Our presentation courses are planned to significantly improve presentation skills to allow delegates of all levels to be able to make powerful presentations. The presentation seminars that we provide are packed full of presentation tips and techniques that demonstrate strategies which will show delegates how to reduce nerves in presentations and to allow them to present confidently when presenting to clients or colleagues. Our presentation skills workshops are designed not just to show delegates how to make a simple presentation: they are designed to show delegates how to create a successful presentation also maximising the applications of PowerPoint to make great presentations. Presentation training will allow delegates to build on their presenting skills; make better presentations; enjoy making presentations and teach delegates how to present successfully. Delegates who have taken our Presentation Courses have expressed how much they enjoyed the variety in our presentation skills training and now feel confident to present in any situation.
Presentation Tips and Techniques
It is a myth that good presentations are made only by people born with immense skill and the ‘gift of the gab’. All of us can learn the secrets used by experts to become both competent and confident when speaking to either a large audience, chairing a meeting or making face to face presentations.
Here are a few simple tips and techniques which experienced presenters use to establish professionalism and credibility when communicating with clients.
Small group presentations
Audience sizes of between five and twenty are most common. You are actually ‘on show’ as the distance between you and the audience is fairly small and it is important to get them on your side straight away.
Speaking to your audience at the right ‘level’ is essential to maintain a good interest level throughout. Researching the audience and analysing their needs will enable you to include the information they will find most interesting.
Before you start to write your presentation consider its aims and objectives: “What do I want the audience to do and how do I want them to feel after I finish my presentation?” This question is the most important starting point for success. By concentrating on your audience you will then be in a position to influence them effectively.
The power of visual images is one of the most important skills a powerful presenter can learn. People learn and remember most through mental images not words.
By carefully using language which ‘paints pictures’ you can make boring and technical subjects interesting and easy to understand.
Presenting to a large audience
However daunting you may find public speaking, you can calm your nerves by using a process of ‘self-visualisation’. Prior to speaking you visualise the presentation having just finished and the audience clapping and cheering. Picture them on their feet, hear the applause and the cheering, feel the warmth of feeling they hold for you, you can almost smell the success as you shake hands with your admiring followers. This has the effect of implanting positive subconscious messages in your mind. These will counteract negative thoughts which are the main causes of ‘presentation stress’. Keep imagining your presentation going well
Essential preparation
Practise makes perfect and rehearsing your presentation is the key to a great start and a relaxed delivery. Depending on the importance of the meeting you should look at spending at least 10-15 min preparation for every minute you speak. The following is a checklist which will help to both improve your presentation preparation and calm your nerves.
Presentation checklist
- Practise where you will be presenting
- Devise your presentation yourself and make it memorable
- Rehearse until it becomes second nature and you can then concentrate on your audience
- Run the presentation through your head repeatedly
- Say it aloud whenever you find yourself alone
- Rehearse using more energy than you would on the day
- See what you look like doing it
- Practise in front of other people and seek honest feedback
Presentation Skills Training
Excellent presentation skills give you a platform to demonstrate your sales skills, leadership qualities, communication skills, influencing abilities and promotion potential. Our objective over the two days is to teach you the skills and techniques that will give you both the confidence and competence to enjoy making presentations in all situations. We will be giving action points to sharpen your image; reduce nerves; allow you to appear both confident and competent and increase your credibility in the eyes of colleagues and clients.
PowerPoint presentation skills, Advanced Presentation skills and Presentation skills are three of the courses trained by Total Success Training, a training consultancy specialising in communication training and management skills in London and throughout the UK. Other related courses include sales presentation skills, training the trainer, assertiveness skills, selling skills, negotiation skills and communication skills for managers. Click here if you need more information regarding presentation skills course information or contact Total Success who will be delighted to talk to you via e-mail.
