11 Responses

1. Tip
   Hi Lucy

   One tip I can give you is use your audience. What I mean is if you get stuck, go blank, have someone who is objectionable etc… throw it to the audience you could say ‘ that’s very interesting, what does the rest of the group feel about that’ I had one guy on a management course (day one) some years ago and after I had finished a sentence about leadership styles, he leaned back in his chair, put his arms behind his head and said I totally disagree with what you’ve just said! I asked him to tell me what his thoughts were (which were a bit odd to say the least!) and when he had finished I asked the rest of the group ‘what are your thoughts on this’ It worked a treat and I actually really got to like the guy by the end of the programme!

   hope this helps

2. tips for presenters
   Hi Lucy
   Well so many….

   My top tips include:
   1) Only talk about something for which you have passion or enthusiasm for.
   2) have a very clear goal of what success for your presentation will be like
   3) Use prompt cards. In the event of an emergency a full-blown script will not be of any help at all.
   4) Rehearse your presentation out loud. Make sure you know precisely for how long your talk will last. Stick to the allocated time
   5) To help keep your nerves under control, take a few minutes out in a quiet place before your presentation.
   6) As you stand to speak take in a deep breath. Take up your position – look at the audience, smile and start only when you are ready. (Half the battle is to look confident.)
   7) Let the audience know that you’re coming to the end of your presentation by saying something like, “So, to draw together the strings of my presentation I’d like to sum up by saying…”
   8) Be yourself – use gestures if that is natural for you
   9) Before you do the presentation rehearse
   10) It is important to practice with a rehearsal
   11) Did I mention that you need to rehearse…. again

   Top do not’s:
   1) Do not read from a script
   2) Do not expect to ‘wing it’ and have a good response
   3) Do not tell any jokes (unless you have survived open mike night at the comedy club)

   A great little book you can use as a ‘take away’ is Perfect Communications” by Andrew Leigh & Michael Maynard. Or at least it is a great resource for you.

   Mike

3. What not to do
   Hi Lucy

   One ‘not to’ I saw at a conference recently was where the projector was ceiling mounted and nearly every presenter stood so that the content of the slide was running over their face and body. They should have stood to the side (where the lecturn was placed!!)

   Totally agree with Mike’s comments on practice and rehearsal – an extra tip is to get someone to listen while you rehearse – they can judge pace, pauses etc better than you can do for yourself (or they could video/audio tape themselves).

   Another thing I like to do if I have the opportunity is to go into the room on my own and just pace out the area where I will be. It helps me get a feel for the room.

   On the day at the beginning of the presentation one last check to ensure everything is to hand, look up, smile at the audience, take a breath and then start. Only takes a couple of seconds but helps relax nerves.

   Regards

   Sue

4. an idea
   Lucy
   I recently ran a series of (free) one day training events for a Guide Dogs for the Blind “volunteer speakers” who give presentations to schools and groups.

   I produced a pre briefing pack for the day and at the event each person gave a 10 minute presentation and got individual feedback from the other delegates and myself.

   This worked extremely well because it made them all prepare, rehearse, practice and develop confidence as well as learning from each other.

   Several of the speakers were blind, working without any notes, and all had the disturbance of having dogs present.

   The time spent on presentations and feedback limits the number of delegates on the day but the quality of experience makes up for the relatively small throughput of such an event.

   Rus

5. Presentation Skills
   Hi

   Hi,

   Imagine a giant letter M is in front of you. Move your eyes along the M like a lighthouse on a continual basis.You will catch each person in turn without anyone feeling uncomfortable.SMILE

   Start with a GRABBER(hot statement,curious fact,a ?)and then as Bob Monkhouse used to say

   Tell them what you are going to say
   Say it
   Tell them you have said it AND….

   LEAVE THEM WANTING MORE!

   All good wishes

   Jennifer

6. Thanks!
   Hello
   Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who replied – there is a lot of useful information there!
   Lucy

7. Top Three Tactics for Poor Presentations

   Tactic One
   Put your trust in the Presentation Fairy – you know your stuff – so an articulate and valuable presentation will happen just as soon as you open your mouth. You don’t need to identify what message you want your audience to receive or waste time designing a presentation that really gets that message across. At all costs avoid talking to any of your audience in advance about their expectations. Do not rehearse – just busk it. Do not be put off if your audience become bored and restless.

   Tactic Two
   Do not practice getting the main points of your presentation across, without notes, in a logical order and a relaxed manner. Commit every word of your speech to memory until you can recite it in your sleep. This tactic will only let you down if your audience start to think you are a robot or if you forget a word and have to start all over again from the beginning. Do not be distracted by giggling or robot noises from the audience.

   Tactic Three
   Before you start your presentation give your audience a detailed account of your life, your professional background and experience – and anything else you think might interest them – your DIY attempts or your children’s exam success, for example. Don’t spend any time thinking about what your audience needs or wants or how you can help them to accomplish that. After all – you are the expert – and what do you know most about, if not yourself? Do not allow the fixed, polite smiles of the audience to unnerve you.

8. Advertisement
   Lucy

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   It includes virtually all of the tips below [ with the exception of the reverse psychology 😉 ], plus lots more.
   I can recommend this book with great confidence – because I wrote it

   🙂

   Be well

9. Arian Associates Ltd
   Prepare Thoroughly; Have a practice run; Stay Calm & Don’t Panic on the day – the people you are presenting to are only human after all.

10. Presentation Skills Tips
    Hello
    I think remembering your audience are only human is one of the best tips!
    When presenting to a large group it is very easy to try and take responsibility for the way that everyone is feeling and this really is an impossible mission.
    In my experience, as long as most of the audience are listening/responding/awake then you are winning!
    Thanks again to everyone who responded to my request!
    Lucy

11. Managing those nerves

    Hi Lucy

    See this really good free article on managing nerves:

    http://www.ontrackinternational.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=136&Itemid=5

    Many thanks

    Laura