Presentation Phobia (4): From Power Point Poison to Standing Ovation

In a previous article I presented the concept of the Three Ps of Presentations: Plan, Prepare, and Practice. (Visit www.rgilearning.com for archived articles.) In the planning stage, you must establish the circumstances around your presentation, determine your audience’s needs and interest, and organize your information. When you prepare, you need to organize your information into an order which is logical and meaningful to your audience. You also need to make speaking notes, visual aids, and handout materials.

In this article, I discuss the Practice stage. This is often awkward because you may not have an audience, but it is an essential component to becoming a successful presenter. Don’t fall into the trap of quietly reading your notes and consider that your practice. To fully understand your pace and language you have to practice and speak your words out loud. This will help you catch awkward transitions and phrases and use natural language.

Sharpen Your Platform Presence

Here are some techniques to improve your performance:

• Use your notes, but don’t read them or your slides.
• Be enthusiastic. If you present with passion, your audience will see that you enjoy your topic and that will transfer to them.
• Look at your audience; make eye contact.
• Use humour only if it fits naturally into the presentation; you don’t want to offend someone or diminish your content.
• Speak up and at a comfortable pace; not too fast or too slow.
• Vary your voice to create interest: louder, softer, faster, slower
• Pause occasionally to check your notes and to allow your audience to digest your information.
• Avoid distracting habits. You may need to ask a colleague to observe you and help identify actions that might divert the audience’s attention.

Control Your Nervousness

There are very few people who are not at least a little nervous when the time comes to speak before an audience. Some nervous tension is perfectly normal and can even help a speaker perform better. If you have quality speaking notes and have practiced using them, you will find that the familiar phrases will help relax you and give you confidence.

Here are some additional tips to help calm your nerves:

• Visit the room before you speak. Check the equipment and become comfortable with your surroundings.
• Find a quiet space to project your voice and warm it up. During your presentation, you need to talk louder than you normally do and, for some, the first few words are uncomfortable.
• Avoid looking at your notes and rehearsing just minutes before the presentation. It’s too late now and last minute preparations will only make you more nervous.
• Take a few deep breaths and roll your ankles and shoulders to help you relax any tight muscles.
• If a question arises and you don’t know the answer, don’t bluff. You can (and should) say you don’t know the answer but will follow-up on it. And then do so!
• Know that your listeners are there to learn something from you and you are the authority. If you have done your research and have prepared well, it will show.

The time and effort you invest in the planning, preparing and practicing your presentation will give you confidence. No one expects you to give a fully professional presentation at your first attempt, but your audience (and your employer) will appreciate your efforts when they see that you have prepared carefully and presented in an interesting way. Don’t be surprised when they applaud. You deserve it.

Here’s a fresh reminder of what NOT to do in presentations: www.spectrum.ieee.org/apr08/comedy

Email me at LisaM@rgilearning.com if you have questions or comments.

Lisa Moretto is a Sr. Consultant with RGI Learning. For 17 years she has helped engineers improve their oral and written communication skills. Further explore our website (www.rgilearning.com) or call (585) 461-3617 to learn about RGI’s courses.

© 2008 RGI Learning

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