The big presentation
is just a few days away. You're expected to deliver big ideas and cover key
points. The audience could be managers, co-workers, clients, or suppliers.
Are you nervous? If you are, don't worry. Over 70% of adults fear public
speaking. But there are some simple things you can do to relieve that anxiety
and give a presentation that captures attention and influences ideas.
- Focus on concepts instead of content. No one wants to hear about budgets or statistics.
These can be shared through a handout or by email. People want to hear
ideas and stories that capture their attention and lead to a conclusion.
Which for you is a good thing as it's easier to tell a story than to
memorize data. When designing your presentation, continuously ask
yourself "what's the point". Then create content that helps
you get to it.
- Have a conversation. Many speakers go into auto pilot, sounding like a
pre-recorded message, never changing pace or acknowledging the audience.
Instead, think of it as having a conversation with friends. If you say
something funny and people laugh, stop talking and let them. If someone
has a question, welcome it. You can then answer right away or let them
know you'll come back to it shortly.
- Be slow.
When people are nervous, they tend to speak fast. Speaking too quickly
makes the audience feel rushed. Try to talk slower than you would in a
normal conversation. It might sound weird to you on stage, but to your
audience you'll sound relaxed and confident. If you find yourself
getting flustered or feeling overwhelmed, just pause and take a deep
breath. They will not mind waiting.
- Make PowerPoint your assistant, not your boss. It's not the number of slides you have that matter.
It's what's on them. Avoid lots of text, and never ever read a slide to
the audience. A simple picture that supports your point will be much
more influential and visually interesting. Using photos instead of text
will also give you the freedom to go off script or adlib without being
out of sync with your slides.
- Lower your standards (for yourself). Everyone in the audience knows it's not a Broadway
show. They're not expecting to be entertained or for an award winning
performance. In most cases they'll be happy if they're not bored to
tears. So relax, have some fun, and know that everyone in the room wants
you to succeed.
Cheers,
Marc Gordon
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