Giving a presentation is something most of us absolutely dread doing, but at some point many of us will be required to do it in our working lives. Rather than actively trying to avoid the problem, why not focus your efforts on addressing these weaknesses instead? Whether it’s a room full of your closest peers or a number of clients you’ve never even spoken to before, follow this advice and you’ll have a much better chance of nailing your next presentation.
Writing Your Speech
Just like a good story, a successful speech should have a clear beginning, middle, and an end. Not only will this help your audience follow your train of thought, but adhering to this kind of structure will also keep you on track and prevent you from rambling into uncharted territory. Try to focus as much as you can on clarity. On the subject of his essay writing, George Orwell once said, “If it is possible to cut a word out, I always cut it out.”
The most important parts of your speech are your opening and closing segments. As you take to the floor, you want to open with a small introduction about yourself. Not only does this establish your credibility in the field, but it’s also an opportunity to humanise yourself and create a less formal atmosphere. Next, use your opening to define a compelling problem and your closing to reiterate your solution.
Improving Your Delivery
Of course, even the best written speech will be for nothing if you don’t have the speaking skills to back it up. This is the part of the day that almost everyone universally worries about, so don’t think that you’re alone in this. The biggest piece of advice anyone can give you in this subject is practice. Unfortunately, practicing the very thing you’re afraid of doesn’t seem like great advice.
While paying attention to the way you speak in front of the bathroom mirror is a good start, consider taking it a step further by asking a colleague for feedback or even attending a course specialising in public speaking. Finally, remember that your body language says a lot about you. Try to use gestures to emphasise your points, but don’t become too preoccupied with how you look. If you can stay relaxed, you’ll find that these kinds of movements come naturally anyway.
Choosing the Right Venue
The choice of venue is rarely considered when preparing for a business presentation. When done right, though, it could be the defining factor in turning a good day into a truly memorable one. The most important thing to consider when selecting a meeting space is how will it make your guests feel. If they’re uncomfortable, they’ll likely be more focused on trying to remove the crick in their neck than what you’re actually saying.
Rather than stuffing everyone into the spare room in the office, why not consider using an off-premises location instead. societyM offer a range of venues in international locations, including Glasgow and London, that focus on providing innovative workspaces that promote people’s creativity. This could go a long way in ensuring your audience is in a positive frame of mind before you even step up to the podium, as well as opening them up to new ideas.