Presenting yourself with confidence - 4 rules for success

Let’s face it, only a sadist enjoys standing up and making a presentation in front of a group of people. For most, it is the ultimate nightmare, but there are certain steps you can take to remove some of the pressure and give you more confidence.

Preparation and detail are everything. If you are under-prepared or are lacking confidence in the message you are trying to put across, you will struggle to give a convincing performance. Your audience are expecting to learn something useful or benefit in some way from attending your presentation, so focusing on your key messages is key.

Rule 1. Give the public what they want

Condense your presentation down to only the most important points. If there are 10 people attending your presentation, 8 of them will have somewhere else they need to be. Keeping it short and factual will send your audience away happy.

You audience will generally have their own views on your subject matter before you even begin to speak. Usually they will be aware of what you are trying to sell to them or educate them about, even if only on a very rudimentary level. However, they don’t need to be told something they already know, so focus on the new and exciting stuff.

Rule 2. Don’t go over old ground

By keeping your points salient and relevant, you will keep the attention of your audience, and in doing so leave a better impression. Your audience won’t appreciate being held hostage while you tell them stuff they already know, so be confident and make strong assumptions on your audience’s core knowledge. Anyone left behind will soon let you know. However, just because the content of your presentation is well structured, that doesn’t mean all will be well.

Each presentation is a singular event, occurring in different locations under varying circumstances. One presentation might be held in a quiet room with an attentive audience, while another might be in a noisy office with your audience drifting in and out. Preparing for all eventualities is impossible, but there are steps you can take to ensure your presentation isn’t a disaster.

Rule 3. Prepare a ‘leave behind’ that covers all your key messages

So, you do all the preparation, put in the late nights, only for your audience to be less than attentive. Of course your ego might take a bashing (“am I not the best presenter in the world?”) but the most important thing is that your message might not have been delivered effectively. There are two means of rectifying this eventuality. Firstly, make sure that you prepare a printed or digital version of your presentation, including any additional information that you decided to leave out of your original presentation, as well as contact details should anyone have questions after you’ve gone.

Secondly, make sure you invite questions at the end of your presentation, and if nobody asks a question, then ask and answer some questions yourself. This is a good way grabbing a bit of last minute attention, and of introducing your leave behind material.

So now you should have all the content in place and be confident in how you are going to get your message across. There is one final, and vital, step to take though.

Rule 4. Present yourself professionally

Attention to detail can be the difference between your presentation being a success or a failure. How you dress and how you speak are subjective, but the quality of your presentation material is not. Your audience will be listening to you, but looking at your slide-show or reading your handout.

If your visual presentation is slick, and compliments your verbal presentation, you will be able to fully focus on the moment, comfortable in the knowledge that your visuals are doing their job properly. For many people, this can be a stumbling block in the process, but that needn’t be the case.

We can help you with all aspects of your presentation collateral, from graphics to copywriting and printing. Your next business presentation might just be the one that defines your future, and there won’t be any second chances. Call us today to find out how we can help to make your next presentation a success.