Presentation skills are essential for new professionals who want to communicate effectively, persuade others, and advance their careers. However, developing these skills can be challenging, especially if you lack confidence, experience, or feedback. In this article, you will learn some practical tips to improve your presentation skills and overcome common obstacles.
Before you prepare your presentation, you need to understand who you are talking to, what they expect from you, and what you want them to do or feel. This will help you tailor your content, tone, and style to suit your audience's needs and interests. For example, if you are presenting to a technical audience, you might want to use more data, jargon, and examples than if you are presenting to a general audience. Similarly, if you are presenting to a senior management team, you might want to focus more on the benefits, outcomes, and recommendations than on the details and processes.
It has always been stated, "practice makes perfect"! First, you will need to know your material forward and backward. Then, you will need to present it to a mirror if necessary or an audience of close peers. You need to truly understand who you are speaking to and what point or conclusion they need to see and understand.
Communication is a code (Language) and if we speak a different language than our audience, the message might not be received as intended. If it is a training session, check the CVs, and LinkedIn of the audience. If it is a job interview, check the company page and the hiring manager's CV/Linkedin. Speak their language. Regardless of the above, experience is a must. Usually, the learning process passes to a) knowing the concept, b) Seeing someone doing it, and c) doing it yourself. Practice as much as you can, and record yourself if possible, because this will allow you to see in detail how you perform to correct for the next time.
A well-structured presentation has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should capture your audience's attention, establish your credibility, and state your main purpose and message. The body should present your main points, arguments, and evidence in a logical and coherent way. The conclusion should summarize your main message, reinforce your call to action, and end with a memorable statement or question. To plan your structure, you can use tools such as outlines, mind maps, or storyboards to organize your ideas and create a flow.
When my team and I developed our first damage prevention presentation, we structured it is such a way that any excavator or utility locator could understand the whole process and its outcome. And what would happen if one part of it was taken out of the equation. We discussed the consequences of inaction and geared the entire conversation toward the end result goal of safety. The entire flow explains the beginning to end that lasts about a week in real life in a presentation that lasts about an hour.
Once you have your content and structure ready, you need to practice your delivery. This will help you improve your confidence, timing, and clarity. You can practice by yourself, in front of a mirror, or with a friend or colleague who can give you constructive feedback. You can also record yourself and watch your performance to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Some aspects of your delivery that you should pay attention to are your voice, body language, eye contact, and use of visual aids.
When practicing your delivery in front of family or very close friends, accept constructive feedback and learn to be better. Never accept that you have arrived! Find ways to get even better by studying courses here on LinkedIn. Understand body language, and eye contact and use them to your advantage to change things up if necessary.
It is normal to feel nervous before or during a presentation, especially if you are new to it. However, you can manage your nerves and turn them into positive energy. Some strategies that can help you handle your nerves are breathing deeply, visualizing your success, focusing on your message, and engaging with your audience. You can also prepare for possible questions, challenges, or technical issues that might arise during your presentation and have a backup plan.
One of the best ways to develop your presentation skills is to seek feedback from others. Feedback can help you learn from your mistakes, celebrate your achievements, and identify areas for improvement. You can ask for feedback from your audience, your peers, your mentors, or your managers. You can also use self-assessment tools such as checklists, rubrics, or surveys to evaluate your own performance. You should be open-minded, respectful, and appreciative of any feedback you receive and use it to improve your future presentations.
Presentation skills are not something that you can master overnight. They require constant learning, practice, and improvement. You can keep learning by reading books, articles, or blogs on presentation skills, watching videos or podcasts of effective speakers, or attending workshops or courses on presentation skills. You can also learn from your own experiences, by reflecting on what worked and what didn't in your previous presentations, and by setting goals and action plans for your next presentations.