The Do’s and Don’ts of Presenting
Making a good presentation is an art and not a science.
But there are definitely still things that you want to keep in mind when planning one!
The right tips and tricks can help you make a presentation a success, without having to put in unnecessary time and effort.
This post is broken up by complimenting do’s and don'ts when making a presentation. I personally use Microsoft PowerPoint a lot when presenting myself, but these tips can be applied to any type of public speaking or group discussion!
Don’t: ‘Wing It’
When you know more than the average individual on what you are talking about - people can tell. If you are jumping into a presentation without reviewing or thinking about it first, you can catch yourself at some points trying to come up with what to say.
If you review and consider what you want to cover throughout a presentation, you are more likely to sound confident and leave a greater impression with those who are listening.
Do: Be Flexible
If a conversation or discussion during a presentation goes in direction you didn't' expect - role with it! Think about it like a conversation with a friend - you want to be able to efficiently change or incorporate different topics and perspectives, as well as apply concepts to different situations.
We don’t always know everything we are presenting about, but know how it ties into the overall picture being discussed. Think about the different questions that may be asked, and ways that you can relate them to simple concepts so that everybody listening can understand. When you are able to adapt to the conversations being had during a presentation, if allows you to feel confident no matter what and think on your feet!
Don’t: Jump in Without Explaining
If you don’t explain what your topic involves and the importance of it, you may miss an important opportunity to catch your audience or listener’s attention.
Just like a hook when writing a good article, a presentation needs to catch the audience’s attention and remind the people attending why the topic is something that will ultimately improve their lives, experiences, and understanding of something important to them.
This is your opportunity to have people listen as you speak or demonstrate - don’t neglect it!
Do: Include an Overview
Introduce the topic you’re talking about by making sure to relate it to significant events or factors in everyday life. If the topic is introduced as important or relevant, people are more likely to listen and retain what you say.
When starting a presentation, be sure to include a slide or preview discussing what the overall topic and objectives of the presentation are. For example: if talking about global warming, you may go with an ‘Agenda’ or ‘Objectives’ slide that has points like ‘What is Global Warming?’, ‘Why it Matters?’, ‘The Global Impact’, and ‘What You Can Do’.
By giving an overview of what is being discussed, you have a clear roadmap for yourself and the audience on what will be covered and what they can expect to learn - right from the very beginning.
This is an example of my own presentation overview using Microsoft PowerPoint.
Don’t: Finish Early, or Go Way Over Time
Presentations are usually given time limits when requested or desired. Obviously you don’t want to rush through and finish super early. Similarly, you don’t want to drag on and on trying to give an overload of information (trust me - been there!).
When planning a presentation, try to focus on key points and valuable tips that the audience is going to gain the most value from. Rather than explain every single tiny detail, go into more explanation on things that may be particularly valuable to the people listening.
Do: Practice and Use a Timer
If you practice a presentation, you’re much more likely to get the timing right than if you decide to wing it. This isn’t always true - for example if I am comfortable talking about many aspects to do with my presentation topic, I can use a timer to gauge myself throughout and shorten pieces that I don’t think are as important. I can also use this to know whether I should expand more on a topic in order to make the most of the remaining time.
Don’t: Include Your Script Word for Word
PowerPoints or handouts are amazing tools to accompany a presentation or discussion. But you don’t want people to be able to read everything you are saying from a visual, or have the message come across just as clearly as it would without you there.
If you add too many words to a slide, you are more likely to lose the participant’s attention to what you are saying since they are busy reading what is in front of them. This makes it so that people might not be getting the best of information during that presentation. When you write everything you are going to say on a slide, it tends to drown out the main points - especially if you tend to speak monotone or very speech-like which doesn’t help to catch people’s attention.
Do: Use Visuals and Bullet Points
Bullets are an amazing way to make sure you are covering the necessary information while still keeping the audience’s attention. Using bullet points allows you to introduce a topic or subtopic that you are speaking about, while making sure that the majority of the focus falls back on what you are saying.
Start speaking by saying one of your main bullet points, and then jump off into a personal or more candid explanation of a topic. This means all eyes are on you during a topic, and that most of what you say will sink in instead of people reading what is on the slide and ignoring you.
Visuals are another great way to execute this. If you are discussing different types of something (e.g. different foods of a similar group or characteristic) you can use visuals to give a real-life demonstration of what you are talking about, while keeping people focused on what you are saying. Giving visuals as examples of a concept, while a presenter is describing the overall idea, allows for more than one way for the audience to apply the information being discussed.
Don’t: Rely on One Type of Media
Even though some topics are easy to only speak about or simply show photos for, it is important to have variety when discussing any topic.
Different individuals learn best in different ways and from different ways of receiving information. By incorporating different types of media such as text, audio and visuals, you can help reach each person in a way that is most impactful for them.
Do: Say the Same Thing in Different Ways
Whether presenting a simple topic or one that is more complex, make sure to use a variety of methods to help people understand.
When you use different channels of information delivery, you are reinforcing what somebody is learning. The chances that they will relate, understand and remember what information is coming to them is increased through repetition. Think about trying to remember or memorize something - we repeat it right? Not to mention when the same commercial plays back-to-back - the hope is that repetition of the same message will make it stick in our heads, and that product or service will be the one we think of when we need what they provide.
When you use additional resources like visuals and videos they not only give you ways to enhance the discussion. They can also take the pressure off of you as a facilitator for a brief moment. This can be time you use to plan your next talking point, take a breath or a drink, and recenter yourself.
Don’t: Overfill or Make Slides Too Busy
When creating a presentation it should be easy to read, and convey the main information straightforwardly and understandably.
If you’re slide or visual is too busy, it will make people spend more time trying to decipher it. While this is happening, they are likely missing the most important points and not listening to what you are saying.
By making things simple and quickly understandable, you will be able to better convey your verbal messages to clients and ensure that they aren’t getting lost in a web of information.
Do: Break Things Up
By separating complex or multi-piece topics, you actually make it easier for people listening and watching to follow and retain what you are saying. Although it may take slightly more time, it is important to make something easier to absorb by separating it into segments that highlight key points you are trying to make.
Don’t: Ramble or Go Off on Too Many Tangents
It can be easy to get carried away when speaking or presenting, but this makes it easy for your audience to lose focus and start to daydream.
When discussing a topic that needs some explanation, asking questions to the audience as you introduce new topics can help to keep people engaged and get them thinking. When you are explaining or describing something after the introductory question it will help to solidify the information.
Do: Stay on Topic and Follow a Logical Progession
Whenever I plan a presentation or discussion, I think about what order the information would be best introduced and explained in order to provide the audience with the most impact. For example, some terms or ideas may need to be explained before getting in-depth with a topic and revealing the real ‘meat’.
By planning your discussion and slides in a linear and fairly logical way, you can make sure you stay on track and that the information being shared makes sense.
Conclusion
Let me clarify that there is no ‘right’ way to compose or create a PowerPoint or other type of presentation.
I simply want to share what I have learned from presenting various topics over time. Every group and topic is a little different - so don’t be afraid to experiment based on what is needed the most or what is supposed to be emphasized!
Over time you will find what works for you - I just hope I’ve been able to help you along the way!
