Dos and Don’ts for a Kick-Ass Presentation

Public-speaking skill is an amalgamation of clarity of thought, consistency, confidence, brevity and knowledge. All of these skills put together constitutes a good public speaker. While we may all possess some great qualities, we might as well have some qualities which indeed needs some improvisation. This can be correct with these do’s and don’ts.

DOs

1. Do effective planning even before you begin making the presentation.
2. Do the KISS Formula: It is “keep It simple and short”. Use data which are not hard to follow.
3. Do engage with your audience: Interaction is good! everyone can relate to these six emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust.
4. No idea is a bad idea: Brainstorm as much as you can!
5. Make a point and tell a story. Focus on the core message, it is the most important information. Use minimum lines. Maybe just one and create a story around it.
6. Let your personality flow: Dress to your comfort. But don't let your appearance distract your audience from what you are saying
7. Keep your energy up!
8. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse and Rehearse!
9. Use creative bridges during the transition of topics.
10. Use body language to connect with your audience. Evoke emotions like happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust everyone can relate to them.
11. Strong eye-contact means confidence.
12. Laughter is great! Brownie point if you can nail it!

DON'TS

1. Never show that you are nervous! Don't leave your personality at home.
2. Repeat what is written on the slides: It’s not a teleprompter!
3. Overload one slide with too many information.
4. Never read the script: Presentations are not drab monologues.
5. Make it too long and boring by including unnecessary data.
6. Use paragraphs in slides. Around 30 to 40 words in a decent font size is ample for one transparency. Use bullets rather than full sentences.
7. Be afraid to make a kick-ass cover slide.
8. Include zillion pictures in your slide. And Go overboard with the visual transition.
9. Waste the audiences time: Time your speech
10. Clutter your slides with fancy words and sentences.
11. Don't get carried away and try to be funny if you are not!
12. Save the best for the last.

If you nail these points, we are sure that you are going to nail your presentation. Good luck!

Also read: How to Raise Funds for Startups in India

Reshma Ganeshbabu is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.