10 Subtle Ways You Can Drastically Improve Your Presentation

10 Subtle Ways You Can Drastically Improve Your Presentation

So you have a presentation coming up and you want to be sure everything runs smoothly. Great! Whether you are exceedingly nervous or confidently enthusiastic, there are always little improvements you can make to better engage your listeners. Below are a few tips and subtleties that can drastically enhance your next presentation:

Apply Vocal Inflections:Let’s start with the basics. An audience can only be as enthusiastic as the speaker appears to be. If you are droning on and on in a monotone voice, well, you’ll lose the attention of your audience in mere minutes. Energize your talk with vocal inflections and genuine emotion.

Slow Down: It’s a presentation, not a race. Nervous or bored speakers tend to speak a mile a minute which can turn off audiences struggling to understand what’s being said. Slow down and allow for natural pauses. Before moving to another topic, permit a pause to let your point sink in.

Improve Your Body Language:It is often said that 90 percent of communication is nonverbal; this includes tone and body language. Audiences can tell when a presenter is standing stiff and uncomfortable behind a podium, and fidgety speakers can often do more to distract than engage. Exude confidence with your posture, smile at your audience and move across the stage with vitality in your strides.

Meet & Greet the Attendees: A good speaker knows to take advantage of every opportunity. Try networking with your attendees before and after your talk to drum up enthusiasm about your topics or to gain feedback on your presentation.

Simplify Your Slides: If you are using slides during your presentation, be sure they contain only relevant information to your talk. Too many elements can distract audiences. Use clean design techniques to make certain the most important information pops right off the page. After all, slideshows are a wonderful tool, but a terrible master. Never read off your slides, it makes it appear as if you don’t know what your own talk is about.

Utilize Polling Software: Want to boost engagement? Take advantage of PowerPoint or Google Slides polling software. These easy-to-use tools allow for instant audience feedback on the topics you are discussing and are perfect for icebreakers, quiz questions or surveys. Some services even allow for listeners to ask open-ended questions during the talk without disrupting the presentation.

Follow Along with Handouts: Some audience members have a hard time following along without something in their hands. Consider providing handouts and scratch paper for people who need something a little more tactile. Not only will this allow for notetaking, but studies show that doodling improves memory and focus.

Nix the Notecards:Admittedly, notecards can be a useful aid for novice speakers but they can also be a crutch. What happens if you lose your cards or are asked an unscheduled question? Do you lose your cool? Of course not. If you want a more fluid presentation, think about eliminating your notes in favor of more practice and preparation.

Arrive Early: While it is not always possible, it is preferable to arrive early to tour the space and ensure everything is in working order before starting your presentation. Nothing deflates enthusiasm more than a speaker with a malfunctioning speaker system or watching you fumble around with an unfamiliar slide remote.

Include a Call to Action: Don’t forget to include something actionable at the end of your presentation. This could be a call to your audience to connect with you after the show or to track their productivity in the coming months. Just think of something relevant to add to your talk.

We hope you have found these tips helpful, but keep in mind that there is no precise formula for a perfect presentation. Try experimenting with different tools and techniques to see what vibes best with your audience. Good luck!