Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: The Verbal Aspect
• Part 2 of 3: The visual aspect
• Part 3 of 3: Viewer Participation
• Tips
• Warnings

Regardless of the level of the material, it is the ability to interest the audience that will determine the success or failure of the presentation. Be creative in presenting your project so that the audience does not act as passive listeners. The success of a presentation almost always depends on good planning, but pay equal attention to the way ideas are expressed. Your final plan should take into account all aspects of the presentation - verbal, visual, and social. A creative idea can go to waste if you're new to performing in front of a large number of people, but with the right approach, you can get your audience interested in almost any topic.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: The Verbal Aspect

1. 1 Get rid of the anxiety before your presentation. Easier said than done, but the key to a presenter's success is being able to let go of any negative feelings before you start. Excitement is hard to beat in open combat, but it can be greatly reduced by curbing potential stressors. It is extremely important to get a good night's sleep and prepare for your presentation in advance. Use as much time as necessary to feel confident in your project.
   • A couple of minutes of meditation before a performance will also help relieve tension.
2. 2 Consider the scenario ahead of time. Every talented speaker always leaves room for improvisation, but a successful presentation almost always relies on a polished script. Imagine that your talk is an oral essay that consists of several parts.
   • You can take the script with you to the podium or keep it handy in case you veer off the track and want to get back on the beaten track.
   • Try to properly time your presentation. It is necessary to invest in the allotted framework.
3. 3 Speak slowly. A leisurely, measured pace of speech is unlikely to be your first idea when thinking about a creative presentation. Slow speech itself is devoid of a creative connotation, but it allows you to convey your inventive ideas to the audience without a hitch. They can manifest themselves in impromptu remarks and witty observations, but for this your brain must keep up with what is happening in the room. Try to slow down your normal pace of speech and it will become easier for you to control your utterances.
   • Time yourself out and read the script at your usual pace. Then turn on the timer again and try to read this text, spending a fifth more time. Pursue the goal of slowing down your speech during rehearsals so that you can better follow the right tempo in your presentation.
   • Pay special attention to this aspect if you are often worried during the performances.
4. 4 Give your presentation in a conversational style. You need to be clear about what you are talking about at the presentation, but try to voice your thoughts a little casually. Listeners do not like it when the speaker's speech looks like monotonous sight-reading. Give your audience the false impression that your speech is improvising to get them interested in the project. Conversational style is impossible without self-confidence, while confidence requires proper preparation.
   • If, in the conversation before the report, an insight came to you, then write this thought down and insert it into your script through improvisation.
   • Record yourself during regular conversations. Listen to the intonation of your voice. Use the correct intonation and change the volume of speech during the presentation.
   • Conversational style should not be confused with complete improvisation. Experienced presenters are able to convey the message using a conversational style, but still remain on topic.
5. 5 Rehearse. Rehearsals and preparation will be the foundation of a successful presentation. It is best to speak in front of a mirror and choose a tone of voice that suits the topic. In the process of rehearsals, you will come to the realization of how to correctly present your script. Fresh ideas are the pleasant aftermath of rehearsals.
   • Rehearse in different places so that you don't get used to certain conditions. You don't have to think that you will have enough time to prepare in a real room for presentations, so you should prepare for any environment.

