A great presentation can leave a lasting impression, much like a well-composed piece of music. Just as a composer knows when each note should strike, a good speaker knows how to captivate their audience.
No one becomes a great presenter overnight. It takes practice and patience. Everyone has had a presentation go badly at some point, but these experiences are part of the learning process. Public speaking and effective presentation skills are important in any setting, whether you’re pitching ideas to clients, presenting to your team, or participating in meetings.
Feeling nervous before a PowerPoint presentation is normal. 15-30% of people fear public speaking and social anxiety has increased by 12% in the past 20 years. However, learning how to give a killer presentation can help overcome these fears and build confidence.
Throughout your career, you’ll likely be asked to give many memorable presentations. While there are different approaches, a few tips on how to make a good presentation can boost your confidence and audience engagement strategies. Developing upon the tips for a good presentation is a lifelong pursuit, so be patient and avoid making mistakes.
Top-notch presentation slides can drive action, whether you’re winning over stakeholders, conveying a powerful message, or securing funding. Being an excellent presenter isn’t limited to the boardroom. It’s a valuable skill in any field, from academia to non-profits to student projects. Mastering the important things in presentation can be a game-changer.
Following are 11 tips for giving a good presentation.
Key Takeaways
- Preparation and practice are essential for giving a great presentation.
- Start strong by capturing your audience’s attention with engaging anecdotes or questions.
- Keep your presentation simple, organized, and visually appealing to enhance audience understanding.
- Maintain confidence, utilize storytelling, eye contact, and positive body language to capture your audience’s attention.
Deliver a Solid Start
The first moments of your presentation are crucial for capturing your audience’s attention. Like a movie trailer, your opening sets the tone for the rest of the show. Here are some presentation tips for a strong start.
To grab attention, use a quote from a well-known and likable person. Quotes can lend credibility and connect with the audience.
Ask a rhetorical question to create intrigue and get your audience thinking. This approach can draw them into your topic right away.
Start with an anecdote that adds context to your talk. Personal stories or relatable examples can make your message more compelling and memorable.
Consider involving your audience in an interactive problem-solving puzzle or riddle. This can spark curiosity and make your presentation more engaging from the outset.
Keep your opening simple and exciting. You might break the ice with a tasteful, humorous comment related to your topic to warm up the audience.
Explain the purpose of your presentation in one clear sentence, free of jargon. Emphasize what participants will gain to make them more invested in your talk.
Begin at a natural pace—not too fast and not too slow—to establish a strong and positive image. Finally, make a strong ending statement that reinforces the objectives of your presentation, leaving a lasting impression.
Starting with these effective presentation techniques can hook your audience throughout the presentation and set the stage for a compelling slideshow.
Keep Your Presentation Simple
One of the best ways to make a presentation is to keep it simple. Before you start, think about your audience members and their knowledge level. Tailor your content so it’s easy for them to follow. For instance, entry-level workers might need a basic overview, while C-suite leaders may prefer detailed insights. Focus on what you want your audience to remember and highlight those important points. Using bullet points for presentations can help viewers quickly identify the most critical information.
When creating your presentation, simplicity is essential. Many presenters use the “10-20-30” rule:
- Have ten or fewer slides.
- Keep your talk under 20 minutes.
- Use at least a 30-point font.
This approach keeps your presentation clear and engaging. Remember, your voice, explanations, and body language are just as crucial as your templates.
Keep your salient ideas to three or fewer points and mention them at the beginning and end of your presentation. This repetition helps the audience remember your main message. Avoid jargon and complex terms. Clear and simple language helps your audience to understand and retain the information.
Restrict each slide to five bullet points with only five words per point and show each for about five seconds. This keeps your presentation concise and prevents overload. Simple presentations are more engaging and effective, helping ensure your message is delivered clearly.
Create a Compelling Presentation Structure
To prepare for a presentation, organize your information clearly and compellingly with a presentation outline. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes and consider how to present your content. Giving a presentation should be logical, cohesive, and supported by evidence to strengthen your main points.
Don’t give away all the answers too quickly. Build a story that guides your audience through your thought process, keeping them engaged with the journey to your conclusion. This method keeps their interest and helps them follow along with your ideas. Ending with a Q&A session can also address any lingering questions or concerns.
Start with a captivating introduction to grab attention. Then, present your main points logically, building on each other, and finish with a strong conclusion that leaves a lasting impression. A well-structured presentation helps your audience follow you effortlessly and ensures they leave with a clear understanding of your message.
Using professionally designed templates can also enhance the clarity and coherence of your presentation. These templates highlight your main points and make your message more memorable for your audience.
Use Visual Presentation Aids
Visual aids can elevate your presentation and help your audience. Incorporate a mix of photos, videos, and props to engage your listeners and highlight your main points.
For example, if you’re presenting on anthropology, showing an artifact can help the audience understand the excitement of a discovery. If your presentation is long, including a video can give you a break and create new starting points for your speech.
