The main purpose of any presentation is communication. It’s educating, convincing, or conveying information to one or more people. To communicate effectively, you must be simple, crisp, and interesting. People are more willing to learn and retain knowledge when the learning is supported by visualization.
Visuals can entertain, excite, and even shock your audience by the proper addition of visual images into almost any exchange of information. Appearances that may be normally considered boring can be enhanced and more enjoyable that really grabs the attention of the audience. Simple, clear, concise images, that are smartly sprinkled with attention-grabbing graphics will help support your words in a positive manner.
Visuals should be used for support your information not replace it. Concepts that are difficult to grasp can be communicated quickly and easily through the use of visuals. They allow you the freedom to communicate more complex subjects in a more efficient manner, adding support and impact to what your trying to present.
Finally, your presentation should be entertaining. Leave the audience feeling enlightened and relaxed when they leave.
Finally, your presentation should be entertaining. Leave the audience feeling enlightened and relaxed when they leave.
Key Steps in Effective Presentation
1. Know the Subject
While this may seem obvious, it is very important that you research every degree of your subject. Read and look up information about the subject with the specific purpose of writing a presentation. Your ability to present a subject with confidence, directly affects your audience's impressions and will help keep their attention.
While this may seem obvious, it is very important that you research every degree of your subject. Read and look up information about the subject with the specific purpose of writing a presentation. Your ability to present a subject with confidence, directly affects your audience's impressions and will help keep their attention.
2. Know the Audience
Researching the makeup of your audience will help you decide on what is appropriate for them or not. Knowing who you’re presenting to will also help you better understand how this information effects them and if it actually would appeal to them.
Researching the makeup of your audience will help you decide on what is appropriate for them or not. Knowing who you’re presenting to will also help you better understand how this information effects them and if it actually would appeal to them.
3. Know Your Limits
We all push our limits and willingly bite off more than we may be comfortable handle from time to time-- this is how we learn and grow. Knowing a few of your limits, however, might avert disaster, or at least embarrassment. Just because someone else can present a joke or situation to be funny doesn’t mean you can.
We all push our limits and willingly bite off more than we may be comfortable handle from time to time-- this is how we learn and grow. Knowing a few of your limits, however, might avert disaster, or at least embarrassment. Just because someone else can present a joke or situation to be funny doesn’t mean you can.
4. Develop a Theme
All presentations, regardless of their complexity, have a single purpose. Whether that purpose is to sell, educate, or to entertain always keep the purpose in mind.
All presentations, regardless of their complexity, have a single purpose. Whether that purpose is to sell, educate, or to entertain always keep the purpose in mind.
5. Have a Script
For some, simple notes on 3 x 5 file cards with key points you want to make are very helpful. Make sure not to read from them the whole time. They are just for reference and to help your presentation flow. Any presentation script, regardless of density is like any other message. It should consist of an opening, body, summary and closing.
For some, simple notes on 3 x 5 file cards with key points you want to make are very helpful. Make sure not to read from them the whole time. They are just for reference and to help your presentation flow. Any presentation script, regardless of density is like any other message. It should consist of an opening, body, summary and closing.
6. Select Proper Visual Aids
With the script developed and the audience researched, this decision should be easy. When properly planned, simple, well designed graphics add professionalism and impact to virtually any presentation.
With the script developed and the audience researched, this decision should be easy. When properly planned, simple, well designed graphics add professionalism and impact to virtually any presentation.
7. Prepare an Outline
An outline does not have to be complicated to prepare. Its main purpose is to give a general view of the presentation and communicate the important items you wish to cover. It should include your script, what you plan on saying, and the visuals that go along with it. This will help you see the flow of your presentation.
An outline does not have to be complicated to prepare. Its main purpose is to give a general view of the presentation and communicate the important items you wish to cover. It should include your script, what you plan on saying, and the visuals that go along with it. This will help you see the flow of your presentation.
8. Produce the Visuals
This should be the easiest step. After you have imagined what your visuals should be, it’s time to create them. Handouts and PowerPoint are very useful tools in displaying graphs, charts, and images. PowerPoint is sometimes the best way of showing a photograph or image to a large group of people. Handouts are best when you have graphs or something dealing with numbers that you wish your audience to keep for future reference.
This should be the easiest step. After you have imagined what your visuals should be, it’s time to create them. Handouts and PowerPoint are very useful tools in displaying graphs, charts, and images. PowerPoint is sometimes the best way of showing a photograph or image to a large group of people. Handouts are best when you have graphs or something dealing with numbers that you wish your audience to keep for future reference.
9. Rehearse!
Your final script and outline allow you to rehearse your presentation even before the visuals are completed. This assures that when your final images are prepared and ready, you will be as well.
Your final script and outline allow you to rehearse your presentation even before the visuals are completed. This assures that when your final images are prepared and ready, you will be as well.
10. The Big Day
On the day of the presentation, you should arrive early to allow yourself enough time to set up. Have extra copies of the handout material nearby and make sure that if you use PowerPoint that it is showing on the overhead properly.
Remember to speak clearly and authoritative. A little humor, if tastefully added, can help break the tension of a moment. There should be no surprises. Make sure that the audience’s questions have been addressed, and of course, thank everyone for attending.
Remember to speak clearly and authoritative. A little humor, if tastefully added, can help break the tension of a moment. There should be no surprises. Make sure that the audience’s questions have been addressed, and of course, thank everyone for attending.
Citations
"The Key Steps To An Effective Presentation" byStephen Eggleston
You need to keep to the 250-word limit and use your voice in the post if you want to keep the audience's attention, Colleen.
ReplyDeleteYou posted late and also need to credit your graphic source.
ReplyDeleteOverall I think the post was written well and used a lot of inciteful information. The picture also was great at making your post stand out. Just watch the word limit, it was a little lengthy.
ReplyDelete