Giving effective presentations at work can help you stand out in the eyes of your boss and colleagues. It is a unique skill that will set you apart from everyone else! Whether a weekly progress meeting or a proposal pitch to a client, presentations can be a major source of stress for employees and preparing can be quite time-consuming. However, with a few simple tips, you can master the art of giving a good presentation at work and impress your audience.
Be Enthusiastic And Connect With Your Audience
Your body language should be such that it lets your passion shine through and you should be able to connect with your audience. If you start slow, with little or no enthusiasm, your colleagues will see through you and lose interest.
Tell them why the presentation means so much to you and remember always to be honest. For example, if you don’t know the answer to something, don’t get nervous and answer by saying, “Sorry, I don’t know the answer. Can I get back to you after the presentation?” If there is one thing the audience appreciates, it’s honesty.
Be positive in your approach making sure to make good eye contact and smile. Even if the presentation has dry facts, present them in a way that has your audience hooked. Another way to connect with the audience is to ask questions and feedback throughout the presentation. This way, your audience won’t get bored, and you will have their full attention.
Don’t Over-Complicate Your Message
Keep it simple! Your presentation should focus on the core of your message. Ask yourself what the main point for the audience should be and communicate it with them briefly. Adding unnecessary details and long text to your slides will bore the audience, and your original message may be lost in all that text. Add short bullet points to your slideshow and highlight or underline your main theme or message. This way, your audience will be able to retain more information from your slideshow. Only add examples relevant to the topic. Don’t go off-topic or overboard with your examples.
Start Strong
Your opening should be strong. This way, you’ll have your audience hooked from the very beginning. An effective way to engage your audience is to start with a question. Entertain them with some facts relevant to your topic. Use this time to grab the attention of the audience. Don’t waste it with a long and boring slide about all your qualifications. Remember, it’s a presentation, not a job interview.
Remember the Rule Of Thumb For Presentations
The rule of thumb for effective presentations is the ’10-20-30 rule’!
According to this rule:
- Your slideshow should not have more than 10 slides.
- It should not last more than 20 minutes.
- Your font size should not exceed 30 points.
Use Visual Tools To Make It Interesting
Add pictures, graphics, videos, colorful graphs, and charts to make your presentation more appealing! Visual tools add a new dimension to your presentation and make your otherwise boring facts interesting to the audience. They also make the message clear. Click here for some templates for infographics you can add to your slideshows!
Conclusion
By following these simple hacks, you can ace any presentation at work. Remember to engage the audience, make good eye contact, ask questions and keep it simple and engaging. Good luck giving your next presentation.