A well-delivered presentation goes far beyond the number of slides and a nicely written speech — it gives an opportunity to leave a lasting impression, enhance your reputation and strengthen your personal brand. Today, when the attention spans are short and competition for the audience’s interest is fierce, ability to communicate your ideas clearly, confidently and authentically becomes a decisive advantage. Any public appearance regardless of the setting — whether during a business meeting, conference, or online — is like a small “business card” giving the audience an opportunity to associate you with professionalism, competence, and reliability.
Thorough Preparation of Presentation is the Key to Success
I tell my students and clients time and again that a last-minute presentation is a thing of the past. Today, a presentation should be considered as a personal business card or a personal brand; therefore, one should understand that professional performance consists of three key elements: a visually compelling presentation + an effective speech + appearance (including voice and gestures).
A last-minute presentation and a poorly prepared speech usually lead to average results and stress, latter being the arch-enemy of any performer. Under stress, we find ourselves hyperventilating, not getting enough oxygen to our brain, perspiring, forgetting the thread of reasoning, having slips of the tongue — we lose our footing.
To feel calm and self-confident, you need to keep in mind the mantra: “I did my best, I am ready!” It is also important to feel confident about your appearance (etiquette), to know what and when to say, to be ready to answer any questions (if expected). It is only such inner confidence that can transform your insecurities and fear of public speaking into new opportunities.
Moreover, a presentation and speech prepared in good time allow us to give careful thought to each important phrase, to check facts, numbers and dates, and to make changes, corrections, and improvements.
Knowing your own presentation like the back of your hand is the cornerstone of success. I advise clients to run through the presentation at least 10 times to get the sequence and speech content to stick.
Here are some tips for preparing a presentation:
- Consider the content. Define the objective of the presentation. What message do you want to get across? What result do you want to achieve? Who are your target audience? This is crucial because it is the objective of your presentation that dictates its layout and content, style and other aspects.
- Prepare a draft if needed. Draw an outline of the presentation on a sheet of paper — it helps to see what is included and what is still missing.
- Divide your presentation into three parts:
- introduction,
- main body or narrative (usually the largest part),
- conclusion (e. g., a slide with summary of ideas or conclusions).
This division will also help you structure your speech according to the same principle.
- Rehearse your presentation, including your speech, 5-10 times. If there is a time limit, try to keep the presentation within the allotted time.
- Remember that the slide show is just a part of the presentation. Your speech and appearance are of equal importance.
- Check grammar and wording.
- If you use online platforms, save the presentation also in PDF format and email a backup copy to yourself.
- If necessary, make notes for each of the slides. This will give you a sense of security and help you avoid forgetting what you want to say or repeating yourself.
Step-by-Step Guide to Confident Performance
When the presentation is ready, move on to the next step — write a speech and think about your appearance. In this respect, you should think of your own experiences: if it is easier to give a speech by preparing a full script beforehand, then you should do so; if it is easier to just outline the main points in each presentation, then, of course, it is better to stick to this approach. For online presentations, you can stick notes for each slide to the side of your computer, whereas when presenting in person, it is perfectly acceptable to hold notes in your hands.
It is important to remember that you should not overfill the presentation — your speech should complement the content of the presentation.
Pay attention to intonation, pauses, emphases, phrasing and accents — only a dynamic narrative keeps the audience engaged.
Steps to a Successful Performance:
- Arrive at the venue on time — familiarise yourself with the stage, get comfortable with the environment, observe the audience while other speakers perform.
- It is OK to feel a little nervous before the presentation. However, if the stress is overwhelming — heart palpitations, hyperventilation, and a fast heart rate — the best medicine is breathing exercises. When you are under stress, you may experience some trouble doing these exercises and even fail to take a few breaths because of ragged breathing. Try to take slow, deep breaths in and out, repeat at least 10 times or until your body calms down.
- If possible, go for a short walk before the presentation. Remember that pacing around nervously will only aggravate the situation. Walk at a moderate pace and do breathing exercises at the same time.
- Ensure clothing is both comfortable and appropriate for the situation. Avoid synthetic fabrics, as they make sweating worse.
- Pay attention to what you eat and drink prior the presentation. Consuming too much liquid or food may put extra strain on your body; however, it is not advisable to speak on an empty stomach — your body needs energy.
- Make sure you get enough sleep the night before — it helps maintain clear thinking and ensures sufficient energy.
- And most importantly, remember that nobody in the room knows your presentation and speech better than you do. Even if you mix things up, only you will know it. If you make a mistake or a slip of the tongue, simply apologize and move on — the audience wants to hear real-life stories rather than “a sterile” speech, which is often dry and impersonal in nature.
- After the presentation, repeat the breathing exercises. It is exactly like in sports: a warm-up before the competition and a cool-down after is a must.
Check out previous posts on this topic: https://www.janabunkus.com/tips-for-successful-presentation/
Jana Bunkus, Mg.sc.comm.
Manager of the Strategic Communications and Public Relations Company “J.B. Spark Communication”
Head of Communications Studies and lecturer at Biznesa augstskola Turība (Turība University)
Member of LASAP and European Association of Communication Directors (EACD)
