! You need to know who they are, what they want to hear, and what you need to include in your presentation.

Always remember that old saying: Practice makes perfect. Try and get as much practice in as possible.

2. Visual aids

If you are planning to use visual aids, think carefully about how they present. If it is a handout, make sure it is clear, well written, and well presented. If it is on a board or screen make sure can everybody in the room can see it

3. Body language

Dress appropriately, make sure your posture is good and your body language is positive. Try not to give off any nervous gestures and try to transmit confidence and positive energy. If you have prepared well and know your subject you should be a lot more confident and this will show in your body language.

4. Voice projection

Remember to speak loudly and clearly. You may have a microphone and then again you might not. Try to get the balance right between projecting your voice and shouting!

5. Pace

It's important to set a good pace and to maintain it throughout your presentation. If you speak and move through your presentation too quickly, your audience will probably miss some key points. If you move too slowly, you could send your audience to sleep.

6. A solid introduction

Introductions can make or break a presentation. If you want to give yourself the best possible chance to start well, then here are a few bullet points to remember.

-Keep it short and sweet. Introductions should never be too long. They should serve as a teaser and roadmap of what is to come. About 1-2 minutes should do it, not more.

-Outline your objectives and the parts clearly.

-Use a hook to grab the audience's attention.

-Let the audience know if you are ready to take questions during the presentation or if you would rather wait until the end.

7. Language

Always choose your language carefully and keep it simple and try to avoid too much jargon as some people may not know it.

Should your language be formal or informal? The setting and your audience and how well you know them should answer the question for you. If you are presenting to a large audience who you haven't met before, then it's probably best to keep things a little formal. If you are making a presentation to close business contacts or colleagues, then your language should be informal. The best advice really is to be natural and keep it simple.

There you go. Seven simple steps to presentation heaven. Good luck!

Get in touch with us today for a free demo lesson and free needs analysis. For more information on courses on Presentation skills, contact Anthony Kent directly (director@bblc.ru)