7 Steps To Delivering Powerful Presentations

When presenting to audiences, it is crucial to grab their attention right from the first sentence.

However, this is not an easy task. The days of people tolerating poor speakers with slides full of tedious data are long gone.

Nowadays, audiences expect to be thrilled; they demand smooth, well-designed, and natural presentations. The good news is that anyone can deliver an excellent presentation. You just need to know what to do and how to do it effectively.

With the following tips, your presentation will be powerful and memorable.

1. Watch the opening and the closing

It matters how you begin and how you end. Begin with a short and powerful statement, introduce your topic, and do something to grab attention straight away.

You could start by asking a question, such as “Raise your hand if you’ve ever experienced…” and follow your presentation from the results. This will spike interest immediately. The end to your presentation should be just as impactful, as this may be what they most remember of you.

2. Tell a story

Keep the audience’s attention by telling them a story. Explain how your message fits into the real world. Involve real people in your presentation, making it relatable and easy to visualize. Your speech may be forgotten in the next hour, but your story will have a lasting impact. Experts in coaching presentation skills highlight the power of this technique, so if you want to master it, try talking to them.

3. Move!

Move around and reach out to your audience. The stage is your space for the 20 minutes you have for the presentation, so own that space as much as you possibly can. You might be scared and terrified, but the movement will give your audience an impression of confidence and control. The movement will make the audience feel like they are conversing with you and help keep them focused.

Ask a question and point to someone for an answer. Did you ever watch Steve Jobs present? That man dominated his space. Look at the former President Bill Clinton. These two presenters realized they were the most critical aspect of the presentation.

The audience is not in control; you are. This does not mean you should pace around like a scared child, click your pen, or move in circles. Move around confidently, touch the screen, and own your space. Talk to them, not at them.

4. Pause

Don’t talk continuously all the time; give your listeners time to reflect. Bring some water to the stage and occasionally sip on it. This may help to calm your nerves and show that you are at ease, even if you can’t wait for it to end.

Time your pauses correctly; try a statement like “We are all responsible for this,” Then, take your pause and watch how eagerly your clients will wait for a solution. Do not, however, go completely mute when you see your most important client in the back; that is bad.

5. It’s okay to make mistakes

You are human, and you will make mistakes often. It is not about the error; it is about the recovery. Try to come back gracefully and even make a joke out of it. The audience isn’t going to mind if you make a mistake as long as you keep moving forward afterward. If you can laugh and forget about it, so can they.

6. Perfect the slides

There should be consistency in your slides. You might deliver the perfect speech, but return to square one if you have messy slides. Confused slides say you are confused; too much data says you don’t have a precise point to make.

The slides are an extension of you and what you are saying, so let them reflect precisely how you feel. Also, run a short video – if your slides don’t impress, your video can make up for them.

7. Believe

This might be the most crucial element in delivering a presentation. Whatever product you are selling, make sure you fully believe in it and yourself.

Presenting the problem and the solution could get your audience’s attention, but your clients need someone fully dedicated to their product, so show them you are enthusiastic. You cannot fake this part, for it will show in the way you speak, the way you move, and the way you respond to any questions.

Is there excitement in your voice? Does your face suddenly light up when you describe your business? Did the presentation of the solution give you a gust of energy? If you cannot be excited about your business, then you have no business selling it to others.

With these tips, you should be covered, and getting some presentation training to perfect your skills will go a long way to help you master the stage.