Here are a few things you can keep in mind that may help you earn a sitting or standing ovation.
- Preparation is the key.
Proper preparation will ensure that your confidence levels are high, which will help defuse your fear. Concentrate on your subject – and if possible, rehearse your presentation in front of your spouse or family to get some feedback.
Your appearance is also important; be sure to wear the appropriate outfit. If the occasion is a business meeting, then be sure to wear a suit and a tie. If you’re speaking to the guests on a cruise ship, a Hawaiian shirt and shorts might be in order.
Make certain that what you wear fits and is flattering to you.
- When you sit down to prepare your presentation, be aware of your audience.
Your audience could be high school students, your sales department, or retired army personnel. What will work for one won’t be effective with another.
It’s sometimes helpful to pick out one member of your anticipated audience, either real or imagined, and tailor a presentation that will appeal to that one person.
The age of your audience is important, as is the purpose of your presentation as it applies to them. What do you want to accomplish?
- Practice makes perfect when it comes to making presentations.
You should practice as much as you can. You don’t want to lose your momentum just because you’ve forgotten what you intended to say.
It’s always best to make notes to remind yourself what the main points are. If you’re familiar with your subject matter, you can expand on the points and go back to your notes to keep you on track.
Do not write your entire speech word for word and stand up and read it. Nothing is more boring. You just might put your audience to sleep.
- Observe your audience while you are speaking.
Observe the reactions and movements of your audience. If they are fidgeting or appear uninterested in your presentation, then obviously you are not connecting with them.
When speaking to an audience, do not look at the ceiling or at the ground but sweep your eyes over your audience. Try to make each person feel that you are connecting personally with him or her.
Inject some humor into your presentation. Find an appropriate joke or poke fun at yourself. This is a good way of keeping your audience alert and happy. It will also relax them and make them feel good about you.
If they feel good about you, they will be more inclined to listen to what you have to say.
- Use technology to liven up your presentation.
With the new technology available now, you can access many tools that will keep your presentation moving visually.
By using a combination of light, video, sound, and other effects, you can shift the responsibility for keeping the listeners on their toes only with your words to what they are seeing and hearing.
Keep your speech simple and speak clearly. Your voice should be pleasant and not too loud or too high-pitched. Your pronunciation should be clear and your speech moderately paced.
- Plan an effective closing.
Don’t be abrupt, but do try to close with something that will cinch your point and that will leave your audience with something they can take with them.
If you are using visual and sound effects then you can end on a high note. If you are not using audiovisuals, summarizing what you’ve said is helpful, but if you can find a brief story or something that will call up emotions, this is often very effective. Just don’t overdo it!
Follow through on these recommendations, and you’ll have a much better chance of leaving your audience with valuable and useful information. If you do that, they will remember you for a long time.
