Poor presentation can cost businesses time, money, and opportunities. Great presentations can help you make a sale, secure investments, or land large client accounts. Learning how to make an excellent presentation can be the critical factor to achieving success.
According to Business News Daily, 1 in 25 people reported walking out on a presentation that lasted too long. Another 25% admitted to having been so uninterested in the material that they fell asleep. And 1 out of every 12 people were so unengaged by a business presentation that they spent time browsing a dating app.
So how can you improve your presentation skills?
- Research
The first step is to research the topic you will be presenting. Gather all the information needed and interpret the data. Researching ensures that you know the topic very well and you are prepared for any questions they might ask
- Organize
Organize all the information and data you gathered. Think about the different points you want to share and which examples will effectively support each point. Create an outline and present them in a way that will make sense to the audience.
- Delivery
The last step is the actual presentation. Now that you’ve done all your research and organized your thoughts, you’ll feel more confident and prepared to present. Don’t rush the presentation and focus on pronouncing each word clearly.
Tips when making a presentation:
- Minimize slide content
Include only the essential information and highlight the high impact words on your slides. By doing this, you can capture your audience’s attention and make sure they are engaged.
- Adjust your presentation to your audience
Business presentations are a great opportunity to persuade your audience and show them your point of view. A strategy that helped a lot of leaders improve their presentation is to meet and greet their audience before starting their presentation. This will help you know them better and adjust your presentation according to their needs and interests.
- Personalize
Appeal to your audience but don’t forget to personalize it. Be authentic, share personal stories or experiences, and put your emotions into it. People prefer authenticity and leaders they can relate to. When they don’t feel a connection to you and your presentation, they will immediately disengage.