Chances are, you'll have to give a presentation or two during your career. What makes a good presentation? And more importantly, how do you give a good presentation? We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you nail your next one.
Be believable. How well do you know your topic? Whether or not you know it well, the audience should believe you are knowledgeable in what you are talking about. Study and research your topic until you feel confident enough to answer questions in what you will be presenting.
Define your key points. Good presentations have a beginning, middle, and end. Write down your key points in each section, and then fill in the rest with the topics you want to discuss. Your beginning should be captivating, and your end should briefly summarize what you discussed.
Practice makes perfect. It sounds silly, but video record yourself going over your presentation. Watch your recorded presentation and take notes on what you can improve, then record it again. Keep recording and watching it until you feel good about it.
Track your time. Time yourself to make sure you stay within your allotted time frame. Recording your presentation will help you know whether you need to add/or subtract content.
Keep the pace. A good presentation is not too fast, but not too slow. Keep a good pace when speaking, and make sure to enunciate and not mumble. Your words should be loud and clear, but also not monotone. Practicing will help you get it just right.
Make eye contact. If the list above has been practiced and ready, then having good eye contact should be a piece of cake. If you’re still having a hard time making eye contact, then try looking around clockwise. Start by looking straight ahead, then slowly move your eyes to the right and then slowly to the left and then back up top. Having a good presentation requires making eye contact throughout your presentation. Practice eye contact when recording your presentation, and watch and see how you do.
It’s all about the visuals. Have a slideshow, handouts, or a large pad of paper for your presentation. This will help keep your audience engaged and listening. If you don’t want to deal with electronics, large pads of paper are a great way to keep your audience engaged. You can write on these as you go, or have your notes already written as you flip through the large pads. University Print and Mail Services can help with any or all of these needs—we can create graphics, design and/or print handouts and posters, and we even carry large pads of paper that are perfect for any presentation.
We'd love to help you make your next presentation outstanding and memorable! Give us a call at 801-581-6171 or email us at uprint@utah.edu to talk to us about what we can do for you.
Top image by Rebrand Cities