![[IMAGE: Giving
a presentation]](peopl96a.gif)
1. Consider Your Audience
What is their current level of knowledge of the subject? If possible,
convey to them information they haven't heard before, or weren't aware
of.
2. Practice
At a minimum, review your notes a few times before your presentation.
If you have not done many presentations before, practice before a
knowledgeable friend who is willing to help you correct any problems,
or else tape or videotape your practice sessions and review them yourself.
3. Be Positive
If you begin the presentation with obvious attitudes that suggest
that you're shy, uncertain or uncomfortable, the audience will rapidly
agree with you and be turned off. If you maintain at least the appearance
of confidence in your own ability, you'll reassure your audience and
everyone, yourself included, will enjoy the presentation more.
4. Avoid Reading
Insofar as possible, give your presentation extemporaneously from
notes, rather than reading through pages and pages of material.
5. Get Abstractions Down to Earth
When you must present theoretical or abstract material, use specific
examples, perhaps including a few humorous anecdotes, to enliven
the presentation.
6. Use Visual Aids
When feasible, and relevant, visual aids can be a helpful addition
to your presentation. Examples could include handouts, charts, transparencies,
slides, or use of a presentation software such as Microsoft Powerpoint.
However, avoid using extensive films or recordings which might
consume over one-quarter of your time unless such aids are explicitly
requested. Your remarks, not the audio-visual aids, should be the
prime source of attention. However, selective use of aids will
increase audience attention and understanding.
7. Maintain Eye Contact
Keep as much eye contact with members of your audience as possible.
Gauge their reaction to your presentation and adjust accordingly.
If you are a shy person, one way to begin this practice is to look
slightly above the eye level of members of the audience. In
most cases, they will not notice the difference. However, there is
no real substitute for developing genuine eye contact.
8. Involve Your Audience
For large audiences, you may have to rely more on a lively presentation
and on visual aids. For smaller audiences, you may want to involve
them on a more personal level.
Some speakers in very small settings seek to learn the names of members of
the audience initially, then directly involve them through questions to
specific individuals or by making remarks during the presentation such as
"Now suppose Maria, here, was faced with the following situation. . ."
If the standard call for questions at the end of the presentation falls
flat, you may wish, depending on the exact situation, to pose one or two
questions of your own to the audience to help them summarize or apply key
points you've made.
9. Don't "Preach"
Convince your audience rather than haranguing them. Don't try to
awe your audience with big words, flowery phrases, or ego-inflating
anecdotes ("As I once told a friend of a friend of the President.
. ."). Be relaxed, conversational (unless the occasion is extremely
formal), and succinct. Above all, be yourself.
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