Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Plan your presentation
• Part 2 of 3: Giving your presentation confidently
• Part 3 of 3: Putting the finishing touches
• Tips

Do you also find it so scary to speak in front of a group and do you always suffer from stage fright when you have to give a chat or give a presentation? Believe it or not, even the shyest person on the planet can learn to give a good presentation. Good speakers are often very nervous before they have to give an important speech. In order to learn to speak better in public, it is important that you learn to relax and that you believe in what you are saying. In addition, you can apply certain tricks to engage your audience in your talk. Learning to speak better does not happen overnight, but with the right attitude and the necessary patience, you will soon be able to hold the attention of your audience without any problems and ensure that your audience understands what you are doing in a fast and efficient way. means.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Plan your presentation

1. Do your research. If you want to become a really good public speaker, make sure you come across as someone who understands the subject matter, be it the sea otters mating ritual or the inexplicable popularity of the American singer Miley Cyrus. To convince your audience, it can help to have a title or diploma, or a lot of experience in the field. But to make sure your audience really believes everything you say, it is best to research the subject as extensively as possible.
   • Look on the internet, go to the library and talk to experts to learn more about the topic until you feel like you are really capable of giving a presentation on the topic and besides be able to answer without hesitation any questions your audience might ask.
   • The more research you do, the more confident you will feel while delivering your presentation. And if you are more confident you will automatically give a better presentation.
2. Make sure you know your audience. In order to give a good presentation, it is important that you know who is coming to listen to you. If you know you will be giving a presentation to your classmates, try to think about what will fascinate them and what will be of interest to them. If you are going to give a presentation to a group of experts, you can assume that they already know a lot about the subject. If you are going to give a talk about a difficult topic to a group of seventh graders, you will have to simplify the topic a bit so that they can follow what you say.
   • Of course you can never quite know exactly what the people in the audience know or don't know, but based on the age and composition of the group of people who come to listen to your presentation, you can find out a lot. If you take this into account during the preparation of your presentation, you will undoubtedly be more successful.
3. Make a good time schedule. Often you have to stick to a certain time limit when giving your presentation. This can vary from half an hour for a presentation at work to ten minutes for a presentation in class. However much time you have available, prepare your presentation so that you can easily keep it within the time available. That way you avoid talking too quickly to cover all the parts. On the other hand, your presentation should not be so short that you are left with too much "empty time" at the end.
   • If you make sure that the duration of your presentation is as close to the time limit as possible, you will feel calmer about the way you are going to present the material and thus you will give a better presentation.
4. Use technology whenever possible. Using technology tools that allow you to play music or show images during your presentation can often help convey your ideas and help you engage your audience in what you're saying. But beware: if you use too much technology, you may achieve the opposite. That effect has been referred to as "Death from PowerPoint," and for good reason. So if you do decide to make use of technology, think carefully about whether those tools will indeed help engage your audience in your presentation and help you deliver a better presentation, and if they aren't the focus of your story. distract.
   • It can be very useful to use technology to aid in your presentation, but some people feel insecure and less professional when they depend on a device for part of the work. It's very personal. If you think that a few graphs, charts, or a list of important points with bullets or other bullets will help you convey your ideas, then make the most of them.
5. Make sure you have a good layout. If you have a logical and well-organized format, you will give a better presentation because you will have a clear overview of what you are going to say. Of course, you can use some creativity in preparing your presentation, but most speeches and presentations, like most written articles, are set up according to a certain standard structure. Your presentation should look something like this:
   • Introduction: During the introduction, you are supposed to arouse the interest of your audience. You briefly mention the main points that you will cover in your presentation. In other words, "You tell what you are going to tell."
   • Core: Use clear examples, facts, relevant events and data to support your ideas and arguments. The point here is that you "tell it." Reword the key points of your presentation so that your audience will remember them.
   • Finally: in this you round off your presentation by summarizing the key points of your story and giving your audience something to think about. In other words, "You tell what you have said."
6. Practice, practice, practice. A very good way to improve your presentation skills is to practice your presentation. Practice while looking in the mirror or taking a shower. Practice with your best friends or with some family members as an audience. Just don't try to literally memorize your presentation. If you do that, your presentation will sound like a memorable text, and then if something happens that you didn't expect, or someone asks a question you didn't expect, chances are you will be completely upset. Try to practice until you can talk about the subject in a relaxed manner and improvise a bit if necessary.
   • You could possibly film yourself during your presentation if you think it will improve, but that doesn't work for everyone. Some people get more nervous when they know they will be filmed or will see themselves again later, so decide for yourself whether or not it sounds like a good idea to you.

