What are Presentation Skills?\u00a0 Simply put, they can be divided into three areas.\u00a0 First, how do you present yourself? Second, how do you present your business or company? Third, how do you speak when giving a presentation or a speech?<\/p>\n
How to present yourself:<\/strong><\/p>\n This concept is the most personal and difficult for people to grasp and accept.\u00a0 Let me put a scenario into place for you: You are going to an interview for a new job as an architect.\u00a0 If you turn up in jeans and a polo shirt, what are trainers or the HR and Section Leaders going to think?\u00a0 A sloppy dresser will be perceived as a sloppy worker.\u00a0 Dressing inappropriately will allow clients to view you in a negative manner. First impressions are vitally important. People will judge you and your abilities on your appearance.\u00a0 This holds true for networking events as well.\u00a0 Wondering what you should wear to these three different types of meeting? A simple a pair of trousers, a shirt, tie and jacket fit the bill nicely.\u00a0 If you are attending a conference, a high profile event or if you are a speaker at said event, it is essential for you wear a suit and a tie.<\/p>\n How you present Your Business:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How do you present your business?\u00a0 If you are \u201cSole Trader\u201d or \u201cMicro Business\u201d you are the face of it and MUST always be aware of that fact.\u00a0 What can you do to give a favourable impression if going to meetings or other business related events? Again, always look respectable and always have business cards with you.\u00a0 Be clear and concise when speaking about your business.\u00a0 Do not \u201crun down\u201d your competitors (they will hear about it).\u00a0 Always be positive about your competition, you never know when one day they might recommend you to a client as they cannot handle the work.\u00a0 Potential client\u2019s and customers want to know what you do in the first thirty seconds of your presentation.\u00a0 Practice your pitch until it is second nature to you.<\/p>\n How to speak when giving a presentation:<\/strong><\/p>\n Prepare yourself and practice what you are going to say.\u00a0 Prepare any slides, making them clear and easy to read.\u00a0 DO NOT put too much information on your audience or client. Good practice dictates a slide should have no more than six lines preferably four lines.\u00a0 Use the slide to get the main points across to the audience. Have notes to work from as memory joggers and above all know what you are talking about.\u00a0 If possible, try to include examples or \u201cstories\u201d in your presentation. This will help the audience to identify with you and your topic. . Always allow time for questions and think before you answer them.\u00a0 DO NOT say \u201cum\u201d before you speak. \u00a0Speak clearly and slowly.\u00a0 Engage with your audience to make sure you are informative without lecturing.\u00a0 It is essential that you vary the tone and pitch of your voice.\u00a0 If you do not your audience will start to \u201czone out\u201d and only listen to bits of what you are saying.<\/p>\n Be interesting, even for the most boring of subjects.\u00a0 This means thinking about what you are going to say when you prepare your talk.\u00a0 Involve the audience. Ask them questions and wait until you have heard and understood the answer.\u00a0 If you have to demonstrate something, use a member of the audience.\u00a0 It is essential that you are confident in what you are saying and make what you are saying believable. If your audience thinks you do not understand what you are saying they will not listen to you.<\/p>\n In many cases you are the expert [or the audience is lead to believe you are].Your goal is to get this across to the audience.\u00a0 Try to gauge the capabilities of your audience in the first few seconds. If you can, alter what you say to suit their ability to understand what you are saying.\u00a0 Make every effort not to \u201ctalk down\u201d to an audience because they will shut off and think of you in a bad light.\u00a0 You may want you can ask the audience for their experiences on the subject. This will allow them to become involved, even in a small way. This makes your speech or presentation unique and helps people to remember you and what you have said.<\/p>\n An audience will judge you on your appearance, your ability to get your message across and the way it was your \u201cproduct\u201d was presented to them. How often have you gone to a talk or presentation and by the time you get home have forgotten everything that was said? If you follow these three simple principles, you are less likely to be the forgotten<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2011, DPNLIVE \u2013 All Rights Reserved<\/p>\n <\/p>\n