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COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATION

1. Preparation

oWhat is the purpose?

oWho is the audience?

oWhat key points do you want to convey?

oDo your homework and be an expert of what you are talking about

o Prepare tools and aids

oOrganize slides and talking points in a logical and easy to follow

structure

“Focus how to get your message over to the audience clearly and concisely” (Bratram, 2014).

2. Introduction

o Introduce yourself

oProvide qualifications

oWhy are you presenting on this topic?

oOutline or agenda of discussion topics

“You need to grab our audience attention at the beginning or they will soon switch off” (Bartram, 2014).

COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATION

4. Body

oExpand on what you laid out in the introduction

oProvide strong examples to support and clarify ideas“Highlight specific examples, such as business wins. This will not only demonstrate your knowledge, but also engage the audience, helping them to understand how their contribution fit into the wider picture” (Bartram, 2014).

oAnticipate questions and answer them before they are

asked

oBe conscious of time and engage with the audience

COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATION

3. Conclusion

oRepeat the important points

oProvide next steps or a call to action

oMake it clear you are done

oProvide time for questions or contact information

oThank the audience for their time and attention

COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATION

ENGAGING SPEAKERS

o Pace yourself and slow down–you are speaking faster than you

think

o Show energy but be professional by speaking at a brisk pace that is

understandable, smiling, and varying tone, pitch, and volume.

o Make eye contact with audience members.

oTry to switch targets every sentence or two to avoid staring at

notes or one person

oMove around the room, stage, or space. Don’t be a statue

oBe interactive, especially for long presentations.

NERVOUS???

o Practice and feel comfortable with what you are talking about

o Take deep a deep breath and release anxiety

o Don’t expect perfection and roll with the mistakes

o Fake it! Even if you are not comfortable, pretend like you are and your audience will never know the difference.

o Accept that its normal to be nervous and embrace it

“There are two types of speakers. Those who get nervous and those who are liars” Mark Twain

HELPFUL PRESENTATION TOOLS

o Note cards

oCue words to trigger thoughts or ideas

oOutline

oAvoid words that could trip you up

oMemorize talking points, not your entire presentation

oMonitor the audience

oDo not overload slide with to much information

oTry to keep to 6 points or less

REFERENCES

Bartram, P. (2014). 8 ways to…improve your presentation skills.

Financial Management, Feb 2014, 42-43.