Steps to making a successful presentation

By Nottingham Post  |  Posted: March 14, 2014

  • Right approach: Women can beat the nerves to give successful presentation
 A recent survey revealed that speaking in public was women’s third biggest fear. Here Penny Strutton, a performance and careers coach from Carlton, gives her tips on how to conquer that fear

IT might have been beaten by loved ones dying and being buried alive; but according to a recent survey, women fear public speaking and making presentations more than actually dying themselves!

The pressure people feel when filling the limelight can literally make people sick and is feared by men and women all over the globe.

Nerves can be useful in giving you the adrenaline rush to perform to your best but they need to be kept under control to achieve a successful performance.

I’ve worked with clients whose anxiety levels get out of control when a presentation or speech is looming. By introducing a few simple steps, they manage to focus, gain control and believe in their ability to talk sensibly and deliver in a professional manner.

If you’re one of these people that would rather face death than make a presentation, then follow these steps to help you prepare:

Know your audience: This helps you pitch your message appropriately. Find out what their expectations are by asking them or people that represent them. If you’re presenting at interview, find out who is on the panel, what their role is and what they will be hoping to hear from a candidate.

Prepare your content: Find out how long you have to present for and plan your content appropriately. Do not try and cover everything. Identify the main points and elaborate on them based on the time available. The structure sandwich is a great place to start: tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and tell them what you’ve told them.

Focus on delivering your content: Telling stories is a great way of engaging with your audience. Limit the amount of background information to the essential, provide examples and supporting evidence if required, and outline any actions or next steps. Ending with a summary and a powerful statement is great for being well remembered.

Practise, practise, practise: Knowing your slides and content inside out and back to front is mandatory. However, you’ll need to think about your personal delivery during your rehearsals. Make sure you project your voice and talk at a reasonable pace. It can be very easy to talk too fast or in a monotone voice.

Be aware of your body language: Thinking positively will help build your confidence. Think about how a confident person might stand and move around and try and mirror this behaviour. If you’re thinking positively, standing up straight and making eye contact, the chances of a successful presentation are high.

Manage your nerves: By consciously changing your mindset, you can start to use nervous energy to your advantage. Replace negative thoughts by focusing on the fact that you’re there to impart information to your audience. They’re interested and want to find out more and you’re the person that has been asked to deliver.

At the end of the day, the more you prepare the more successful your presentation will be. Knowing your stuff will help put you at ease and ensure you deliver an informative and animated talk.