By Akpeli Othuke Andrew
Imagine you are selected to make a presentation, either a debate, a welcome speech, a closing remark or a toast. An suddenly, you start feeling butterfly in your stomach, your stomach queasy, your head aching, your palm sweating, your mouth goes dry and your mind goes blank. Asking yourself;
• Am I going to sound stupid?
• Will by audience be pleased with my speech?
• Will I make fool of myself?
Here are some presentation tips that can help you conquer your fears.
1. Know your subject matter
Be vast with the subject matter and what is expected of you. There is nothing as worse as a presenter speaking of the expected topic due to little or lack of proper knowledge of the subject matter. Remember, that some of your audience have a idea about what you are expected to deliver. Do not be quick to conclude on your audience ignorance. So a proper research on the subject matter is highly encouraged.
2. Know your audience
While preparing your presentation, make sure you have an idea about the age, mood, values and language of your audience. This will help you to prepare an effective presentation.
3. Structure you presentation
Structure your presentation in line with the stand presentation format which is telling them what you want to tell them, tell it and recap what you have told them.
4. Prepare your script
Prepare your presentation script in line with the four basic parts: opening, body, summary and closing.
In making your presentation, ensure that you begin with thought provoking comments and questions, like rhetoric questions which will make your audience to inwardly try to give answers to them. And during your presentation, ensure to introduce some humour to make the audience be in a lighter mood, but never turn yourself into a comedian. Never, never make fun of anyone in the audience. People will laugh with you if you make fun of yourself and not members of the audience.
5. Plan your body and hand positions
In making your presentation, your body and hand movement is very important. Do not stay static in only one position, it shown that your are nervous and also control your movement because too much of it will indicate anxiety.
6. Summary
In summarizing your presentation, be brief and simple. Reinforce all the points you have made during the presentation with a catchy statement that your audience will always remember.
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