Making an Effective Presentation

A presentation is a report one gives to an audience. It can be a short report, a long analysis, a narrative of any length, formal, or informal. Whether oral or written, the presentation format should be clear and organized.

Simplicity, clarity and brevity are characteristic features of perfect presentation. The best presenters take the view that presenting is not formalized public speaking, it is a dynamic way of dealing with people.

If you want to be effective you are to maintain the delicate balance and proportion dealing with the three essential elements of presenting: presenter – audience – message.

Thus, you are to study how to do it.

1. Work on your image. Perceptions are sometimes more powerful than facts! First impressions influence the audience’s attitudes to you. Wear an outfit that you know and love, not something new or fussy to feel comfortable.

2. Know your audience, their background and their motives. The factor of the listener is one of the most important parameters of effective communication. The golden rule of public speaking is that you should always keep your audience in mind. The best advice which can be given by an experienced presenter is: make your language natural and comprehensive for the audience.

3. Define your objective and analyze the communication situation. This will help you decide on the vocabulary and style you use in your presentation. Lexical expressive means help you personalize your message, reveal your attitudes.

4. Being an oral form of communication, presentation is to be well structured. The traditional and generally accepted structure of a speech contains the following elements:

– introduction, in which the speaker grabs the attention of the audience, introduces the subject, his purpose and himself to the audience;

– the body of the speech, which contains a summary of the major ideas and information that supports and clarifies the ideas;

– conclusion (close), which contains a summary or a conclusion from the information presented and which helps the speaker to end his speech gracefully.

Methods of Delivery – successful delivery of the speech depends to a considerable extent on the method of presentation selected by the speaker. Four general methods of delivery may be distinguished: impromptu, manuscript, memorized and extemporaneous. The impromptu method of delivery involves speaking without any specific preparation. In the manuscript method the entire speech is read to the audience. The memorized method of delivery involves writing out the speech word for word and committing it to memory. The extemporaneous method of delivery is based upon thorough preparation, memorizing the main ideas and abbreviating the manuscript to a number of key words and phrases. There is no commitment to exact wording. This method is usually described as the most effective one. The main advantage of this method is that it allows you great flexibility.

Making the Presentation – the following practical tips can be useful: greet the audience, and tell them who you are, then tell them what you are going to tell them; keep to the time allowed; if you can, keep it short; stick to the plan for the presentation; leave time for discussion; at the end of your presentation ask if there are any questions; finally, make your closing remarks by thanking your audience.

Voice Qualities – your voice is you. Bearing it in mind the speaker should know how to master his voice qualities, change them, adjust to the occasion. It is common knowledge that your voice shows not only your character but also your mood. During the presentation the speaker sounds self-assured, concerned, personally involved, very often enthusiastic. Follow the following tips: speak clearly; don’t shout or whisper; be natural – don’t rush, or talk deliberately slowly; pause at key points; avoid jokes; to make the presentation interesting; change your delivery, but not too obviously, e.g. speed (rate), pitch of voice, volume, etc.

Body Language – keep your body relaxed and use controlled gestures and pauses. Be careful not to move around too much during your talk (as this will distract your audience). Strike up eye contact if possible.

Visual aids significantly improve the interest of a presentation. Visuals help to: focus the attention of your audience; illustrate points which are hard to visualize; reinforce your main ideas; involve and motivate the audience.