Presenting isn’t a skill most of us are born with — and it’s rarely something we truly learn in school. Maybe you gave a few presentations in high school or college, but chances are you didn’t seek feedback or realize how valuable this skill would become later on.
One of the most important skills I’ve gained in my career has been learning how to deliver a strong, effective presentation. Below are the tips and tricks that have made the biggest difference for me — and that can help you walk into your next presentation with confidence.
1. Know Your Audience
Before you even begin to prepare your brief, you need to know the audience. Are you presenting to upper management, a customer, peers? Know their background knowledge on your topic to help inform how much basic information should be provided in your brief or whether you can jump right into the hard stuff.
2. Define Your Message
There is nothing worse than sitting through a presentation and wondering what the briefer is trying to convey. A presentation should have a specific point and message, otherwise you will lose your audience. Ask yourself what do you want from the audience? Are you informing them? Asking them to make a decision
3. Create Visuals
A visual can truly make or break a presentation. If it’s too wordy, the audience will read the screen instead of listening to your voiceover. Inconsistent formatting will distract the audience from the content. The goal of a visual is for it to compliment your brief and summarize the key takeaways.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice
Don’t go into your presentation and think that winging it will work, especially if you are early in refining your presentation skillset. The best thing I did for myself was find a mentor who continuously delivered successful briefs. I requested some time to sit with her and practice a presentation a few days prior to the meeting. We spent about an hour reviewing and tweaking. This helped ease my nerves and I walked into my presentation feeling prepared and poised.
5. Dress For Success
This is where The Shattered Ceiling comes in. We offer a variety of high-end workwear available for rent. The perfect solution to feeling confident and empowered during your presentation without breaking the bank. Check out our suits here.
Not every presentation will be perfect — and that’s okay. Ask a trusted peer or mentor for feedback, then use it to sharpen your skills for next time. Presenting is something you’ll always be learning and refining
Good luck and Go Shatter The Glass Ceiling
Laura