Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Top 5 Presentation Tips

#1 - PLANT YOUR FEET SQUARELY ON THE FLOOR

Distribute your weight evenly between your legs, and plant your feet firmly on the ground. Shifting your weight from one leg to another communicates to the audience a lack of confidence.

#2 - GET PUMPED UP

The idea is to begin your presentation in an absolutely great state. Do this right and the audience will follow your where you want them to go.

#3 - WARM-UP THE AUDIENCE

Another thing big rock stars do before coming out on stage is they have warm-up acts. The job of a warm-up act is to get the audience in a mood will be receptive of the main act's energy.

#4 - BEGIN WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

The more rapport you have with an individual or a group, the more receptive they will be to your message. One way to build rapport with your audience is by asking questions of your audience during your first few minutes on stage.
Ask a question or two that most people can easily answer (but don't put anyone on the spot too much). Questions such as "How far did you come to get here?" and "How long have you been working in this field?" easily get conversation going and begin creating a relationship between you and your audience.

#5 - SUSTAIN EYE CONTACT WITH INDIVIDUALS

Maintain your concentration on what you want to say next by fixing your visual focus for short periods of time. Do this by completing a thought or a sentence (whichever you find easier) while sustaining eye contact with one person. Move eye contact to a new person with each new thought or sentence.

No comments: