3 Elements of a Good Presentation
A playbook on mastering and delivering presentations in the workplace
A search on the internet showed us that the 4 most common type of phobias are –
- Fear of heights aka Acrophobia
- Fear of flying aka Aerophobia
- Fear of spiders’ aka Arachnophobia
- Fear of snakes aka Ophidiophobia
Phobias are anxiety disorders characterized by extreme fear of situations or things. It is your brain’s way of taking everyday scenarios and turning them into suspenseful horror films.
Joining this phobia list is the most dreaded “Public speaking” phobia or more simply known in the corporate world as “Presentation” phobia. A survey conducted by the presentation software company -Shufflr showed that approximately 75% of the executives have a fear of giving public presentations.
If you too experience a flutter of butterflies in your stomach, or shaky feet and sweaty palms while engaging in formal communication/presentation with a group, then consider yourself a distinguished member of the glossophobia family.
Three quarters of the adults have Glossophobia – the fear of public speaking.
Now, as a corporate employee, how will you tackle this fear and elevate your presentation game? Do you want to discover proven strategies used by successful speakers who ace presentations and win their audience. If they can then you can too.
Typically, a presentation comprises three key components –
- Verbal Communication
- Non-verbal Communication
- Visual Aids
1. Verbal Communication
In the context of presentation, verbal communication means how do you articulate your ideas and deliver them so that it has an impact on the audience.
If you are speaking to an inexperienced audience, try to cover the basics thoroughly so that they are not confused later.
And if your audience is experienced – a couple of sentences on the basics is fine before you jump into the main point.
To make your presentation stronger you must be working on these four crucial things.
Have a strategic approach
Whether you are talking about your project in front of your classmates or pitching your brand in front of the clients, you should be asking these questions to yourself.
- What do I want people to remember at the end of my presentation?
- What next step do I want them to take when done with the presentation?
- How can I gain my audience’s trust?
If you are focusing too much on one single point or slide, then the audience may get bored or may lose interest in the big picture.
Let’s imagine you are calling your new friends for a dinner party, and you want to make this event a memorable one.
Instead of focusing solely on the meal, if you plan the event for post-dinner enjoyment too by anticipating what your new friends might be interested in – like games or conversations – then you are ensuring a positive impression beyond the meal itself.
Capturing the Audience’s attention
The first few moments of you being on the stage is the time when you must capture attention and convince your audience to listen to the rest of the presentation.
For example – Movie makers expertly blend snippets of key scenes with hints of suspense in the trailers. This leaves the viewers curious and have a desire to experience the entire movie on the big screen.
Some parts of the presentation might not be too interesting – like statistics or big data. Wrap these parts in a story, as people remember stories and not stats.
Consider you are pitching a new product to the client. Instead of diving straight into features, narrate how it evolved—maybe a lightbulb moment during a team brainstorm. Storytelling turns a product pitch into a journey, which instantly helps your audience in connecting or relating to what you’re talking about.
Not sure how to begin? Just Google “surprising statistics” along with your topic. You’ll find some handy gems to jazz up your presentations. It’s like a quick shortcut to interesting insights!
Speak candidly to gain trust
To be candid means to be open and honest. Whenever you talk to your friends then you are having candid conversations.
Similarly, during the presentation talk to the audience as if they were friends. It keeps your presentation sounding authentic and spontaneous, instead of feeling scripted or rehearsed.
For beginners, it can be intimidating to speak confidently if you are not comfortable with public speaking or presentation. You can try picking a friendly face in the audience and speaking to them – then everyone will hear that same confident message.
To sound more conversational – visualize your slides instead of memorizing the points. You can try putting an image to each slide – which acts as a visual cue and helps you talk without fumbling or fussing.
If you become nervous in between, then simply remember that all you are doing is storytelling. Presentations are formal storytelling – with a short message that is reinforced with a visual slide.
Practice-Edit-Practice
Before presenting, familiarize yourself with the content. If you can’t speak confidently and conversationally, your audience will sense a lack of expertise.
When you you’re your knowledge or expertise, you are gaining audience interest and trust. Thorough preparation is the key to an engaging presentation, regardless of your audience or topic.
Knowing your material doesn’t mean memorizing or simply reading a script. Rather, understand what you want to communicate and why, including these elements:
- Information you want to cover, such as statistics.
- The flow of the material.
- The goal of the presentation.
- Any questions that your audience may ask.
Become so familiarized with your content that you could explain it without relying on technology or visual aids.
Imagine being in an elevator, just you and someone else – how would you verbally convey the information?
You should be able to explain any point of your presentation without relying on visuals- like preparing for the worst-case scenario.
This boosts confidence, erases fillers, and hones timing. Initially, practice solo without memorization.
Record yourself, analyze, and then rehearse with a live audience—perhaps a friend or family member—to fine-tune your delivery.
2. Non-verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication is expressing ourselves with our body movements – like nods, hand gestures or eyerolls etc.
It reveals how sincere and confident we are and if mastered effectively it has the power to complement our spoken words and shape the overall impression during the presentation.
According to research from Quantified, people usually make eye contact during just 30% to 60% of a conversation, but the ideal amount of eye contact to make an emotional connection is 60% to 70%.
The most important things to remember are:
- When someone’s introducing you, walk up with confidence, give them a solid handshake, and a genuine thanks. Then, scan the room with a smile, making eye contact as you chat.
- Stand and sit with a good posture and use open gestures to appear approachable.
- Never cross your arms while sitting or standing – as it is seen as being defensive or not open to ideas or criticism. No hands in your pockets too.
- Resist the temptation to use mobile phones during the presentation. If it’s an urgent call or message, inform the audience beforehand to maintain transparency and professionalism.
3. Visual Aids
Visual aids are presentation powerhouses, simplifying complex ideas for easy understanding. They guide the audience through intricate concepts, making your message more accessible and impactful.
Use short and clear graphics to highlight important points. These visual elements not only captivate the audience but help in active engagement and information retention.
You should also make sure that there is an alignment between what you are talking about and what your slides are showing.
Mix your slides, charts, and pictures thoughtfully to make a great visual experience. Blending these elements smartly reshapes the information into a digestible and memorable format.
CONCLUSION
So, next time you’re facing the “Presentation Phobia,” arm yourself with storytelling, engaging visuals, and a dash of candidness. Tame those butterflies, captivate your audience, and turn that fear into a standing ovation. Happy presenting!
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