Part 2 of 3: Giving your presentation confidently

1. Make yourself comfortable. You can't give a presentation if your hands are clammy with sweat or if you stutter all the time because you're so nervous that you can't get out of your words. It is therefore best to do something relaxing a few hours before your presentation. For example, drink a cup of chamomile tea, meditate or go for a walk. If you want to unwind, you need to have your presentation ready long enough in advance. There's no way you can relax if you're still improving and practicing your talk at the last minute. When you are relaxed it is easier to make contact with your audience and that makes for a much nicer presentation.
   • Drink a glass of water just before speaking to keep your vocal cords moist. Many speakers also ensure that they have a glass or a bottle of water at hand during their presentation. That way you can take a break from time to time and take a sip of water while speaking.
   • Try to arrive early at the place where you will be giving your presentation. If you are going to give your presentation in an auditorium or other large building, it is a good idea to walk around the venue to explore the place. You can also take a seat in the stands so that you can feel what it would be like to be part of the audience.
   • If you want to relax, remember that your goal is not to deliver a flawless presentation, but to connect with your audience. Contact with your audience is much more important to you as a speaker than giving a perfect presentation. And you reach that contact much faster if you are yourself as much as possible during your presentation.
2. Look confident. Before you even say a word, make sure you appear confident to your audience. If you show that you believe in who you are and what you say, the chances are much greater that the audience will also believe in you.Therefore, make sure you stand up straight, smile broadly and make eye contact with your audience to show that you are not afraid of anything and understand the subject. Even if you are actually not that sure of yourself, it can help if you at least radiate self-confidence. This will naturally make you feel more comfortable and it is more likely that people will take you seriously and believe what you say.
   • Don't let your shoulders hang, keep your back straight and your chin in the air.
   • Keep your hands still. You can occasionally use your hands to emphasize certain things, but don't do it too often because it will make you seem nervous.
   • Laugh at yourself. Don't take yourself too seriously. If you make a little mistake, laugh about it. Your audience will probably laugh with you on their own and are less likely to feel uncomfortable.
   • Use strong, convincing words and present everything you say as fact. Instead of saying, "I think Amsterdam is a better city than Rotterdam," if you want to show with your presentation that Amsterdam is many times better as a place of residence than the more southerly Rotterdam, it is better to say, "Amsterdam surpasses Rotterdam many times as a residential city. " That way, the chances that the audience will agree with you is much higher.
3. Get off to a good start. Make sure the audience is captivated from the start. If you get the attention of your audience right away with your first words, it is much more likely that they will follow you during the rest of your presentation. Start by mentioning a shocking or relevant fact, a funny or interesting anecdote, or an inspirational quote. It doesn't matter how you start, as long as you make sure that what you say at the beginning actually introduces the rest of your presentation, and that it's not just a funny thing to make your audience laugh.
   • Whatever you do not to do is to apologize for having to give the presentation, even if it is a mandatory presentation that you have to give for work or study. If you want your audience to listen to you carefully, don't say something like "Sorry to bore you all tonight with this technical nonsense, but I just have to tell you something about it ..."
4. Speak clearly and enunciate. If you want to give a good presentation, it is extremely important that you speak clearly and articulate well. Even if you have prepared your presentation so well, if you talk too softly or too quickly, or if you keep chatting for so long that the core of your argument does not get through to your audience, people will not understand it. Do your best to speak clearly and slowly and make sure you speak loud enough so that everyone can hear you. If your facial expression matches what you say, people in the audience will be able to follow you better and you will be able to communicate with them better.
   • Stop after each sentence to emphasize the information and try not to say "hmm" and "eeh" too often during your presentation. On the other hand, you don't have to panic if it happens a few times. In fact, President Obama is known for saying "hmm" a healthy number of times during his speeches.
   • Keep it short and sweet. Cut out all the unnecessary words and focus on what really matters. You don't have to use hundreds of adjectives to make it clear what you mean. It works much better with one well-chosen adjective.
