12 Presentation tips

Just out from a refresher course on presenting, and here are my tips to share:

1. Make eye contact with your clients and change it at the punctuation. (Hi, my name is .. || the objective of today’s meeting is .. || )
2. Get rid of all the ‘am’, ‘aa’, ‘uhm’, etc. Pause or take a breath instead.
3. When writing your presentation, start with the summary first. Decide what you want to get out of it, the key things you want the client to remember and work your way back.
4. Have only a handful (3-5) of key points to cover. The rest can be in the handouts.
5. Tip for the structure:
  - Tell them what you are going to tell them,
  - Tell them, (body)
  - Tell them what you told them.
6. Divide the body between your key points. Start with a few words of lead in, make your point and summarize. Your last sentence should lead into the next key point.
7. Have 2 different copies of the presentation if need be. One to present, the other to leave behind. (genius.)
8. Stand up, walk around, use the space you have.
9. Use visual aids like images, videos and charts – and explain.
10. Be mindful of your body language. Turn towards your audience at all times, don’t talk to the chart on the projector and / or the laptop in front of you.
11. Prepare: Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Also make sure you arrive early.
12. Have the right energy. The audience will feel it if you are faking it. Be passionate about your topic.

More on how you can practice 1 & 2 tomorrow.