The Effective Presenter
What do you believe are the top three or four things to remember when preparing and delivering an effective presentation?
After review of the presentation materials in collaboration with my professional experience, I believe the top three essentials for preparing and delivering an effective presentation include, but are not limited to, conducting research on your audience, preparing ahead of time for your presentation, and practicing to ensure a smooth delivery of your presentation.
In efforts of adequately preparing a presentation, it is very important to know the background of the audience that will attend your presentation. This provides you with an idea of the approach you should use when delivering the objectives of the presentation. In addition, this will also help you determine how in-depth you can get with technical terms and jargon.
Once it is determined the background of the audience attending the presentation, you can move forward with preparing your presentation. This includes, but is not limited to, researching facts and information regarding your presentation topic. Depending upon the background of your targeted audience, you can know whether to get detailed with terminology and acronyms. For instance, if I were to give a presentation on Medicare to an audience of healthcare providers, I would feel more comfortable using the acronym CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). However, if I were to give the same presentation on Medicare to an audience of students new to the medical field, I would not use the acronym CMS, but rather state Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
There is an old phase that states “Practice makes perfect†and I could not agree with that statement more. Taking the time to practice the delivery of your presentation helps to build confidence in the content and objectives you will be delivering during your presentation. In addition, rehearsing your presentation can also help to alleviate any nervousness that may be accompanied with public speaking.
1. Prepare
2. Relax
3. Smile
4. Breathe!
Knowing your central message.
Knowing your audience.
Organizing the content.
Anticipating objections.
Preparing a presentation requires they you effectively define your objectives for the presentation. Examine the purpose that you want your presentation to bring to the audience. Be explicit in defining your objectives so that the audience has a clear understanding on the solution.
Your must first be prepared, know the material, have the appropriate number of slides, and interact with the audience.
To be an effective presenter, I believe it is important to remember how it feels to be the one in the audience. The previous threads are very helpful and completely accurate in advising to be confident in your subject matter, be prepared with your visual aids, and have the ability to adapt to any situation. However; with these variables covered, the "message" can be lost if the presenter is not dynamic. I find it to be the most effective when I use my space, use flection in my voice, and encourage dialogue.
For me, it seems that I am most effective at prepping and delivering when i remember these three things:
1)Be confident, nothing seems to ruin a presentation as quickly as when I am nervous, unsure, or uneasy. The audience picks up on it and typically disregards or finds it hard to listen to my arguments since they feel I lack conviction on them.
2)Have a working thorough understanding of the material. This is pretty obvious, the more you understand about what you're presenting the more passionate and expressive you can be with it.
3)Involve the audience, ensure that they are engaged by presenting opportunities to interact with me whether through questions, or jokes, or activities or even a combination of them.
1. You have to be prepared. You have to know you subject in order to convey it.
2. The better prepared you are the more confident and relaxed you will be. That helps with "speaking" not "lecturing"
3. I think you need to be flexible and know your audience. As you read your audience, you should be able to pick up on their clues and adjust your presentation accordingly. It may be as simple as popping in a funny story to get waning attention back.
1. Use visual because most people are visual learns and it will help them remember you and your presentation
2. REHEARSE REHEARSE REHEARSE. its sad but true most people are likely to remember you when you mess up. DON'T be that person. Always come 110% prepared and ready. Make the audience more comfortable and they are more likely to pay attention.
3. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. when you know what type of group you are presenting too it makes a world of a difference. you automatically click with them because you know what they are about
Preparation is the key to a meaningful presentation.
1. Address your topic from the audience's perspective. Basically, when I'm doing a training presentation I write it out step by step, as if nobody has ever done what I'm training on before, so they have a clear step by step reference for in the future.
2. State in the opening of the presentation a brief overview of what the presentation is about and what you are demonstating, so they know what to look forward to.
3. Keep slides very simple with no more than six lines of text per slide. Also, to always use bullet points, as it looks more clean than using numbers.
4. Remember to breathe when presenting and try your best to speak in a conversational manner. This I have to work on the most, as I'm a very nervous presenter.
For me there are four things that I need to remember when it comes to delivering an effective presentation
1. Know my topic
2. Know my audience
3. Be prepared for anything
4. Be relaxed
1. Know the purpose of the presentation (is it to inform, persuade or sell?
2. Deliver the central message clearly and concisely at the beginning and at the end of the presentation.
3. Use a combination of words and visuals.
4. Include examples and details.
I also like letting the learner know how to use the information. I think it helps make the information seem more real to them.
Martin,
all of these are great questions to ask in light of preparing your presentation whether it be a class lecture or another type of presentation.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
What type of presentation will work best for the lesson? Sometimes as an instructor we are demonstrating how something works, while other times we are selling a theory. Knowing your audience, do they have any knowledge about the subject? When is the presentation, is it in the beginning of class or after lunch?
I think its important to pick a relevant topic. Know your audience and what you intend to accomplish. Prepare totally that is rehearse like you will be performing in a show on stage...and finally be real. The emotion and energy you put into the presentation will be evident to the audience. I engage my audience and will often ask them their name and have them join in the discussion. Later I may tie a concept or idea back together by reminding everyone that Joan for instance had the same idea or experience as we discussed earlier. I will shake someone's hand, ask for verbal feedback and if appropriate get them to assist like a magician would when doing a trick which requires an assistant. Sometime when presenting in my automotive lab space I will actually get one of the visitors children to actuate a remote to open a vehicle hatch...noting that the technology does not require great strength. I always acknowledge the help and ask for a round of applause....
Preparation is very important but one must always be prepared to make necessary changes in order to keep the audience engaged.
Make sure you know your subject material.
Understand your audience.
Be in the moment.
Practice & Rehearse,,,, Until it feels like saying your name,it has to flow.
