{"id":4768,"date":"2023-02-21T07:13:43","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T07:13:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.alison.com\/?p=4768"},"modified":"2023-06-19T13:54:55","modified_gmt":"2023-06-19T12:54:55","slug":"the-art-of-presentations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/the-art-of-presentations","title":{"rendered":"The Art of Presentations"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are world-renowned speakers who can orate with confidence, entrance an audience, and speak with the natural ease that makes it seem like they were born to present. Then there are good speakers whose voices can hold your attention and will get a standing ovation. And there are those who crumble at the very thought of having to stand in front of an audience and present. Wherever you find yourself on the presentation spectrum, there are small but effective things you can do to ace your presentation. We\u2019re looking at the art of presentations and giving you tips to set you up for your best presentation.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a presentation?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A presentation is defined as a type of communication where a speaker conveys information to an audience. With presentations, you explain a topic, idea, report, system, process, forecast, or similar communications to a group of people. Presentations can be short introductions, speeches, or a lecture to a class, <\/span>webinars<\/span><\/a>, or now famously, <\/span>TED Talks<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not every position requires you to give presentations but being able to give presentations remains a <\/span>valuable skill<\/span><\/a> to develop.<\/span><\/p>\n

9 tips for giving a good presentation<\/b><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>quality of your presentation<\/span><\/a> is largely impacted and related to your level of preparation. Here are eight valuable tips to use when preparing for and giving a presentation:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Start strong.<\/strong> A great opening line will capture your audience\u2019s attention. Craft a strong beginning. Add relevant stories, inspirational quotes, concepts, and examples to give life to your presentation. And close off your presentation on a high note that will leave your listeners wanting more.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Prepare. Plan. Practice.<\/strong> Give yourself ample time to prepare your presentation. A last-minute job will look like it was done haphazardly and leaves a bad impression on your audience. Plan your content. What will you speak about? What structure will your presentation follow? What message are you trying to relay to your audience? If speaking in front of an audience makes you nervous, take time to practice in front of a mirror, with a friend, or with a colleague.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Have visuals<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> Not all presentations need visual aids but if you do have them, they must be simple, impactful, and purposeful. Visuals add and complement your oral presentation and should not replace it.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Don\u2019t rely on technology.<\/strong> We all know that technology sometimes fails us at the most inopportune times. Test the equipment beforehand if possible and have printed backup documents to share with the audience. While having <\/span>slides and videos<\/span><\/a> are great, know your content well enough that you can continue if the lights don\u2019t come on for whatever reason.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Know your audience.<\/strong> Whom you are speaking to matters as much as what you will be saying to them. Does your audience have any background on the topic you\u2019re presenting? Too much information will be boring and frustrating. Not enough detail will leave them feeling lost.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Use your body.<\/strong> A big part of any presentation is the verbal content and the visual aids that accompany it. Another big, yet often ignored part is your non-verbal communication. This relates to your body language, facial expressions, and eye contact.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n