PRESENTATION SKILLS TRAINING 101

Your Presentation Skills Training Begins Here!  Learn to speak, interact and most of all - lead.

Public speaking is a topic that makes most people turn the other way and run. Especially in today's society the inclination is rather to sit in front of a computer rather than to engage in a real conversation one on one let alone speaking before a group of people. This can be damaging to the long term progress of an individual. Expressing thoughts and ideas in front of others is a lifelong endeavor to master. Although there are those who actively have the gift of presentation everyone can learn something new each and every time they get up in front of individuals who's intent is to hear what you have to say. The following are points that are vital and crucial to the quality and experience of a given lecture or address before any group of people:

1. No matter what – DON'T RUN! If you want to improve your quality and comfort of public speaking you must actively place yourself in positions where you have the opportunity to do so. For instance, a teenager can regularly give a presentation for his or her family for added practice. This is a very good way to start out with small groups. Another opportunity for exposure is openly engaging in service opportunities. This can help an individual present themselves and their intents to people they don't know. Plus it also helps their skill in gaining trust and credibility. Remember – quality experience must be sought after and painfully endured and is rarely processed within through easy occasions of opportunity.

2. KNOW THE MATERIAL. When all eyes are on you it is extremely easy to spot when someone really does not know what they are talking about. Study and know the curriculum and then you will be able to extend that knowledge to others. Public speaking is truly psychological. You do not have to present all knowledge you acquired in your studies. Doing so may extend your presentation beyond the intended limit and runs the risk of losing the attention of your audience. However, in your presentation the depth of knowledge will manifest itself in your gestures and control of the subject. Keep them interested and informed enough to make them take the next step and seek further knowledge.

3. PRACTICE REALLY DOES MAKE PERFECT. Only through practice can you not only be comfortable with the address but also know what to use and not use for material in order to meet the required or desired time limit. One way to practice is to repeatedly speak it out as if before an audience. This will reveal content balance of your delivery. Another mode of practice is speak it out using audio recording. It is vital to note that how you sound to yourself is far from how you sound to someone else. Play back the audio and listen to it from an audience perspective. You will be shocked! Yet another mode is to use video recording. Gestures are everything in public speaking. A visual record will show you if you are using your hands a certain way that may be breaking the audience attention. Are you pacing excessively in repeated motions? Are you using “um” far too much? Knowing yourself and your subconscious habits early and now will benefit you immensely down the road.

4. CRITIQUING. Invite and be open to constructive criticism. It's not meant to hurt your feelings but to help you. The more open you are the more apt you are to learn and improve. This gives someone, not you, a chance to preview your address and presentation. Give them the opportunity to help you be a better public speaker.

5. DRESS THE PART. All parts of your delivery must tie one with another. A suit and tie may not be the best clothing to wear to deliver an address about a recent safari trip. Likewise, wearing street clothes may not be the best attire to speak at a funeral, business meeting or religious service. Even the room, itself, should meet your delivery needs. Does the setting accommodate the content of your speech? If not then perhaps put some safari pictures on the walls or some doctrinal precepts of your address affixed behind you. Basically you want the entire setting to channel or focus the audience's attention in your direction.

It's normal and healthy after many years of deliveries and many addresses to still get uneasy and nervous. However, by implementing the above points you can be confident that after many presentations that you have delivered everything you intended on and are satisfied with how you presented it. Every individual on the face of the Earth has something to say and share that would be of profound worth to someone else. Part of the problem is that many don't really feel they have much to share. Once you've overcome this fallacy you will find a new world of blossoming ideas that you will be ready to share throughout your life.

One who is presenting must have the posture of freedom. Freedom invites margin of learning. Typically a public speaker is seen as someone with information that one needs or may be able to use. Therefore, the audience subconsciously is inhibited and of less freedom. Your posture is key. Your voice should be strong but in large groups this may need modification.

A voice amplification system may be necessary to carry your message to all in attendance. A hands free speech amplifier helps guarantee the full range of gestures that your body needs. Shop with care. The less attracting the system is for the eye the better yet the system must be reliable and powerful enough to reach the target audience.

We are in a technological age. An arsenal of presentation aids are at our fingertips. Video and overhead projections are often used especially in business meetings. An important task is keeping the attention on exactly what you are focused on. For this reason a wireless laser pointer may help compass the audience in the right direction. Use the laser sparingly yet with skill as if a part of the presentation itself.

SMART Board is an amazing tool in effective teaching and presentation. This wireless device lets you project onto a wall exactly what you want. If you wish to draw a figure then every stroke will advance onto the wall. A wide range of uses can be applied to Smartboards and interactive whiteboards.

Props are also generally well received. Not only received but remembered. The whole point of presenting information is the hope that some or all of the information will be received, processed and implemented. Implement props with an air of levity of spirit. Everything from hand puppets to tossing a ball around is a great ice breaker especially as a pause in the presentation. The more the unsuspected prop the better simply because it will be remembered longer. When the prop is remembered the message associated with it is also remembered.

Skits and role playing is a very affective interactive way of manifesting the application of your message. Randomly select audience members to come up and try and impromptu presentation according to your direction. This is a great tool in presenting specific bullet points of your address.

We all have a beating heart and therefore have equal opportunity to succeed. What other have a borne talent others have as talents in training. Again, you have something to present to the world. Use these tips to gain the ear of many. Some of the greatest orators were handicapped. Some stuttered and were slow of speech. When all eyes are on you any ill-confidence will be seen as if you were glass. Take these points of public speaking and succeed!

Stand and be heard!