Presentations Training:
Five Presentations Seminar Tips For Putting Together a Great Presentation

Whether it's for business or school, putting together an informative and entertaining presentation can be stressful indeed. There are few better feelings, however, than a presentation well-delivered, so here are a few tips to help you get going.

1.Know Your Subject Matter. Chances are you wouldn't be doing a presentation unless you knew a little bit about what you are going to be talking about, but you never know. In the absence of years of experience, you will have to do as much research from as many reputable sources as possible. Don't just Google and Wiki your way through. Get out there and conduct some interviews, talk to a librarian (they will be only too happy to help), and just really get to the point where you feel you know your subject inside and out. Not only will it edify your own knowledge, as well as that of your audience, you will find that it it a lot more fun and you feel much more at ease if you know your subject thoroughly.

2.Prepare some A/V Aids. If you will have a digital projector at your disposal, you should definitely look into creating a PowerPoint presentation (or something similar) to enhance your presentation. Make sure that your graphics help your story along, rather than distract from the narrative. If no projector is available, look into putting together booklets to go along with your speech. There are many different styles of booklets, so you should consult with your local print shop, or take a look around the internet flr the various options. Different binding styles can actually convey different things. Some, such a plastic coil binding, don't take much thought or effort, and if you are presenting, say, an important business proposal, or pitching your services to a new potential client, you will probably want to kick it up a notch. Wire-o binding, for instance, is a great way to add a little touch of elegance to your presentation materials.

3.Smile and Be Confident. Easier said than done, we know, but practice in this regard will eventually make perfect. If you are a presentation rookie, however, there are a few tricks to help you get over the nervousness. The first thing is to remember that you are not talking to evil beings that are out to harm you. They are just people, just like you, and they simply want to be entertained and informed. Referring back to item number one on this list, the better you know your material, the better you will come across. Also do all the normal stress-reducing tricks such as breathing deeply and visualizing a positive result. And it never hurts to open with a funny and tasteful joke. Let your personality come through, and you'll be fine.

4.Look for the Unusual. When you are preparing your material, it never hurts to try and find the facts that will get the most attention. Not to say you should veer toward the sensationalistic, but definitely make an effort to find some details that will draw your audience in, and make your presentation more personal for them. This will help make your presentation more memorable.

5.If You Flop, Don't Sweat It. We've all been through it. Perhaps you might want to take a class on public speaking, or join a local organization such as Toastmasters. Public speaking is a skill that can be learned, it just takes practice and patience.

Source: Jeff McRitchie link

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