Are you a glass half-full or a glass half-empty kind of a person?
I am strong advocate on the power of positive thinking. Last year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Yes I know….horrid, awful, terrifying. But having got over the initial shock, I decided I could go one of two ways. I could either sit in a corner and feel very sorry for myself for the next six months or I could come out fighting, I could beat this and come out the other side a better person. So I decided to fight and now it’s a 18 months later and I’m doing fine. But it was the mental state of remaining positive, of still being enthusiastic about life that kept me going. We can apply this to all kinds of things. If you think positive, I can guarantee you will feel more confident and your presentation will be a breeze.
When you are asked to stand up in front of the audience, be positive and smile. Establish eye contact with as many people as possible. Glance around the room during your talk, making eye contact with everyone. No-one should feel left out and so regular eye contact around the room will help.
Whilst talking:
Be enthusiastic
Vary the tone and pitch of your voice to emphasise the points you are making
Use gestures to emphasise your points as well
In other words, be dynamic. Do not be afraid. You will come across much less dynamic than you think you are. So it’s almost impossible to go ‘over the top’.
Try to get close to the audience. Don’t hide behind a podium if possible and move towards the audience whenever you are making a key point.
Use open body language. Don’t fold your arms or droop your head. These are indications that you are uncomfortable and you will lose support from the audience.
Throughout your presentation be yourself. Don’t try to behave like someone else. Act naturally, but positively. Wherever possible, involve your audience by asking questions and seeking feedback on your progress. This will continue to demonstrate that you care for them and are seeking to address their needs, winning you even more fans!
When it’s all over - relax. You can have a drink afterwards to congratulate yourself, but never before to ‘steady your nerves’. You will actually perform much worse after alcohol, even though you will believe you are doing well! Oh and before you leave the room, get feedback on your presentation. Ask the organisers and some of the audience how they felt it went.
If you’ve been following all my other blogs you should now have the complete guide on how to do a brilliant presentation – so off you go and good luck!
Sharon
P.S. Make sure you let us know how you get on with your presentations - we'd love to hear from you.