Presenting - Section 2
Every presentation is an opportunity to advance your career.
Not so long ago only managers and executives made business
presentations. Now the corporate specialty of presentations has
infiltrated every possible level in every organization. Today people at
all levels are expected to be able to present their ideas and plans
competently and positively to various audiences both inside and
outside of the organization.
Sample
Know the Subject
Knowing the subject inside and out is the most important thing when presenting. It is very easy for me to make a presentation on a subject that I have an extensive knowledge of; whereas, subjects I am not familiar with, I will not be able to put together the same quality presentation. Thoroughly study the subject and information regarding your presentation if you are not completely familiar with it. During the presentation you want to be the expert. You need to feel that you can properly answer any questions asked. Having the necessary knowledge and being the expert on the presentation topic will help reduce your tension and increase your confidence.
Your audience will be more engaged in the presentation if you use personal stories and everyday examples to help them relate to your subject. Here are a few suggestions to think about as you are creating your presentation:
- Use comfortable language, words, and phrases that both you and the audience will know.
- Share brief stories that help make your point.
- Provide examples that help the audience relate.
- Ask the audience questions to engage them in your subject or to see how much they already know.
Know the Audience
It is important to know who will be in the audience to hear your presentation. You would present a topic differently to a group of second graders than you would to a group of IRS workers, so knowing who will make up your audience is very important to know before you start to prepare. Find out as much as you can about the audience to help tailor your message. Here are some questions regarding the audience you might want to know the answer to before you begin to plan:
Section Contents
- Know the Subject
- Know the Audience
- Setting Your Objective
- Pre-Presentation Strategy
- Plan Your Format
- Speaking
- Your Opening
- Close with a Bang
- Practice Five Minutes at a Time
- Pauses
- Get the Audience to Participate
- Use Transitions to Help Keep the Audience Engaged
- Respect the Audience
- Movement and Hand Gestures
- Visual Aids
- Choosing Visual Aids
- Types of Visual Aids
- A Common Presentation Mistake
- Visual Aids and Handouts are not the Same Thing
- Tips for Presenting Visual Aids