   • Try to read as much as possible to expand your knowledge and vocabulary. Doing so will make you appear more intelligent and talk more clearly.
5. Use specific details. To convey each point clearly, it is a good idea to use stories, anecdotes, statistics and facts to support your ideas. If you tell your audience that eating healthy is the secret to a happy life, but you have no evidence to show it, why would they believe you? You can be so funny and entertaining, if what you say is not based on anything, your audience will notice it anyway. For example, telling a story is an excellent way to give your speech something human and to show what you mean, without making your presentation boring or long-winded.
   • You don't need hundreds of facts and statistics, but one or two hand-picked facts or statistics can often make a big impression.
   • You can also start your presentation with a story or a statistic. That way, you involve your audience in the topic right from the start and can come back to it at the end of your presentation to wrap up.
6. Use the words "you" or "you.""In a formal, written article it is better not to use the second person, but during a presentation it is very important that you address your audience with you or you to engage your audience in what you say. What you want to achieve is that all attendees feel personally addressed. That way, all your audience will get the feeling that they really benefit from your presentation. For example, you can say, "Also you can learn to efficiently resolve a conflict in an hour in five simple steps, "instead of saying" Anyone can learn to resolve a conflict ... "In fact, you say the exact same thing, but by your audience like that often possible to address directly by you or you Saying to them will make your audience more involved in your presentation.
7. Stay human. Connect with your audience through your emotions. Nobody likes to listen to a boring speaker, so emphasize your gestures a bit and vary the tone of your speech, just like you do when talking to someone in person. Experiment with self-mockery and don't be afraid to show your mistakes as an example that others can learn from.
8. Review the main points of your presentation. Every word of your presentation should be important, of course, but your talk must contain two or three points that you really want the audience to remember. It is best to remind your audience of those points by repeating them one more time, so that you emphasize them extra well. And that doesn't necessarily have to come across as boring or monotonous. If you're telling a story or anecdote to illustrate your idea, tell your audience what your idea was, and come back to it later in your presentation, or at the very end. Show your audience that certain points you have mentioned indeed are more important than others.
   • You can also emphasize important points by slowing down when you really want your audience to remember certain words. If necessary, you can also make some hand gestures to give extra emphasis, if you find it necessary.
9. Decide in advance whether you want to reserve some time to answer any questions. By inviting your audience to ask questions, you give them an opportunity to understand the topic even better. In addition, it will make them feel even more involved with you and the presentation and they will also feel that all facets of the subject have really been covered. If you think it would be a good idea to supplement your presentation with a question round and if you think you can indeed make time for it without your entire presentation being derailed, plan the question round after the core of your presentation, but before the lock.
   • Also set a time limit for answering questions, for example 5 to 10 minutes. Tell your audience that you will spend five or ten minutes answering questions. That way, you avoid straying too far from the topic due to the sheer number of questions, causing your audience to forget what it was actually about.
   • Save the conclusion to after the question round. The last thing you want is for your strong presentation to turn into a series of questions that actually have little to do with it.
10. Provide a strong lock. Conclude your presentation in a concise and convincing way. Prevent your presentation from fading and don't stop just when you or the audience seem bored. Provide a clear conclusion that will keep your audience engaged and remind attendees once again about the most important parts of the presentation. A great way to remind your audience of the essence of your presentation is to "tell what you just said." Make a confident impression right up to the last moment, keep your chin in the air and, if necessary, thank those present for their cooperation.
    • Don't try to give the impression that you found your own presentation boring, or that you would like to disappear from the stage as quickly as possible. So don't say things like "Well, that's about it," or "This is all I have for you" - be convinced that you have given a good presentation and finish the whole thing stylishly with a little bend. .

