Presentation Articles

Few of us like to stand-up in front of an audience and deliver a presentation. It can be a daunting experience to say the least, especially if the presentation is in front of your peers.

Fortunately, there are some simple steps to make presentation delivery as painless as possible.

1. Plan
   And you thought homework finished with your university degree. There are no excuses for not planning your content. Start with a simple outline and build your presentation around it.
   
   An audience will forgive a nervous presenter, they will not however forgive someone who is trying to wing it!
   
   
2. Simple Messages
   List some simple messages you hope to communicate during your presentation. Focus on getting these messages across in your slides. One message per slide can be enough.
   
   
3. Read Aloud
   While writing your slides, read them aloud. This will help you write concisely and for speech rather than print. It is also a great way of practicing the presentation.
   
   Of course, you should read the full presentation aloud at least a couple of times before delivering it.
   
   
4. Test Timing
   We all have deadlines and commitments so going overtime in a presentation is a no-no. It gives an impression of indulgence and laziness.
   
   Test your timing and make sure you stick to it. Drop slides during the presentation if it means finishing on time.
   
   
5. Keep it Simple
   Keep the text and graphics on your slides simple. No one like to squint because a presenter has loaded his/her slides with 20 lines of text or a detailed table.
   
   Presentation slides should contained summarized information.
   
   
6. Try it out in front of a Colleague
   If your relatively new to delivering presentations, try it out on a trusted colleague, family members or friends. It's often helpful to get a second opinion on presentation content and your delivery.
   
   
7. Deliver with Confidence
   Keep your delivery relaxed and confident. I know - easier said than done if you're new to presenting.
   
   Presenters who are a little nervous tend to race through their delivery, so aim to take things slowly. Try keeping the hours leading up to your presentation as relaxed and hassle free as possible.

Finally, remember to breathe and break a leg!

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