Virtually all businesses rely on presentations in one form or another. They’re one of the best ways of conveying complex ideas to a group, assessing progress over time, and ensuring that everyone’s on the same page regarding the organization’s overall strategy.
Given how important this process is, if you’re going to be giving a presentation, it’s only natural to feel a little nervous – even if you’re used to giving them. From your ideas not landing to technical hiccups, it’s easy to catastrophize about things not going to plan.
As is the case with most things of this nature, organization is everything, and there are dozens of tips and tricks you can use to make sure your presentation goes off without a hitch. Today, you’ll learn about three of them. Here are three things to consider as you endevour to give impactful talks.
1. Properly Learning Your Presentation Software
The great thing about presentations is that you have fantastic software systems today to help you. Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides are both brilliant choices, but one of the most important elements for your success is that you learn these platforms inside out (or if your presentation is very soon, at least watch a few YouTube videos).
Nearly everyone knows how to add text and images to a slide, but these tools go far beyond that. Learning how to use transitions, animations, charts, and more each make a big difference to how slick your presentation feels, and they can make speaking over your points effortless.
2. Doubling Down on Supporting Materials
Beyond your notes and your digital presentation itself, there are several smaller supporting elements to think about. Handouts can be given at both the beginning and end of a presentation to solidify information, for example, and they give you something to refer to as you speak beyond the slides themselves. Presentation folders take this a step further, allowing you to organize everything to do with your talk and present it in a neat, professional package.
Guest speakers count as supporting material, too. Having someone come on for ten, or even just five minutes of your presentation to add further insight helps your audience maintain interest, and it also gives you a break.
3. Practicing the Right Way
Everyone knows they need to practice for a presentation, but how you practice is key. It’s not a case of just simply going over and over everything and hoping it’ll stick. In fact, this can fry your brain and make it more difficult to remember.
Instead, try using a voice recording to start with. Using your presentation slides, record your talk into your phone until you have it right without any major mistakes. Then, regularly listen to it back on the lead-up to the main event. This means you don’t have to exhaust yourself with repeatedly performing the presentation; give the talk in full a couple of times before the day, but prioritize audio for the majority of the build-up, using getting the recording right as the main form of practice.
Wrapping Up
The above sections don’t represent everything you need to consider for a presentation, but by following them closely, you’ll be a good chunk of the way there. Good luck! You’re going to do great.
