Developing Your Skills As A Presenter
Whether in person or over video, delivering an effective presentation as a spokesperson can be a nerve-wracking experience. We can all fear getting it wrong - tripping over our words, losing our audience, or blanking on a question - but there are some tried and trusted hacks to improve your skills as a presenter, and make sure your next delivery is a stress-free success.
Know Your Topic
When you feel confident in your knowledge of the topic, you know you have a comfortable foundation to present from. You’ll be prepared for any questions that come your way, and you’ll feel more confident in yourself as you take to the stage or step before the camera.
Ahead of your presentation, take time to make note of the key points you want to mention, and rehearse some concise phrases that convey the information clearly to your audience. Make an effort to memorise these phrases - having these mental hooks to fall back on in the moment will help make sure you get your point across.
Allow yourself time to pause, and let your audience digest what you’ve said. Silences are a powerful tool to a presenter - they portray an extra element of confidence in the speaker, as someone who is able to leave a silence without rushing to fill it, which conveys to your audience a greater sense of authority in your topic.
Create A Plan - And Stick To It!
Getting sidetracked or tangled up in an explanation - it happens to every speaker at some point. But having a clear, rehearsed plan can keep you on course and save confusing rambles that lose your audience (and leave you cringing).
Have your narrative planned out, with a clear introduction, points to hit, and a strong conclusion that ends on a positive - whilst wrapping up everything you’ve covered. Getting comfortable in this narrative will also mean you’re more comfortable when speaking: when you know you have already made time in your schedule to speak about everything, you can take your time in each section of your delivery.
Engage Your Audience
This can be one of the most important factors of any spokesperson’s role. Most bad presentations can be at least someway saved by being able to keep your audience on-side. Knowing how to authentically engage with your audience can turn a good presentation into a truly great one.
First thing’s first, engage with who you’re speaking to. Why are they listening to you - or why might they be convinced to listen to you? What connects them to your topic? What connects them to you? How can they interact with you as a presenter? One should always bear in mind that people buy into people over product. If you’re able to engage, you’re halfway there.
Ready, Set, Present!
These top tips are the foundation to every successful presenter. Pop these in your back pocket, along with some of our training tips, and prepare to head towards success. Remember, if you’re faced with an unseen challenge when in a presenter position, these hacks can reassure, and keep your communication smooth and effective.