Prepare for a Work Presentation
There comes a time at work to get out of the cubicle and up in front of others. If you've got to make a presentation, you may be dreading public speaking.
But it doesn't have to be so hard. In this article I'll give you some tips to help you speak in front of 10, 100, even 3,000 people (yes, I've done it myself!)
Speaking in front of others is not easy. Some of the best speakers leave the podium trembling and pouring with sweat. With a little preparation, you can give an informative presentation that will earn you some brownie points.
The following tips will help you prepare, while my other article will help you implement a good presentation.
And once you give that first presentation, the rest will get easier. Practice these tips and you're sure to be a superb speaker in no time!
Instructions
1. Get the details. If your boss just told you that you've got to give a presentation; fear not. Even if you're stunned at first and can't ask questions (or breathe!), give yourself time to regroup. When you're ready, get as many details as possible. Find out when and where the presentation will be. Who the audience is. How many people will be there. What technology is at your disposal. If you can have outside help. These are all great tidbits of information to make your presentation go smoothly. Knowledge is power; especially when you've got to stand up and speak in front of people.
2. Consider the audience. Knowing your audience is vital to setting up and delivering an effective presentation. Will there be a small group or a larger one? Is it possible to interact with the group, or is it a straight lecture? Once you get the details about your presentation, the rest is up to you. If I don't feel like all eyes are on me, I usually try to add some sort of interactive measure to get the group going. Turns out--they usually like to hear from others and not just you. That's just one tip to take a little of the pressure off!
3. Explore your setting. If you're like me, setting matters. This is time to try to visit the room you'll be speaking in. Get a feel for the layout and the lighting. Note things like white boards and projectors, which you can use as visual aids. Can't visit your setting? Try poking around online--maybe you can look up the facility to get familiar with it. For me, knowing my setting really puts me at ease.
4. Take into account technology. If you can use a PowerPoint presentation, why not? PowerPoint is an effective tool because it helps reiterate your talking points, takes some of the attention off of you and gives your audience a great visual point. You'll want to make sure any technology requests are put in with as much advance notice as possible.
