12 Tips for Better Presentations
It is said that the fear of public speaking is one of the most common fears. But it doesn't have to be. Whatever your job, more than likely, you'll have to make a presentation or speak in front of an audience. I've compiled a list of twelve tips that will help you wow your audience with a better presentation!
When I was a junior in high school, I joined the theater team. What I learned then has helped give me the confidence to speak in front of a group and not be paralyzed by fear. My largest audience was the Bass Concert Hall at the University of Texas, where we performed in front of three thousand people. The curtain opened, the stage was dark, and I stood up. Wearing gobs of nasty makeup and dirty, worn rags of clothing, I began our show. I was seventeen.
Since then I've seen hundreds of presentations and speeches, some good, some bad. During the last presentation I watched, I wondered, “What differentiates between a good presentation and one that bores the audience to tears?” With the goal of figuring out the answer, I observed, took notes and came up with the following list.
12 Tips for Better Presentations
1: Know your audience.
The first step in any successful interaction is to know who you're talking to. For example, you wouldn't talk to a child the same way you'd speak to an adult. If you're going to deliver a successful presentation, you must know your audience. As Michael Hyatt wrote in his book Platform, “You can't help the audience get what they want unless you understand them.” Better presentations start with knowing your audience.
2: Know your material.
This should go without saying, but you really ought to know what you're talking about before you present the topic to us. Here's a story and a tip. In my senior year of high school, I was taking an economics class at the University of North Texas. To help me study for the final, my mom offered this advice, “Know the material so well that you know what's on the next page before you turn to it.” Know your presentation well enough that you know what's coming. Do that and you're much more likely to deliver a successful presentation.
3: Know the needs of your audience.
Determine the needs of your audience beforehand, and you can speak directly to the solution. Get as much information about us as you possibly can. As an extreme example, you wouldn't present to a group of engineers about the latest advancements in cosmetics. Know your audience, talk to us, and help us solve a problem.
4: Establish common ground.
To be successful, you must connect. The quicker you can transition from “outsider” to “one of us,” the faster you'll connect with and influence your audience. Common ground can come from similar challenges, interests, or backgrounds. Without establishing common ground, you'll be talking at us instead of communicating with us.
5: Provide stories and examples.
Everyone likes a story. We like to see a character's progression, from failure to success. Using examples also helps the audience to better understand your topic. Stories and examples help you make connections and further illustrate your point.
6: People like to laugh.
I love to laugh and so does your audience. Occasionally I see a speaker who has the talent for comedy and uses it to liven up the presentation. If comedy isn't your thing, double-down on a story we can relate to and connect with. If you're not connecting with us, you're probably wasting everyone's time.
7: Use quotes and phrases.
Everyone likes a good quote. We quote movies, TV shows and historical figures. Quotes help us relate to who said them as well as remember what they said. Break your presentation down into easily remembered bullet points so we can quickly recall the relevant information.
8: Use an outline.
Outlines are like maps, they help us know where we're going and where we've been. Like stories have arcs, a presentation should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. As the old saying goes, tell your audience what you're going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you've just told them. By having an outline, we can both feel a sense of accomplishment as you progress through the presentation.
9: Use pictures.
A picture is worth a thousand words. If you can summarize a slide full of text with a picture or two, do it. Some of the best presentations I've seen have more pictures than words. Seth Godin's presentations on TED typically have no words; they're a series of pictures. If you know your material (#2), you won't need words on the screen. Pictures also help you draw us in and engage us.
10: Show us your progress.
Similar to how stories help us relate to you, examples of your progress help us to relate to your content. If you can show us how you've taken an ordinary product and made it spectacular, you give yourself some credibility. If you're presenting to us for the second time, show us how you've made progress since you were last here. Illustrate the challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and then show us what you did to become awesome!
11: Show us your vision of the future.
Every presentation you give should leave the audience wanting more. If your goal is to review a project, share what is coming next. If your intent is to inform, leave us wanting to keep up with your progress Give your audience something to look forward to down the road.
12: Provide multiple methods of contacting you.
Make it easy for us to get in touch with you. Give us your name, phone number, email address, Twitter handle, Facebook page, your website, and anywhere we can find you. If you don't want us connecting with you, you shouldn't be talking to us in the first place. Give us a way to follow-up with questions, comments, or even to have you come back and present again.
Great speeches and better presentations can be both informative and entertaining. You can connect with your audience as well as teach them. By following these twelve tips, we can start presenting with confidence, take our abilities to the next level, and make better presentations!
I guess this goes along with knowing your presentation, but practicing it in front of someone who isn’t afraid to tell you where you need improvement always seems to help me!
Honest feedback, from someone who believes in us and has our best interest in mind, is extremely helpful. When I know feedback is coming from someone I know is in my corner, it feels more constructive and the sting is often taken out.
Thank you for your comment!
I guess this goes along with knowing your presentation, but practicing it in front of someone who isn’t afraid to tell you where you need improvement always seems to help me!
Honest feedback, from someone who believes in us and has our best interest in mind, is extremely helpful. When I know feedback is coming from someone I know is in my corner, it feels more constructive and the sting is often taken out.
Thank you for your comment!