Part 2 of 3: The visual aspect

1. 1 Use confident body language. In a personal presentation, the body is as much an instrument of expression as the voice. If the audience is interested in your visual image, they will definitely listen to your words. Like an actor, use gestures and facial expressions to express thoughts. Movements should be fluid and natural. Use the following guidelines to get the most out of your presentation:
   • gesture with your hands to emphasize important points;
   • maintain eye contact with the audience;
   • maintain correct posture. Take as much space on stage as possible.
2. 2 Clothing must match the presentation. The viewers will make the first conclusions about you already in appearance. With neat and appropriate clothing, whatever you say will be taken seriously. Also, don't forget about deodorant and hair. Take some time to tidy yourself up the morning before your performance. Being a successful speaker gives you confidence.
   • Don't try to impress viewers with your outfit. For such events, a standard dress code has been adopted. Do not deviate from the rules, otherwise you risk appearing on stage in the form of a jester.
3. 3 Use simple visuals. Most of the time, viewers only see slides for a few seconds, after which the presenter moves on to the next point in the presentation. Use simple materials so that the audience has time to consider and think about the information without being distracted by small details. All details must be communicated orally.
   • A colored pie chart allows you to conveniently show the proportions.
   • Significant liberties in presentations are unacceptable, so use colors wisely to get creative.
4. 4 Use funny pictures to keep your viewers entertained. In addition to information, listeners can wait for entertaining moments, so it is not enough just to interest them in the main topic. A funny picture will help dilute the official tone of the presentation. Not every topic allows for humorous comments (for example, in a report on genocide, they are inappropriate), but in most cases they are the ones that keep the audience from getting bored.
   • Use relevant and relevant Internet memes in your presentation in a dose-rate manner. Remember to consider the age of the intended audience.
   • If you come up with witty ideas during the preparation process, then select visual materials for them. On the Internet, you can find illustrations for almost any situation.
5. 5 Handout. This kind of content helps listeners not to lose track of the presentation. If your talk is based on lengthy text, hand out a brief or background information on key aspects of the project. Text handouts are preferred over slides.
6. 6 Don't stand still. In addition to confident body language, the presenter must be a mobile object. Walk around the stage to make it interesting for the audience to follow you.
   • Walk back and forth, but don't move too fast. A hectic pace is associated with excitement. Your steps should be confident and your posture correct.

Part 3 of 3: Viewer Participation

1. 1 Grab attention at the beginning of your presentation. Awaken viewers' interest in your project, no matter how familiar they are with the topic. Keep your introductory phrases as clear as possible. Start your presentation with an engaging statement. Tell a joke, emphasize the importance of the project, or use a poetic description of the topic to “reach out” to the audience.
   • Ask a general question that will affect everyone. For example, as you start your presentation on mortgage rates, ask, "Have any of you faced the challenge of finding comfortable and affordable housing?"
   • Tell a story to keep your audience interested, even if they are initially indifferent to the topic of your project.
2. 2 Encourage audience participation. Your audience is a living organism. Use this fact to your advantage. Listeners can become restless if they are inactive for long periods of time. You should be the center of attention most of the time, but engaging the audience is also beneficial. Let them know right away that you would be happy to hear questions and comments. Once you have your key messages, pause and ask the audience for their opinion.
   • Stop after an important statement. Provide information and find out how it was received by the audience. Some of the answers may surprise you.
3. 3 Ask security questions. This approach will give the presentation a playful form and involve everyone present. People love the feeling of friendly competition, and the need to show their knowledge will make them listen carefully to your ideas.
   • Use dedicated apps to conduct digital surveys. Apps are available today that can send multiple-choice questions to the smartphones of those in attendance and give up to 30 seconds to respond.
4. 4 Find out the audience's opinion. If you find out the opinion or attitude of those present on the topic of your presentation, then you will get the opportunity to turn your project into an open forum for discussion. A fresh look at the question from people who have not yet heard of your project will improve the quality of your presentation. This presentation of the material will become even more interesting for everyone present, including you.
5. 5 Bring some treats. Food is a fast track to the heart of the audience. Offer treats during your presentation so that the audience can relax and not regret their time. Donuts and muffins are the standard solution, but treats can be used to improve brain function. Nuts and fruits are great snacks, and a significant portion of the audience will appreciate your gesture.
   • Place a table with treats behind the last row of seats so that people can grab what they want without interfering with the presentation.
6. 6 Show your passion for the project. The main aspect of a successful presentation is the speaker's interest in the topic. Ultimately, attentive viewers always see how interesting the presenter is in the material. If you are passionate about or obsessed with a project, you can always convey your enthusiasm to the audience.

Tips

• Come to the presentation as early as possible. The sooner you are there, the more time you will have to fix problems. The fear of being late for your presentation is a surefire way to lose confidence at the most inopportune moment.

Warnings

• Don't agree to give a presentation without prior preparation. Improvisation is appropriate in small doses, but you will fail miserably with no other trump cards up your sleeve.