Guest Post: Nisha Balasubramanian

Nisha is one of Chris' Summer 2010 Professional Speaking students. Here she writes about real-world presentations.

Aah! Presentations. It rings a warning bell every time you come across it. The very fact that we have to speak to a professional audience is frightening enough, let alone the stark reality that we have to make an impression as well. So, what makes a good presentation?
The 3P’s to a good presentation are:
- Prepare
- Produce
- Present

The most important key to a good presentation is to know your audience. It is imperative to design your presentation according to the taste of your audience. Know what you are speaking about and buy into the idea that you would be presenting. How else would you be able to sell it to the audience, if you are not convinced yourself? Think from the audience’s perspective. Be very sure of what you want your audience to take away from the presentation. This helps you to be well prepared and have a sense of direction for the presentation.

Once you have the directions, couple that with a title that is catchy and creates immense interest in the audience and you have a perfect recipe for a good presentation. It always helps to start with an agenda so that the audience knows what they can expect. This surely helps to give flow to your presentation as well. Follow the 6 X 6 rule, i.e., have six words per line and six lines per slide. This not only gives good clarity to your points but also prevents the audience being distracted by the slide when you talk. Present accurate and relevant facts. You don’t want to be embarrassed by the audience questioning your facts. So now that you have the contents in place, have prepared interesting power point slides, and are all set with the presentation, what next?

Most of us do the ‘prepare’ and ‘produce’ parts perfectly but fail to pay enough attention to how we present. What good is any food which doesn’t look delicious? One way to spruce up your presentation is to use technology to your advantage. Use of laser pointers and overhead projectors does add value to the presentation. Positive and minimal body movements, a clear and modulated tone, fluent speech and a likeable demeanor go a long way toward making the presentation a roaring success.

Some of the key dos and don’ts of a successful presentation are:
1. Develop the presentation around two or three main messages.
2. Keep the presentation short and simple.
3. Use short phrases instead of long, winding sentences.
4. The presentation should be consistent and cohesive.
5. Always cite the source of your data, if you are quoting it.
6. Add pictures wherever necessary and relevant. Pictures can make the presentation very comprehensible and interesting.
7. Practice in front of the mirror; it is always better to be prepared.
8. Be alert to questions during the presentation and make sure to answer them comprehensively after the presentation.
9. Have a pleasant demeanor, and more importantly, be a story teller.

And most importantly learn to RELAX!! Take deep breaths to ease out the nervousness and try to be yourself, after all you are the presentation.

Once you follow these basic fundamentals of a good presentation, I am very sure you will end up wooing your audience. All the best with your presentation!