lifehacker.com: Anyone who wants to be successful needs to learn how to present. It doesn't matter if you're sharing information online using software like join.me or if you're speaking to a large crowd — you should always feel confident and prepared. Of course, that's easier said than done. If you were captain of the debate team you may have been born ready, but if you were the math nerd who never presented in class, you probably need some practice.
8 comments:
This is a great article for people who have trouble delivering presentations. Overall, I think the most important thing this article brings up is the importance of practicing. In school, there is a reason we were always told "practice makes perfect." Practicing not only makes the presenter more confident, but it also gives them a chance to perhaps try their presentation out in a more low stakes setting. Before my college interviews, I met with someone my dad works with and did a "mock interview." This was helpful because I was able to practice my interview with someone who I knew relatively well, but did not know on the level of a family member. I also agree with the author when they say handouts can end up hurting a presentation more than helping. Often, I find that I am distracted by handouts and end up not giving my full attention to the presenter.
There was a lot of good tips and advice in a short article. Personally, I get very nervous in front of crowds and have been one to say uhm and fidget a lot. Before presentations I get incredibly nervous, normally I practice my presentation a few time before to make sure I have everything I need and that I am not going to get lost while presenting. Even so it is still hard to make it through a presentation without pausing and not know where to go next. It sounds silly but I think part of this is that people have to either present a lot to get comfortable presenting or it just comes naturally to them.
This article is wonderful. Though it doesn't specifically cover just saying "like" and "um," it covers a wide range of talking points. So often, I feel, we're expected to give presentations. And you do improve your presenting skills over the years, but having something written out like this is a really helpful tool. I think the most important part of this article is focusing on storytelling rather than rehearsing jokes. I'd rather be interested in a lecturer than having a laugh. My Global History professor is interesting, and yes he's funny, but he's really telling a "the story of history" and that's much more useful than a comedic lecture.
I think the last point was the most useful, about really knowing who your audience is going to be and gearing your presentation and the information contained within it specifically to them. There's nothing more boring or useless than attending a presentation where the first half is a recap of information that the audience certainly knows. I also absolutely agree that unless you know how to be appropriately comedic, it is a tactic that should be avoided, as it can instantly put your audience against you. And obviously, knowing the material you plan on presenting is a given in order to be successful.
This article has many good tips for people to help clean up their presentation skills. My take away from this was practice is essential. The article could not be more right by labeling a presentation as a performance. You can give someone many tips for sharpening up their presentation skills but the bottom line is if they are not comfortable presenting their own material then its going to be an awkward presentation. I'm not the world's greatest presenter but typically I think I fare a little better then some people when it comes to speaking in front of people. I guess I owe this to my high school theatre teacher who made me take one of his acting classes aside from all of my technical training. The skills learned in his class are invaluable to me as a public speaker and I would recommend a basic acting class to anyone looking to improve their presentation skills. Once you get your presentation skills up you've already one half the battle, next you just need to make sure you are familiar with the material you are presenting. In reality, no matter how good you are if you don't know the material you will always look slightly foolish.
It's really funny how much this author is advertising for join me. However the author does make a good point in that presentations are performances. While practice never makes perfect (there's always room for improvement), practice sure as he'll makes better. I also find it interesting how the author hits on the fact that it takes time to learn and you really can't just try to force feed audiences knowledge. This author really knows what he's talking about.
I thought this article gave a lot of great information about giving a presentation. I know from my experience in Basic Design that I tend to interject several "sort of's" into my presentations and I rush through my words. I feel like practice is half the solution, but standing in front of several people who are going to judge you adds an entirely new facet to presenting, that can't necessarily be practiced for. That kind of confidence seems to come naturally to some but not other and I wonder if there is any tip or work around for that, besides just having to present regularly and getting used to it.
This article hits many of the major points I have heard through the years on how to give a good presentation. It drives me nuts when people say umm when trying to stall/remember. Practicing presentations and going with the flow is key. I like how the author points on presentations is like going on stage, you need to rehearse before performing, regardless of what it is.
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