Presentation skills are paramount to getting the attention of your business customers or clients and building a positive image in the community. Also, when you are speaking in public, you are the “face” of the organization so making a good impression is very important.

Effective presentation will engage potential customers, develop brand awareness and provide a platform for introducing your products and services.. Being able to connect with the audience is a skill that requires time, attention and strategy.

However, public speaking is the number one fear among most adults, even above death. Why? We avoid speaking in public because of fear…fear of making a mistake, fear of forgetting our speech, and fear of looking foolish. Being able to overcome these fears and communicate information, experiences and enthusiasms may make the difference between making the “sale” or not.

How can we overcome these fears? Here are six steps to hone your presentation skills.

Tip #1: Overcome the fear.

Understand that public speaking can be an intimidating experience and acknowledge that.

Keep in mind that you will be conveying valuable information to the audience. If you are sincere, the audience will forgive any mishaps.

Tip #2:  Do your research.

Know the audience and their key issues and understand the purpose of the presentation.

Are you presenting in order to provide information on your business, sell a product or service that the audience needs; teach staff how to use the recently purchased system or just relate your experience on a recent trip?

Tip #3: Outline your presentation.

There are three major sections - introduction, main body, and conclusion. Create an opening that gets the audiences’ interest, i.e. with a story, quote, statistic. The body consists of key points or ideas. The conclusion summarizes and then asks for some action – go to your website, give you their business card, make an appointment, etc

Tip #4: Conduct a practice run.

Do this to ensure messages are clearly stated and timing is appropriate.

Leave ample time for questions and interruptions, so that you are not rushed during the actual presentation.

Tip #5:  Build rapport with the audience.

Circulate in the room and do a quick “meet and greet”, so that the audience is somewhat familiar with you. If that’s not possible, get to know at least one person in the audience.

Tip #6:  Deliver the presentation in your own style.

Get comfortable with your style and do not try to imitate others. And keep getting better. There is always something to tweak, some adjustment you can make, some small way you can improve.

Remember, Proper Preparation and Practice Prevents Poor Performance.

Leadership Matters! Do You Have It?

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