Effective presentation skills

As executives / professionals grow up the ladder in the organization, one of the important skills they need to develop is presentation skills. These skills broadly focuses on the ability to speak up to a group of people in a formal / informal setting. Here are six steps to making successful presentations:

(1) Plan your presentation: This is an excellent starting point & would focus on understanding the subject, the time available and the profile of the audience. The above would also make the presentation relevant & interesting. But the basic step is often ignored by the overconfident, thus leads to ineffective presentations. Remember, if you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail.

(2) Organize: It is important to structure the presentation into three main parts viz the introduction, the body and the summery. The introduction should be crisp and create an impact. The body should contain examples, illustrations, experiences as relevant to the subject. The summery could be a concluding remark, an action plan or such.

(3) The art of tackling questions: Many speakers are uncomfortable to questions as they regard it as challenge to their competence. This is infact incorrect; questions should be seen as a confirmation of the audience’s interest / participation. Further questions if handled well add tremendously to the credibility of the speaker.

(4) Use Audio visual support: Audio visual support like use of overhead projectors, TV / VCR, slides and such enhance the retension process and facilitate learning. Further they help to structure the presentation and also serve as an aid to memory. However caution should be exercised to ensure that the A.V.Equipment are not overused or misused as they may then restrict learning.

(5) Use of Humour: It is rightly said that a smile is the shortest distance between two people. It is here that the use of humour would help in making the presentation more effective. Further retension is better and thus the presentation is understood better. But caution should be exercised to ensure that humour should be meaningful and not crude / irrelevant.

(6)Do not apologise: Very often people wrongfully begin presentations with an apology. This often puts off people and is seen as a defense mechanism to avoid embarrassment. Feeling confident is the most important step in being confident. Sufficient preparation, practice, rehearsals and some A.V. support should easily make a presentation effective.

Remember to put yourself in the shoes of audience and make it your moral responsibility to give them some value addition through your presentation. Even if an apology is needed, do so only at the end and mildly only. Infact enthusiasm itself is a great catalyst for a successful presentation. Remember ‘how you speak is as important as what you say