So you're not a professional speaker. That's no excuse for NOT giving a professional presentation.
You have a great product or service! You've put together an awesome presentation with great content!
You really know your stuff! You're an expert! None of this matters if you don't have public speaking skills.
If you don't speak like a pro, you won't get the results you want.
1. Introduction Bring a typed introduction and ask your introducer to read it verbatim. This will give you credibility and give the audience a reason to listen to you.
2. Audience Speak in front of an audience that can benefit from your service and can hire you.
3. Opening You only have 30 seconds to grab your audience's attention otherwise you may lose them forever. Open with a story, a question, a song, etc. that is relative to your speech or at least to the audience.
4. Body Give enough information that they will remember and want more. A common mistake for many is that they give way too much information. Leave your audience feeling good not overwhelmed.
5. Closing A good movie with a bad or disappointing ending will ruin the impact of the movie. Same with your presentation. Be sure to have a strong close in order to have impact on your audience.
6. Stories Tell personal stories in order to make your points. People remember stories more than anything else. 7. Humor Make your audience smile, chuckle, or laugh. When people have fun they remember more and will stay attentive to you.
8. Attention There are many ways to keep your audience's attention. Many are mentioned in this article. The more attention you have, the more results you will get.
9. Authenticity Be yourself. When you are sincere and show the audience who you really are, you will have more of an impact.
10. Confidence So you're nervous sometimes. So what. You don't have to let others know. Act confident and you will appear and feel confident.
11. Preparation The more you're prepared, the more confidence you will have, and the better job you will do. Know your material!
12. Pausing This is a great attention getter. After saying something that you want your audience to remember, pause, be silent, and give it time to sink in. Pause instead of using ah or um. Pause when you forget what you were going to say next. It's o.k. to pause and re-collect your thoughts. 13. Vocal Variety Have your voice match what you are saying. Be expressive and show it in your voice.
14. Body Language Have your body match what you are saying. If you are telling a story about someone talking on the phone, use your hand as a fake phone and pretend you are talking into it.
15. Nervous Fidgeting Pacing back and forth, hands in your pockets, and rocking are all distractions. Be aware of your own nervous habits and stop doing them.
16. Eye Contact Look at your audience. Move your eyes from one side of the audience, to the middle to the other side in a smooth motion.
17. Time Stick to your allotted time and be prepared for your time to be cut short.
18. Connect with the audience. Find something that they can relate to you with.
19. Control You are in command of the room. Do not talk over people if others are talking among themselves.
20. Stay on Track If someone asks a question that is not relevant, tell them you will be happy to answer that question after the session. 21. Notes It's o.k. to use notes. Have them be your handouts, your flipcharts, your power point, etc.
22. Visualization Imagine yourself the way you would like to be perceived when presenting, then act that way.
23. Hand Outs Try to always have hand outs and be sure they have your contact information on them. This way you have given people a way to get in touch with you.
24. Dress Wear something that makes you feel like a million bucks and you will act and appear like a million bucks.
25. Record and/or video tape your presentations. You will learn a great deal from them.
26. Give A Ways If you have a product for sale, give a few away as prizes. This lets the audience know you've got stuff without having to give a sales pitch.
27. Listen Get your audience to open up and listen carefully. You may gather valuable information for your next presentation.
About The Author
Jacki Rose is a Professional Speaker and Training Consultant who teaches business professionals how to be more dynamic, engaging, and successful presenters.
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Communication is a complex and often difficult process for both... Read More
Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and... Read More
The CEO of a worldwide business asked me to help... Read More
Appealing to emotions is the most powerful way to transfer... Read More
MORE and more corporations in Malaysia have awoken to the... Read More
Super Preparation ?Keys to Getting a Great Start to Every... Read More
"Let it be known, no person, thing, or situation... Read More
So you're not a professional speaker. That's no excuse for... Read More
Many of us use PowerPoint to convey a message to... Read More
Communicating Bad News The Right WayIt's the rare executive who... Read More
At some point in your presentation you will be expected... Read More
If you're ready to kick your career or business up... Read More
Here, David Letterman style, are what I consider to be... Read More
It is both good planning and considerate to provide auditors... Read More
If you deliver electronic presentations using PowerPoint or other programs,... Read More
Last week my husband and I attended an awesome 4... Read More
There are five key elements that can make... Read More
The CEO of a worldwide business asked me to help... Read More
A top complaint from audience members is that many presenters... Read More
Delivering humorous speeches involves a lot more than simply having... Read More
Most people love to hide behind the lectern.. It makes... Read More
"There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be... Read More
Every day, so many tens of thousands of innocent clients... Read More
Presenters often tell me that they fear losing their train... Read More
You've spent a lot of time preparing your PowerPoint presentations... Read More
Regardless of the nature of our job or social standing,... Read More
People take it for granted that leaders have achieved some... Read More
How do you come across in your emails?As I receive... Read More
LESSON PLAN DEVELOPMENT: Lesson plans, believe it or not, are... Read More
Allowing the audience to ask questions after your presentation is... Read More
So you're going to have a booth at a trade... Read More
Where can you choose a company shirt vendor? There are... Read More
In recent years, companies have recognized the need to expand... Read More
Communication is a complex and often difficult process for both... Read More
Many experienced trainers feel that there is something lacking in... Read More
WHEN ONLY A LECTURE WILL DO: Under certain circumstances, of... Read More
Usually the emphasis on making an effective speech is what... Read More
A client recently called to say she was going to... Read More
The CEO of a worldwide business asked me to help... Read More
I had a chance to go to one of those... Read More
"I didn't have 3000 pairs of shoes. I had only... Read More
So you're not a professional speaker. That's no excuse for... Read More
Once upon a time there was a businessperson who had... Read More
1. Play "find the meeting" by changing the location and... Read More
Communication is vital for survival in an age of information... Read More
"There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be... Read More
I had been working on a logo idea for several... Read More
"I'm not an expert on this topic, but . .... Read More
If you deliver electronic presentations using PowerPoint or other programs,... Read More
How?Try a blueprint like this: people act on their own... Read More
You don't have to be on a stage to be... Read More
What would we do without our cell phones? Wow, there's... Read More
8 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills 1. Join Toastmasters.... Read More
Do you ever get frustrated with your marketing? Are you... Read More
Whenever and whatever you're pitching, dozens of factors will figure... Read More
Conventional wisdom is that the more choices customers have, the... Read More
MAKING INFORMATIVE LESSON PLANS: --The performance objectives should answer this... Read More
There is an old saying: "The first thing to do... Read More
Have you ever been slideswiped? You walk into a meeting... Read More
Last week my husband and I attended an awesome 4... Read More
As I travel around the world I always enjoy sampling... Read More
Whether you are speaking in front of a civic group... Read More
Summer is here! It's time to bring out your summer... Read More
Are poor presentations costing you business?The ability to deliver a... Read More
THE LITTLE-KNOWN SPEECHWRITING SECRETS THAT WON GEORGE W. BUSH THE... Read More
Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and... Read More
Presentation |