How to turn your presentation from a snoozefest to an encore-worthy performance

By Charlotte McBride, Owner and Designer

Presenting isn't easy. Around 75% of the general population has a fear of it and yet most of us are required to do it at some point in our lives and for some of us, it's a regular thing we do as part of our jobs.

So how do we make it suck less? How do we make it more successful?

How do we get better at presenting?

1: It’s not about you, it's about the audience

A crucial mistake nearly all presenters make is not making their presentation tailored to who they're talking to. Audiences can be similar but they are far from the same and you do everyone a favor when you cater to that. Talking to execs? You can cut the jargon and get to the meat. They want to know decisions and outcomes, less about the nitty gritty.

Talking to a manager? Focus on logistics and man-power, things that impact their job.

Whoever your audience is, focus on them. Focus on their needs and what they need to take away from your presentation for it to be a success.

2: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)

9/10, people overcomplicate things and never more than a presentation. Stuff doesn't need to complicated, it needs to be simple enough that your message is clear and understood. Simple doesn't mean that it can't be complex but it does mean getting it as simple as it can be. Simplicity = clarity and clarity is a presenters best friend.

3: Practice, practice, practice

The amount of speakers I encounter who don't feel the need to practice is staggering. Some people feel that they can wing it, that they'll feel it out on stage.

Spoiler alert: you can't. At least, not at first.

See, the people who do ad lib or are comfortable on-stage, it's because they've practiced. They know their material front, back, and sideways and are comfortable with everything they know they're going to say which gives them the freedom to take some liberties on stage.

To the rest of us, it looks effortless. But it isn't and you're doing nobody any favors, least of all yourself, when you waltz out on stage having only barely just looked at your content and script.

Respect your audience, respect yourself, and practice.

Presenting doesn't have to be hard and these three tips will make you go from good to great. Good luck out there!

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