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Presentation Tips

The following presentation tips come straight from the professionals:

Know your purpose. Why are you there? To inspire? educate? enlighten? change perspective? enliven? Stick to your purpose.

Marie Mosely, keynote speaker, facilitator, business psychologist

Ask yourself, ‘Who is my audience and what are their needs?' This will help you to tailor your message accordingly.

Paul McGee, business speaker, author, consultant

It's not what's the same about your material or presentation, it's what's distinctive that will linger in the minds of the listeners.

John Rhode, CSP

With every key point you make, remember to answer the ‘so what?' question. This will help you clarify what content you need to include in your presentation and whether it is relevant or not.

Paul McGee

Remember, you tell the story – not your slides. If you use slides, ask yourself ‘what value do I bring to this presentation that people couldn't get from just reading a set of handouts?'

Paul McGee

Collect and tell your own personal stories. Use them on purpose. Tell them well. Make them relevant and create meaning that lasts in the minds of your audiences.

Marie Mosely

If you stay externally focused, focused on your audience, it's almost impossible to feel nervous.

You'll only feel nervous if you're internally focused, focused on yourself.

Marie Mosely

Simply knowing your subject is as far away from being an effective presenter as knowing the words of a song is from singing.

Paul McGee

We can all present information, the challenge is getting people to listen.

Paul McGee

Remember, it's about them, not you!

Marie Mosely

Your parents were right ... never talk to strangers. Do all you can to know your audience.

Paul McGee

School's never out for the pros.

Cavett Robert, Founder of the National Speakers Association

13 Tips to Get Your Audience Wanting More

1. Believe in your message.
2. Believe in yourself.
3. Open with impact.
4. Close on a positive note.
5. Let your personality shine through.
6. Flex to the style of your audience.
7. Answer the question your audience will be asking: 'What's in this for me?'
8. Involve your audience and arouse their curiosity.
9. Use picture language.
10. Add variety and be creative.
11. Have an unusual slant or angle to your topic.
12. Spend as much time thinking about delivery and performance as you do about content.
13. Keep the focus on what you want rather than on what you don't want.

13 Ways to Destroy a Presentation

1. Be unprepared.
2. Relate to your material more than your audience.
3. Apologise for yourself.
4. Repeat yourself.
5. Overload with information.
6. Tell a bawdy joke.
7. Have little variety.
8. Read your presentation.
9. Ignore time constraints.
10. Use slang or speak technical jargon.
11. Learn how the equipment works in front of the audience.
12. Make yourself so important the audience feels inadequate.
13. Direct your presentation at one or two people.