How to be a Better Presenter

If there is one thing we have to develop in order to succeed as International students, it is our presentation skills. In my previous blog post I shared about the importance of owning your accent, today I want to share with you why we need to develop our presentation skills and how we can do that.

As we move towards our professional lives we can see that knowing how to present ourselves, or present an idea is going to be a big part of our working lives. Employers are expecting professionals that can perform well, but that can also deliver their messages properly and in a conveying way. Some of the consequences of dealing with people that can’t communicate, or present well in the workplace are: lower efficiency, lack of understanding and frustration. The opposite happens when people can deliver and understand clear messages: productivity is increased, goals are more clear and relationships are improved. But not only in the workplace, in school we are constantly asked to deliver presentations and present projects. So we want to make sure we give the best presentations we can, because they can open many doors into our futures. 

Now that we know why we should invest on learning how to present better, let’s see three simple things we can do to increase our presentation skills.

1. Set up the context

When you start a presentation, people are willing to listen to you, this is the perfect moment to grab their attention and make them stay with you during the whole time you’re presenting. A good way to do this is to have a great opening line. For example; ask the audience a question that makes them participate, or share a story with them. After that it’s time to set up the context and show them the benefits of being there listening to you. Think about how this is interesting for them, why is it beneficial, why are they listening to you. Answer these questions and make it about them. This way you will grab their attention and have them engaged during the whole time you’re speaking.

2. Use your body language

Did you know that 85% of what an audience takes away is your body language, your mannerisms and your facial expression? With that said, there’s no need to explain why it is important to use our body in our favor during a speech. Things like maintaining eye-contact, improving your posture, opening your arms and moving around the room, have to be considered when delivering a presentation. Pay attention to not only the message you are delivering, but to how you are to delivering it. 

3. Practice

Last, but most important, PRACTICE! It is the best way to prepare for it. It will improve your performance “on stage” and make you feel more confident once you start to speak. You could practice in front of other people, you could record yourself, or practice in front the mirror. These are three different ways that I’ve personally used before and have really helped to feel more prepared.

Overall, HAVE FUN! Presentations are not supposed to be something we’re scared of, but an opportunity for us to show our passions and what we’re capable of.

 

Camila Angelim - M.S. candidate in Marketing

Comments

[Must see Kent Auto Repair Company]

The more time you spend preparing for presentations the better the results will be. Practice and preparation may not make your presentations perfect, but it will definitely get you noticed – in a good way!