W Friend or Foe Using slides can create extra pressure
for you. If your time is cut at short notice, your slideshow will restrict your flexibility. Technology can be uncooperative. If you need to use slides for important flow charts or graphs, use as few slides as possible. Presenters who use slide shows often fail to rehearse for two reasons.
Firstly, they run out of time to
rehearse, but secondly, they feel comforted by the fact that they can read off their slides. This
8.
If you find public speaking or presenting rather intimidating, you’re not alone. Not surprisingly, most people feel the same as you do, so says Author and Certified Speaking Professional Paul du Toit
When you find yourself in front of an audience you’ll likely experience the pressure of audience expectation. But when you sit around a table talking to friends or family you are in a natural environment and tend to speak with expression and ease. The hallmark of a good speaker is to duplicate this natural speaking style to the platform.
However, sometimes when we seek to do
well, we inadvertently complicate things for ourselves.
The most common trap is the use of technology which you may not have yet mastered. If you don’t really understand how to use visuals effectively, you’re usually better off without them. The argument often becomes “Well, how will I remember what I’m going to say?” Well, you shouldn’t be reading off the screen for starters, because you’re reducing eye contact with your audience. So, let’s start from the beginning. Speaking
well is relatively easy to achieve, but you need to follow some basic guideline. We usually get asked to speak on a topic with which we are familiar.; so it’s not the topic knowledge that is the problem, it’s usually just the order, flow and timing. So why not map out your order on paper? Once you have it all sorted with a logical
introduction, body and conclusion, transfer your notes on to 76mm x 127mm index cards (available in packs of 100) that can be used for rehearsal. If you decide to use them on stage, they will look neat and professional.
is a false sense of security and leads to a poor presentation with minimal audience rapport being achieved.
Whether or not you are using slides, you need to rehearse your presentation flow two or three times. A few practice runs, more than any other factor, will ease the pressure off you on the day. No footballer would start a game without having practised and being match-fit. The same applies to presenting. Your preparation must include time to rehearse more than once so that you are familiar with your presentation flow. Your most valuable presentation tools are
your voice and the eye contact you make with your audience. Speak up, be enthusiastic, don’t rush and put a smile on your face! Do all this while making eye contact with the various sections of your audience - both sides, middle, front and back. If you are speaking to just a few individuals, you can make individual eye contact. “Follow these basic guidelines and your audience will like you and find you to be a credible source of information.”
Paul du Toit is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), he is the Author of “You Can Present with Confidence” and
speaks on Sales, Service and inSpiration, For a treasure trove of presentation tips, visit Paul’s blog at http://blog.
presentationskills.co.za. Mail:
pdt@congruence.co.za
9 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Essential Tips to Great Speaking
Public Slow down. If you rush through your
presentation, no one will remember what you say. Speak clearly and use pauses in between sentences.
Don’t shout. No one likes being shouted
at. You need to project so that everyone can hear you clearly. If you have a large venue or a big audience, use a good microphone.
Be enthusiastic. People are more likely to
be convinced by what you say if you look as if you believe yourself! Good energy will also assist with your projection. Self doubt and presenting are poor bed fellows.
Don’t waffle. By all means elaborate on a
point, but once people have “got it”, time to move on to your next point.
Be careful of interrupting yourself and
going off track. That’s the easiest way to lose your flow and get lost. Stick to your point until you’ve made it.
6 Avoid lecterns. These reduce your power .
by creating a barrier between you and your audience.
7. Use gestures. We use them very
effectively to communicate in real life, why not when we present? It is a good idea to avoid repetitive gestures, as they become meaningless.
If you are going to move around, do so purposefully and decisively.
Nothing
shows nervousness more than a fidgeting, shuffling speaker.
9.
Paul’s book is now available in hard cover at all good RSA book stores or visit
www.congruence.co.za
Leave handouts for afterwards. That way
they’ll look at you during the presentation. Better still, give them a url to download your presentation afterward.
careersuccess • issue 2 25
Career matters Feature
career matters
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36