Strengthen Your Presentation Skills

Do you get nervous speaking in front of groups of people? Maybe you lack confidence in your presenting skills. Giving presentations may be a part of your interviewing process or perhaps an ongoing part of your job description. Whatever your involvement in public speaking might be, here is a guide to help you deliver more effective presentations.

• Do your homework.
  Know your subject and you will feel more comfortable speaking in front of people. Much of feeling confident while presenting is feeling prepared. Are you able to speak extemporaneously on the topic? Do you feel competent to answer questions or are there gaps in your understanding of the material?
  
• Know your audience.
  How does your presentation apply specifically to the audience? Maybe your presentation is part of the job interviewing process. Tailor the presentation so that you explain not only why you want a job, but also why you want a job with that particular firm.
  
• Answer the question.
  Even public speaking offers an opportunity to exercise your listening skills. If you include a Q&A time in your presentation, listen to the questions. Respond to the actual issue rather than a superfluous one. Avoid rambling or giving an overly lengthy response.
  
• Maintain a comfortable stance.
  When presenting, stand with your spine aligned and your head forward and up. A stance such as this gives the impression of calm confidence. Avoid pacing as you speak. Instead, keep your feet grounded. Move with purpose.
  
• Less is more.
  People retain only one-third of a verbal presentation. What do you want your audience to remember? There's no need to say more than necessary. Knowing exactly what you want to say creates a stream-lined presentation as well as helping you budget your time.
  
• Breathe.
  The audience will permit you to breathe. In fact, they want you to. Establishing a stable breathing pattern helps the audience feel calm when they see you calm. A good place to breathe is before new phrases and operative words.
  
• Include your audience.
  Your audience will know if you like them or not. Do you establish good eye contact with audience-members? Do you work to truly engage your audience when interacting with them instead of routinely asking questions? These things help to establish a good rapport with the audience and leave them with a good impression.
  

Things to Avoid

So now you're more familiar with what TO do, but what do you need to avoid? What are some common mistakes novice public speakers often make?

• No old news, please.
  Nobody likes to hear yesterday's news. Avoid repeating concepts you have already explained. Also refrain from repetitive use of words or phrases throughout the presentation.
  
• Avoid first person.
  Including too many first person pronouns may give the impression that you are self-absorbed. Pay attention to your choice of words. It's often easy to reword phrases so as not to use "I" or "me."
  
• Slow down.
  It's better to speak to slow than too fast. Speaking slowly gives the audience an opportunity to digest the material you offer. If you are going to err, plan to err on the side of speaking too slowly.

What if I Get Nervous?

Americans' second greatest fear is the fear of dying. Their first fear is speaking in public. Whether it's sweaty palms, a pounding heart, or a queasy stomach, nervousness often plays a part in public speaking. So how do you deal with nerves?

• I know the subject better than you.
  Who has been studying and researching a certain subject to ensure you're familiar with the topic? Give yourself some credit. Often presentations offer new information to the audience. This is your opportunity to share your knowledge with others.
  
• Every group is an assembly of individuals.
  Perceiving the audience as individuals instead of in aggregate creates a friendlier environment. Pick out a few people in the audience and speak specifically to them. Choose someone you would normally talk to.
  
• Success is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
  How's your attitude as you prepare for the presentation? Often we bring comfort or discomfort on ourselves. If you expect to give a successful presentation, your chances of actually executing a successful one will improve.

How Do I Practice?

You know you need to improve your speaking skills, but how do you gain experience? What are some ways to practice public speaking before the pressure is on?

• Mirrors don't lie.
  Speaking in front of a mirror will indicate where your body is holding tension. Do you speak with raised shoulders or a hand on your hip? If your body language looks uncomfortable or awkward to you, often the audience will agree.
  
• Record yourself.
  Using an audio or video recorder will expose truth regarding your particular speaking habits. Yes, recording yourself may be a blow to your ego at first, but the results are undeniable. After recording yourself you will see your tendency to pace, make funny faces, or use the word "like" too much.
  
• Recruit your friends.
  Practice presenting in front of people who will give you constructive criticism. Try to practice in a space that is similar to the one in which you will be presenting. Can your friend hear you at the back of the room?
  
• Volunteer.
  There are many opportunities to speak in front of others if you seek them out. Volunteer to read for the blind. Serve as a tour guide for a museum. Offer to make announcements in class or extracurricular activities.

Although speaking in front of groups can be nerve-racking, the experience also serves as an opportunity for you to highlight your skills, knowledge, and personality. Audience members are also often sympathetic towards the person in the "hot spot" because they recognize the difficulty of public presenting. For additional help improving your presentation skills, talk to others with speaking experience, enroll in speech lessons, or take a public speaking class.

Special thanks to Natalie Shirer and Don Marinelli for their contribution to this article.

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