Simple Tips and Tricks to Give a Great Presentation

Giving a presentation. Some people think its scary others do it with ease. You want to belong to that last group. And it’s possible. Even if you don't fit in with them right away you are still able to give a great presentation. All you have to do is use the following tips and tricks.

Before you give a presentation, you should prepare yourself. There are various things that you should think of. What is the presentation going to be about? What do you want to tell? Which message do you want to leave the audience with? Do you want to entertain or inform? Who is your audience? How big is the space where you're going to give your presentation? It is very important to think about these questions. This way you know what you need to do and can prepare to give a great presentation.

It is very important to look well put together when you’re giving a presentation. People are visual beings so when they see you the immediately have an image of you and your presentation in mind. Even before you start your presentation. Therefore, you need to think about the message that you want to give with your presentation. And who your audience is. After you have established these two points you need to adjust your outfit to this. Do not wear clothing that is too tight, too short or too big. This doesn’t look presentable and can be a distraction. It is possible that the clothing that you will wear for your presentation is different than the clothing that you wear in your daily life. If this is the case then it is important to wear clothing that you do feel comfortable in. If you don’t feel comfortable in the clothing that you're wearing it will show and have a negative effect on your way of presenting.

An extra tip for the ladies. If you wear (high) heels make sure you are able to stand and walk in them for the whole duration of your presentation.

It's important to make eye contact with your audience during your presentation. By making eye contact on a regular basis you connect with your audience. You might find it uncomfortable to make eye contact with strangers. Especially when you’re already nervous about giving a presentation. If there is someone in the audience that you know you can start by making eye contact with them. Make sure that you don’t make it all about them though. Then during your presentation (when you feel more comfortable), you can start making eye contact with other members of your audience.

An important part of making eye contact is the duration of eye contact. When making eye contact it is important to not lock eyes for too long. A few seconds is enough. 2 to 5 seconds should be okay. If you make eye contact with someone longer than that it can be intimidating to the other. It can also make them feel uncomfortable and you’ll end up in an awkward situation. Besides it being awkward it can also distract you which will not benefit your presentation.

Make sure that you stand firm. This means standing up straight with your feet firm on the ground. If you are sitting while presenting you should sit up straight. Don't keep turning left and right as the chair might squeak which can be a distraction. Besides that, you will look less confident and professional while doing so. Make sure that you don’t fold your arms but use your hands to speak. Not too much though but just in a natural way.

Depending on the space that you're giving your presentation in you should walk around a little. If it's a small room you can get away with standing in one spot. If the room is big and you have a big audience then you should walk around a little. This way you are visible to your whole audience. Make sure that you don't walk too fast and keep walking up and down. Just like speaking with your hands it should be done in a natural way.

If you feel like you might forget what you want to say then note cards are a great solution. Note cards are small cards with catchwords on them. Make sure there are only catchwords on the note cards and not complete sentences. When there are complete sentences written on your note card you might start reading them out loud instead of giving a presentation. If you decide to use note cards make sure that you don’t play around with them while giving your presentation.

A mistake can be made at any time. If you happen to make a mistake you should not let it ruin your whole presentation. Whatever the mistake maybe don't show it to your audience. Stay calm (which can be difficult at times) breathe and improvise. And continue as nothing happened.

Remember that it's not the end of the world if you make a mistake. It's all part of the journey. And most of the times your audience will not even know that you made a mistake. If they do know you can make a joke about it or simply apologize. But whatever you do don’t panic and always continue.

Believe in yourself. Go into your presentation with the belief that you can and will give a great presentation. That this will be the best presentation that you will give. Believe that the message that you are trying to spread will be received and that your audience will enjoy your presentation.

When giving a presentation it is important to take short pauses as you speak. These short pauses are important as they allow you to think and catch your breath. They also give your audience the time to take in your words. Besides that, it is much more pleasant for your audience to listen to someone that takes their time while speaking instead of rushing through their presentation.

By using these tips and tricks you will feel more confident when giving a presentation. And remember that it's okay if the first time it doesn’t go as well if you would want to. Always try again as practice makes perfect!