10 Keys to Delivering a Killer Presentation

Speech giving is an unforgiving area few business men and women have honed due in part to the fact that many components make up the perfect presentation. There are several steps necessary to create any speech. To summarize, the author of the presentation must determine the reason(s) for giving the speech, define the audience, collect information, structure the information appropriately, examine and review the presentation, and lastly, deliver the final product. The information’s structure and delivery is the core of the presentation because the audience sees and hears these components. Presentation delivery is important because it affects the speaker’s credibility, validity and presence.

Eye Contact

               Make eye contact with the audienc

               Do not:

                         Scan the audience too quickly

 Look at the floor

 Gaze at the horizon

Voice

 Speak two levels higher than normal

 Not too fast, not too slow

 Use pitch and inflection, stay exciting

 Articulate and enunciate

 Emphasis

            Use purposeful pauses

 Language

 Powerful

 Clear

 Appropriate

            Audience dependent

 Stance

 Stand shoulder width apart

 Square up to the audience

 No swaying, pacing or weight shifting

 Keep arms at sides and shoulders level

 Gestures

 Use meaningful, appropriate gestures to emphasize

 Gesture in the chest/shoulder region

 Do not fidget or use distracting mannerisms i.e. playing with hair, jewelry, etc

Space and Distance

Nonverbal intimacy

            Degree of perceived physical or psychological closeness between people

                   Reduce barriers between speaker and audience

                   Stand front and center

                   No pacing or dancing

                   Take command

       Use meaningful movement to enhance transition and flow

 Time

 Less is more

 Stay short and concise

 Keep it under 20 minutes if possible

 Attire

 Dress one notch above the audience

 Notes

 Do not use any

 Address the audience extemporaneously

            Conversational tone

 Polish

 Prepare, practice, polish

 No fillers   

                          Avoid: um, err, ahh, like, okay, etc

                          They sound unprepared

When presenting, the speaker wants to be perceived as poised, dynamic, confident and enthusiastic. These traits will give the audience the perception of leadership in a speaker. If the audience perceives the presenter as their leader, they will pay more attention to what he says and be more willing to agree in the end.

References

Limon, Sean. Professional Communication. 2009