5 Ways to Polish Your Presentation Delivery
Some people get nervous in line at the grocery store, thinking about what the cashier might say to them. Some people get nervous placing a phone call to the pizza place to order delivery. Some people get nervous talking to the doctor about what is going wrong.
But even all these people give presentations at work. There are a few fool-proof guidelines we have that can help even those with nerves to make presentations a walk in the park. Seriously!
1. Create a Clear & Well-Organized Presentation Design:
A clean presentation design will add polish to your delivery and help you stay on track with your message, making it easier for the audience to follow along. Use colors, fonts, and graphical elements sparingly so that they don’t distract from your content.
Also, create a clear structure for your slides, and make sure to separate content into easily digestible chunks. If you have a hard time going from point to point, your audience will too. If you are preparing for your presentation, this is the first thing to check. Is it clean and easy to follow? If not, try making it a little more simple.
2. Practice Makes Perfect:
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect! Before your big presentation, rehearse your speech in front of a mirror or family members so that you can get used to speaking in public.
Also, make sure to practice for the length of your presentation several times so that you can get comfortable with the material and how long it takes to deliver.
3. Vary Your Tone & Intonation:
In order to keep your audience’s attention, vary your tone and intonation when speaking or delivering a presentation. This will help emphasize the important points of your presentation and keep the audience engaged, as well as help you to come across more confidently. This is one of the best things to focus on while you practice.
As you talk, practice making your tone intentional. Practice changing your tone in the slightest and see if you can hear a difference. Make sure that the tone you portray aligns with the nature of your presentation.
For example, a presentation based on the falling stock of the company would be done in a different tone than a presentation on the funniest moments in the office over the course of the year.
4. Engage Your Audience:
People are naturally drawn to stories, so make sure that you include anecdotes and examples to illustrate your point. Also, ask thought-provoking questions or invite the audience to participate in discussions. Doing so will help your audience remain engaged and remember the points you are trying to make.
5. Focus on Your Body Language:
Your body language is often a powerful communicator, even if you don’t realize it yourself! Practice using positive body language by standing tall, maintaining eye contact with your audience, and speaking clearly. This will go a long way in helping to build credibility and authority during your presentation.
These five tips will help you deliver presentations with confidence, polish, and professionalism. With practice and dedication, public speaking can be something that you look forward to instead of dreading it! You got it!!
