Tips for a Successful Talkquickguides

If you are invited to give a presentation, these tips will help you make it as successful as possible:

do

  • Plan/prepare
  • Know who your group are
  • Dress appropriately but be as comfortable and cool as possible, (you are likely to get warmer as you speak). It is also important to ask yourself: does my appearance match my message?
  • Get there early and check your technical equipment before you start and preferably before the audience enters the room
  • Welcome your audience
  • Set ground or house rules and ask people to turn off their mobile phones
  • Start and finish on time
  • Position yourself and your visual aids so that everybody can clearly see and hear everything that you are saying and displaying
  • Make sure there is something available for you to drink, especially if you are not used to speaking in public (otherwise you are likely to find that your voice begins to fade, or dries up completely)
  • Use the three different learning styles
  • Put your learning objectives up at the start, so everyone is clear about what you are trying to achieve by the end of the session
  • Memorise your opening sentence and rehearse it to yourself just before you begin speaking
  • Speak clearly in your normal voice, slightly projected (remember that people absorb sound and even if you could be clearly heard in an empty room, you may need to speak louder than usual when the room is full)
  • Maintain eye contact with the members of your audience
  • Be enthusiastic
  • Know your content
  • If you do need to read from notes, then use cue cards (ensuring you do not wave them around causing a distraction), maintain eye contact and use them with confidence
  • Or, place a flip chart where you can see it without turning around, or a chart on the wall that acts as a cue card to ensure you don't miss anything you need to cover
  • Divide your presentation/workshop into manageable sections
  • Have short breaks every hour
  • Avoid mannerisms that distract the audience, such as twirling a pen or pacing up and down
  • Turn off electrical equipment when you are not using it
  • Invite questions and feedback and clarify any doubtful points as you go along or if pressed for time at the end
  • Recap after the last question and answer.

don't

  • Don't be late
  • Don't go off at tangents (either yourself, or allowing the group to do so)
  • Don't isolate individuals
  • Don't use jargon or acronyms
  • Don't let one person dominate the session.

Source: runningsports - Quick Guides - How to communicate effectively