Presentations are an effective way to communicate to large numbers of people at the same time. However, it is not just about communicating information, but more importantly, to have advanced presentation skills you should be able to create interest and excitement in your subject and trust and enthusiasm in you.
A certain amount of nervousness is vital for a good presentation. You need the extra energy to communicate: What you feel when you stand up in front of people is the urge to either run away or fight. If you endeavour to stifle those feelings you will be inhibited, restricted, artificial and wooden. The added adrenaline will keep your faculties sharp and ready to engage with your audience.
Extra adrenaline, however, can result in shallow upper chest breathing and tension. Taking a slow, deep breath, breathing fully out and then in again, will relax you. Strangely having something to pick up and put down tends to release your breathing.
It may seem an odd idea, but our bodies seem to feel better when they have some sort of displacement activity to occupy them. It's the reason people hold pens and fiddle with things. A limited amount of this sort of activity will not be too obtrusive and can make you feel a lot more secure.
When you start you are at your most insecure. Avoid all the well-meant advice about what you are and are not allowed to do. Until you feel settled do anything you can find to make yourself feel secure. This includes holding on to a lectern. Even just standing next to something solid will make you feel less wobbly.
The breathing tip above will help you to slow down your presentation. Go more slowly than you think necessary to avoid gabbling. Your audience need the time to assimilate and interpret what you are saying. It's a fact that when adrenaline is flowing your sense of time is distorted and what seems OK to you may look like fast forward to your audience.
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Find out more about presentation skills development and coaching tips @ Impact Factory Find Impact Factorys next available Open Presentation Skills Course
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PowerPoint Presentation Skills Course
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Public Speaking Skills Course
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For Tailored Presentation Skills Training see Presentation Skills Training
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If you want some in-depth thoughts about Presentation, read the article called Presentation Skills
For examples recent tailored programmes see
Creative Presentation for Wild Card
Meetings and Presentation Skills Training for Capita Connexions Card
Advanced Presentation Skills Training for Raytheon Systems Ltd
Presentation Skills Programme for Chanel
How to present well
Dealing with presentation nervousness
Be nervous
Breathe
Get something else to do
Hold on to something
Go slow
Next page working your audience
Presentation Skills Training