Have you ever given a presentation?
If you haven’t, there is a high chance you will have to give one at some point in the future. Presentations can be part of our job, they can also be done at interviews, school, university, science fairs and more.
A lot of people feel anxious giving presentations
Standing up in front of lots of people can be scary. What if I say the wrong thing? What if it doesn’t go to plan? What if nobody is interested? These are all questions that could be running through your head when you’re thinking of presenting. But, not all presentations have to be formal, and there are steps you can take to make sure your presentation goes smoothly.
What do you think makes a good presentation?
According to Carla, there are three main areas to giving a good presentation and all of them are in your control. Ranked in order of importance, these are…
- What you say. It is important to have an interesting topic that is appropriate for the people you are talking to and the right type of message you want to get across.
- Who you are. Who you are is the most powerful presentation skill you have. Make sure you be authentic; authentic people are the ones who are most likely to be listened to, trusted and believed. Be interesting, as if you are enthusiastic about the topic you are speaking about, then you are more likely to have an interested audience. Also, it doesn’t matter if you are an introvert or an extrovert.
- How you say it. Whatever you say, make sure you say it with confidence. Confidence can come from experience, and you can make sure you get presentation experience by practising. Give your presentation to your family and friends or record yourself giving your presentation and watching it back.
