Strategies to give an effective presentation

“The best presentations are a perfect blend of information and inspiration, logic and emotion.” – Garr Reynolds

Many of us have the notion that only the ones placed in the public speaking sector require the skill of delivering competent presentations. But, having a command over the way you communicate in public is needed in various aspects of your job and everyday life. For example, a manager needing to brief his supervisor on his research analysis needs to be equipped with good communication skills to properly convey the results.

A good presentation entails grabbing the attention of your employees in whatever little time is available, and simultaneously making sure the information is conveyed clearly. Efficient presentation skills help you get your point across to your audience and connect with them on another level. It is a very vital skill to possess, be it any age, or any position in the workforce.

• Understanding your audience: Before delivering your presentation, it is a crucial step to understand who your audience will be according to which it is advisable to tailor make your content accordingly. Taking time to study your audience based on their knowledge level, experience, interests, and expectations helps you to better connect with your audience to a deeper degree and resonate with them.
• Creating engaging content: Developing content that will retain and capture the attention of your audience is very essential. Creating bland content will bore your audience and does not channel the required information, letting the presentation go in vain. Using alluring visuals such as charts, images, and small clips will gravely help in engaging the audience. Using storytelling, anecdotes or real-life examples also makes the presentation more relatable to the crowd.
• Practice!: As cliché as it sounds, it is very accurate that Practice makes a man perfect. Practicing what you will be speaking is important to build confidence and give a well-refined presentation. Practice your presentation 100 times, in front of a mirror, stressing your body language and expressions. Familiarity with your content gives command over your flow and engages your audience.
• Interacting with your audience: Interacting with the crowd is a valuable way to enhance your presentation. Enthusiastically involving your audience by asking questions or posing thought-provoking inquires, provides a sense of connection and creates a dynamic atmosphere. It also ensures that the audience does not get bored but is with you while you’re presenting.
• Taking feedback: Prepare for anticipated questions and feedback that the audience may ask. Be open to all suggestions and perspectives and respond respectfully. Take into consideration all the feedback and suggestions and work on them eventually to better yourself as a good communicator and presenter.

To conclude, delivering an efficacious presentation takes mindful planning, studying your audience, creating engaging content and strong delivery skills. These skills are quite essential to everyone in all walks of life. By delivering an effective presentation, you can captivate your listeners whilst leaving a lasting image and impression. The art of presenting is about sharing just enough to make your audience want to know more and gain the desire to do something. Some great presenters who have made a lasting impression in the minds of the audience are Steve Jobs, Barack Obama, and Sheryl Sandberg to name a few.