No Presentation Skills? Read This to be a Master Presenter

We get it, delivering a presentation can be a living nightmare. But one thing you should know is that the focus will always be on the audience, even though the spotlight is on you. These are some valuable tips that will develop your presentation skills!

#1. Understand Your Audience & Their Objectives 

Ask yourself these questions: Why are they there? Do they have to be there? What are they hoping to learn/accomplish by listening to you? Answering these questions can change the way you prepare your presentation.

#2. Always Rehearse

Preparation is the key to everything. Work on the flow of your presentation and develop your own style. Remember that your fluency and style should help you deliver your presentation, and not get in the way of it.

#3. Challenge Your Attendees 

You have to challenge every attendee to commit to doing 1 thing based on what they have learned. The purpose of a successful presentation is one that causes something to happen. For example: Changing mindsets, create actions, or making decisions.

#4. Receive Feedback from Attendees

Ask each attendee to share their most important take-away from the presentation so you'll know whether or not your focus is on point. You can also gather ideas from your audience and spread them around, this way you'll turn a regular presentation into a productive one.

#5. Gain Your Attendees' Agreement

Now that you have managed to captivate your audience, as well as getting them to understand your presentation, the next step is to gain their agreeement. Consult with them as to which steps and responsibilities they can take next. This ensures your presentation has an impact on your audience.

While all of these ideas apply to group presentations, you can also apply it to small meetings with your group, network or even one-on-one meetings with your manager or staff. Remember, the key will always be the audience. This article is adapted from Randall Craig's article How to Make Impactful Presentations.