by Gilda Bonanno LLC www.gildabonanno.com
Ever
feel like you're presenting on "auto-pilot"? Or like you've gotten to
the point where you present okay, but still feel like you could do better?
Here
are four suggestions for taking your presentations from okay to outstanding, so
you can really connect with the audience and convey confidence as you
communicate your message.
Rethink Your Content
Don't
overwhelm your audience with information and tell them everything you know
about the topic. Focus on the few points
that they need to know and keep the details as backup material to answer
questions or to hand out later as a supplement.
Also,
include personal stories that are relevant to the message and the
audience. For example, if you're talking
to new project managers, share a story of how you learned from the mistakes you
made on your first project, when you ignored the growing gap between the
planned and actual budgets.
Rethink Your Slides
Before
you automatically open up PowerPoint and start creating slides, think about
whether you even need them. How will
they add to your presentation? If you truly believe they will be helpful in
your presentation (or if they are – unfortunately - required by organizational
culture), then rethink your content and formatting.
Move
beyond long sentences and cheesy clip art, and instead include high-quality
photos that you've found online or taken yourself. For example, in a presentation about
conveying leadership presence, I included a photo of a peacock that I had taken
at a zoo – with the words, "Be confident (not cocky)" in 40-point,
bold font.
Rethink Your Presence
& Your Non-Verbals
Do
you convey confidence, knowledge, sincerity and energy? Having a strong and
confident (but not cocky) presence will make it easier for the audience to view
you as an authority and respect your knowledge. As one manager said to me, "When my team
presents, I want them to have all the information and also look like they know
what they're talking about."
Make
sure that your non-verbals – your eye contact, voice, gestures, movement,
posture and facial expressions – communicate the same message as your
words. For example, the audience will be
less likely to hear, understand and believe you if your voice volume is too
soft to be heard, you face the screen instead of the audience and you pace
nervously in the front of the room.
Rethink How You
Practice
When
you get less nervous about presenting, it's a good thing! However, if it means
you no longer spend any time practicing, it can prevent you from having
more impact and taking your presentation to the next level.
Practice
out loud in as close to a dress rehearsal as you can manage. For example, stand or sit based on how you
will really present. Record yourself on
audio or video and then review it or get honest feedback from someone whose
opinion you respect – and who also is a good presenter.
The
next time you have to give a presentation, follow these four suggestions so you
can take it from okay to outstanding.
You'll be amazed at what it feels like to really connect with the
audience as you communicate your message.