Part 3 of 3: Putting the finishing touches

1. Ask others for comments. Of course you cannot leave the stage with a grin as soon as your presentation is over or disappear in the back of the room because you have now finished and you have the idea that it went well. You will also have just given a good presentation, of course there is always room for improvement. Try to see every presentation you give as a learning experience. And even if you have the feeling that you have not done anything at all, that is no problem. It just means that you can learn even more from your experiences. You can find out in different ways what others thought of your presentation. Below we have listed a number of good ways for you:
   • Ask a close friend or colleague to sit with the audience and objectively evaluate your presentation. He or she can take notes on how confident you appear, how clearly you speak, and how the audience reacts. To get more objective comments, you can even ask several people to do this for you.
   • Hand out a survey at the end of your presentation. Ask attendees to honestly state how you did it. Of course, being criticized is not always fun, but it is a very useful way to work on your skills.
   • You can also record yourself to later see how you looked and / or how you sounded during your presentation. It may well be that you had a certain feeling during your presentation, but that you made a completely different impression on your audience.
   • You can also film the audience. That way you can better view the reactions of the audience afterwards. You can also see which parts your audience found most interesting, and which parts they apparently found boring or confusing.
   • Check for yourself how it went. How liked you that it went? At what times did you have the most difficult times? What can you learn from this presentation to make it even better next time?
2. Try to get inspired. Watch and listen to speeches and presentations from famous speakers and decide for yourself what makes those speakers so good. For example, why is the American coach and writer Tony Robbins a good or a bad speaker? Is Steve Jobs inspiring? How does he convey that inspiration to others during his presentations? And what about famous speakers such as Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela or Winston Churchill? Watch speeches and presentations from other speakers and take notes. See what you can learn from them - and what you would do differently. It can be very inspiring to watch other speakers give a speech to a large audience. It can make you feel like you could do something like that too.
   • Always remember that even speakers who appear completely relaxed are often very nervous just before they are due to give a speech. Anyone who works hard enough for it can overcome that fear and appear relaxed and confident, even if you're nervous inside.
3. Join Toastmasters International. The international non-profit organization Toastmasters International is focused on improving the communication and leadership skills of its members and if you really want to get better at giving presentations and public speaking then you should definitely consider joining. Through Toastmasters you can meet interesting people, learn a lot about all kinds of subjects and learn how to give an interesting presentation to a larger audience. If you really want to learn to speak well in public, be it for work, study, or just because you enjoy it, joining Toastmasters International is an interesting option.
4. Take a public speaking course. You can also take a public speaking course to improve your skills in that area. It may be that your company or school offers such courses and if it does, that is of course a great way. With the help of experts, you will learn more about giving a good speech and you will have the opportunity to practice in front of a relatively small audience. Usually these types of courses are small-scale and intended to help you. So you will probably be less nervous before you have to give a presentation, because you know that everyone in the audience will get their turn at some point.
   • If you really want to get better at giving presentations, it can be a good idea to take a course in that area. That way you will undoubtedly become better at it, so that you automatically start to radiate more self-confidence.

Tips

• You don't necessarily need to be able to speak well in public to give a good presentation, but remember that the best leaders and entrepreneurs are generally good at that. Have you ever wondered how important it is to be able to speak well in public to be successful in life? Getting better at giving presentations will not automatically make you more successful in your life, but it will certainly add to your qualities as a leader and your ability to communicate and convey your ideas to others.