8 Tips for Giving Your First Presentation before a Live Audience
There was no danger of me seeing the audience. My eyes had
glazed over from the tears welled up in them. The two spigots
that I called underarms were running like Niagara Falls.
Rivulets of water cascaded down the shirt now plastered to my
sides. In a few moments I'd have to speak. Speak? My jaw muscles
had chosen just this moment to go on strike. Nothing was going
to move anytime soon, except for my bowels which were planning a
prison break. "Is this how it is just before the firing squad
pulls their triggers?", I asked myself.
I survived.
If I can speak before an audience, then believe me, so can you.
All it takes is some knowledge of your topic - which you DO
have, don't you? A bit of technique, which you'll be getting
now. Some practical practice beforehand and you'll do just fine.
Here are eight tips for giving your first presentation before a
live audience.
Preparing the presentation
1. Outline your main topic points * There should be 10 to 15
main points * Create three to five support statements for each
main point
2. Create an audio-visual slide for each main point * Bullet
point each support statement as a short phrase * Use a picture,
graphic, photo or illustration with each main point AV slide *
Add color, audio, or a short video clip
3. Prepare a title and concluding slide which can include *
Title of presentation * Organization name * Photo or graphic *
Presenter's name and affiliation * The date
Practicing the presentation
4. Monitor your presentation time * At about one minute per
support statement there are 3 to 5 minutes per main point * 10
main points at five minutes each is 50 minutes, adding in
pauses, interruptions, questions, etc. will bring you to about
one hour * 15 main points at five minutes each is one hour
twenty five minutes
5. Do at least three complete practice run-throughs (five
practice run-throughs is better, if possible) * Reciting it off
at your computer * In front of a mirror * Tape or video record
yourself * Review (yes, listen to or watch) yourself doing the
presentation * Adjust whatever you need to
6. Do a full dress rehearsal a day or two before the big event *
Physically and mentally prepare yourself * Be groomed to the
point of being precise (Think of a bullfighter getting ready to
face "El Toro" - and yes, there are lady bullfighters) * You
want to look and feel your best.
Presenting
7. Make final preparations * Check the equipment you're using
before the presentation begins * Be sure to use equipment that
is familiar to you or check it out thoroughly in advance * Do
tension-busting exercises, deep breathing, mental relaxation
techniques - whatever you've learned works for you
8. Relax, you're on! * Keep a positive mental attitude * Pick
out three people in the audience (an attractive woman, a
handsome guy, an interesting face) One should be to your left,
one straight ahead, one to your right * Look at (not stare) and
talk to each person as you "talk" from left to center to right
casually and slowly swinging your view from one person to the
next. First from left to right, then back from right to left.
Pause for a longer period while looking straight ahead. Few
people are uncontrollably nervous when talking to only ONE
person.
I not only survived my first presentation but went on to give
dozens then scores more over the next few years. Remember these
eight tips; with proper preparation, practice and perseverance
you too will speak with confidence.