Visual presentation aids can help explain complex concepts. Use infographics, graphs, charts, photographs, animation and videos to support your points. However, avoid overloading your ppt with too much text or information. A clear and simple visual is more effective than a cluttered one.
Well-chosen visuals create a professional look and capture your audience’s attention. Eye-catching designs should complement your message without overshadowing it. While a picture is worth a thousand words, less is often more.
Capture your audience’s attention with interactive elements like questions, polls, or group activities. This involvement makes them more invested in your presentation’s success. Animated elements can also bring your presentation to life, adding depth and clarity to your message.
Overall, visual aids should support and enhance your presentation, making it more engaging.
Incorporate Design Techniques, Trends, and Principles
Design techniques and trends can make your presentation more engaging and effective. Advanced technology gives you many tools to create visually appealing presentations. However, use these tools wisely to avoid distractions. Here are some tips:
– Avoid placing blocks of small text on a slide.
– Choose a minimalistic background instead of a busy one.
– Ensure your text is readable against the best colors for your presentation.
– Use only high-resolution photos.
– Maintain consistent font style and size throughout.
– Don’t overuse transitions and effects.
Incorporate universal design principles to cater to a diverse audience with various knowledge levels, abilities, and learning styles. Here are a few suggestions:
– Use large fonts for better readability.
– Make the presentation available to participants beforehand.
– Be ready to provide materials in different formats, like electronic text, audio, large print, or Braille.
– Show captioned videos or provide transcriptions if needed.
– Arrange for sign language interpreters if requested.
– Speak clearly, use a microphone if necessary, and always face your audience.
– Ensure the room is well-lit.
– Use multimedia presentation elements like videos, props, and handouts to enhance your presentation.
Pace your presentation thoughtfully. Design your templates to cover all essential points without rushing or dragging. Respect your audience’s time to maintain their interest.
By following these design principles, you can create a polished, professional presentation that effectively communicates your message and keeps your audience engaged.
Utilize the 10-20-30 Rule
One practical tip for a good presentation is following the 10-20-30 rule, popularized by Guy Kawasaki, a well-known venture capitalist and former Apple marketing specialist. This rule suggests that the best presentations have fewer than ten slides, last no more than 20 minutes, and uses a font size of 30 points.
By sticking to ten slides, you focus on the most critical points. Keeping your presentation within 20 minutes ensures it stays engaging and respects your audience’s time. Using a 30-point font makes your text easy to read and helps emphasize critical messages.
The 10-20-30 rule encourages you to keep your presentation short, sweet, and impactful. Your audience will appreciate the clarity and brevity, making your message more memorable.
Weave Stories
One powerful tip for making a good presentation is to master the art of storytelling in business presentations. Sharing a personal story can boost your credibility in a speech. When the audience connects with you, they’re more likely to pay attention and engage with your presentation.
If you’re uncomfortable sharing personal stories, use examples from famous individuals or create fictional accounts to illustrate your ideas. The key is to start your presentation with something engaging, like an interesting question, problem, or quote. This sets the stage and captures your audience’s attention right away.
Storytelling in sales helps make your concepts and ideas relatable. It adds context and depth, allowing the audience to understand and connect with your message. Whether you share a personal experience, a case study presentation, or an inspiring success story, make sure it supports your main points.
Additionally, adjust your pitch, pace, and volume to match the emotions and intensity of your story. Varying your speaking voice can add depth and enhance your stage presence, making your story even more compelling.
Weaving stories into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. It builds connections and makes your message memorable, ensuring your audience stays engaged throughout.
Leverage Eye Contact and Body Language 
Eye contact and body language play crucial roles in making a good presentation. Here are some key takeaways to help you master them.
Maintain eye contact with your audience. You don’t have to stare directly into their eyes; focusing on their foreheads or noses works too. Try to make eye contact with as many people as possible for 3–5 seconds each to engage them without making anyone feel uncomfortable or ignored.
Keep your body language in presentations open and engaging. Avoid crossing your arms and try to move around the stage instead of standing still. Use hand gestures to emphasize important points, but make sure they flow naturally with your speech.
Incorporate movement into your presentation to keep your audience focused and engaged. If you’re nervous, start small by making gestures toward your slides or using different parts of the stage to address everyone in the audience.
Your nonverbal communication should support your message. Move around the stage gracefully instead of staying in one place, and avoid hiding behind a podium if possible. Maintain a good posture to convey enthusiasm and confidence.
By warmly welcoming your audience, maintaining eye contact, and using expressive gestures and varied tones, you can draw your audience’s attention and make your presentation more engaging. Stand tall, connect with your audience through eye contact, and use movement purposefully to emphasize key points. With a sprinkle of enthusiasm and charisma, you can keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Practice Your Presentation
Preparing and practicing are essential steps to making a good presentation. Here are some key takeaways to help you get ready.
Practicing doesn’t guarantee perfection, but it does lead to progress. Rehearse with a trusted friend or family member. Use their feedback to refine your presentation. Remember, the person you practice with may have a different perspective from your intended audience, so consider their opinions with this in mind.
After putting your presentation together:
- Dedicate time to preparing your talking points.
- Ask friends or colleagues to listen to a test run and provide honest feedback on your visuals, speaking voice, and body language.
- Avoid memorizing your speech word for word; prepare simple talking points to guide your presentation.
- Speak openly and confidently about your subject.
Use a strong speaking voice while practicing your presentation. Speak at the right volume and tone, ensuring your audience can hear you clearly without straining. Test your volume in the presentation space beforehand and consider using a microphone if needed.
Believe in the importance of your message and visualize yourself giving a great speech. Organize your material in a way that suits you best, whether it’s a script, outline, or notes. Proofread all printed materials and practice, practice, practice to iron out any kinks and add polish to your presentation.
Seek feedback from colleagues or friends, record your presentation for self-analysis, and evaluate your performance through anonymous surveys. Incorporate suggestions for improvement into future presentations.
Finally, overcome stage fright by arriving early, familiarizing yourself with your material, and taking deep breaths. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and seek feedback as you give your presentation one last polish before the big day. With preparation and practice, you’re ready to deliver a successful presentation!
Exude Confidence
Making a good presentation involves more than just the content—it’s about your mindset, too. Here are some tips to help you stay calm and confident.
Before your presentation, take deep breaths to calm your nerves. Feeling rushed can increase nervousness and make you stumble on your words. Approach your presentation calmly to put both yourself and your audience at ease.
Remember to enjoy the process of creating and presenting your information. It’s a significant accomplishment, so take pleasure in it. If you feel anxious beforehand, try a power pose—stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, fists on your hips, chin held high, and a soft smile. This posture boosts confidence and reduces nerves. Take several deep breaths to calm your mind further.
After your presentation, reward yourself in a meaningful way. Be proud of your achievement, and don’t hesitate to ask for feedback to improve future presentations.
Feeling nervous before a talk or workshop is normal—it shows that you care about doing well. Use that nervous energy to your advantage by channeling it into dynamic energy about your topic. Remind yourself that you and your audience share the same goal, and they want you to succeed. Stick to what you know to build confidence and minimize nervousness.
Focus on delivering your message rather than how you feel internally. Maintain a relaxed, poised demeanor, even if you’re feeling nervous. Acting relaxed can help you feel more relaxed.
And remember, the more presentations you give, the more your anxieties will decrease. Keep presenting and practicing, and you’ll become more confident over time.
End with a Clear Call to Action
Ending with a solid call to action for your presentation is crucial. This final step should motivate your audience to take a specific action, whether it’s changing their habits or reaching out to you for your services.
When speaking to clients, consider creating presentation handouts with key points and your contact information. Include your LinkedIn profile, email address, and phone number so they can give you various ways to reach you.
Remember, last impressions linger. Leave your audience with a clear takeaway. Finish with a compelling call to action or an inspiring thought that will resonate with them long after you end a presentation. This ensures your message sticks and encourages your audience to act.
Wrap-Up: How to Make a Good Presentation
Delivering good presentation qualities is like composing music; it requires practice and precision. Confidence and clear communication are essential, whether you’re pitching ideas or leading a meeting. Nervousness is common, but preparation and practice can help overcome this. Start strong by capturing your audience’s attention with engaging anecdotes or thought-provoking questions. Keeping your presentation simple and organized helps your audience follow along. Visual aids and design principles enhance your message, making it more memorable.
Using the 10-20-30 rule—10 slides, 20 minutes, 30-point font—ensures clarity and conciseness. Incorporate stories to make your message relatable and maintain eye contact and affirmative body language to engage your audience. Rehearse thoroughly to boost your confidence and seek feedback to improve. Enjoy the process and reward yourself for your efforts.
Finally, end with a clear call to action to inspire your audience to act. Provide your contact information and summarize key points to leave a lasting impression. Master these good presentation characteristics, and you’ll be well on your way to cultivating effective presentation skills.
FAQs
1. How can I capture my audience’s attention at the beginning of my presentation?
Starting strong is critical. To set the stage for a compelling presentation, you can use a quote, ask a rhetorical question, share a relatable anecdote, or involve your audience in an interactive activity. Keep it simple and exciting.
2. How can I make a presentation clear and engaging?
Keeping your presentation simple is crucial. Tailor your content to your audience’s knowledge level, use the “10-20-30” rule (10 slides, 20 minutes, 30-point font), and highlight three key points. Avoid jargon and complex terms for better understanding.
3. How do you make a presentation structure effective?
Organize your information logically, starting with a captivating introduction, presenting the main points in a logical order, and ending with a firm conclusion. Use professionally designed templates to enhance clarity and coherence.
4. Why are visual aids necessary, and how can I use them effectively?
Visual aids enhance your presentation and make complex concepts easier to understand. Use a mix of photos, videos, and props, but avoid overloading slides with text. Engage your audience with interactive elements and well-chosen visuals that complement your message.
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