20 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills

Question 1

Practice.

Answer 1

Try to practice where you’ll be delivering your talk. The more you mix up your position and setting, the more comfortable you’ll feel with your speech.

Question 2

Transform Nervous Energy Into Enthusiasm.

Answer 2

Studies have shown that an enthusiastic speech can win out over an eloquent one. Make sure you are as enthusiastic and energetic as possible before speaking.

Question 3

Meet and Greet.

Answer 3

Do your best to talk with people before your presentation. Ask attendees questions - they may give you some inspiration to add to your talk.

Question 4

Use Positive Visualization.

Answer 4

Studies have proven the effectiveness of positive visualization. When we imagine a positive outcome to a scenario in our mind, it’s more likely to play out the way we envision.

Question 5

Arrive Early.

Answer 5

Allow yourself plenty of time to settle in before your talk. Extra time ensures you won’t be late and gives you plenty of time to get adapted to your presentation space.

Question 6

Adjust to Your Surroundings.

Answer 6

The more adjusted to your environment you are, the more comfortable you’ll feel.

Question 7

Attend Other Presentations.

Answer 7

Another speaker may say something that you can play off of later in your own presentation.

Question 8

Remember That Most Audiences are Sympathetic.

Answer 8

The audience wants to see you succeed. If you start to feel nervous, remind yourself that the audience wants to see you do well.

Question 9

Take Deep Breaths.

Answer 9

When we’re nervous, our muscles tighten–you may even catch yourself holding your breath. Instead, take deep breaths to get oxygen to your brain and relax your body.

Question 10

Smile.

Answer 10

Smiling increases endorphins, replacing anxiety with calm. Smiling also exhibits confidence and enthusiasm to the crowd. This tip works even if you’re doing a webinar and people can’t see you. Just don’t overdo it – no one enjoys the crazy clown look.

Question 11

Exercise.

Answer 11

Exercise earlier in the day prior to your presentation to boost endorphins, which will help alleviate anxiety.

Question 12

Work on Your Pauses.

Answer 12

Don’t be afraid to slow down and use pauses in your speech. Pausing can be used to emphasize certain points and to help your talk feel more conversational. If you feel yourself losing control of your pacing, just take a nice pause and keep cool.

Question 13

Don’t Try to Cover Too Much Material.

Answer 13

Presentations should be full of useful, insightful, and actionable information, but that doesn’t mean you should try to condense a vast and complex topic into a 10-minute presentation.

Question 14

Actively Engage the Audience.

Answer 14

Asking the audience what they think, inviting questions, and other means of welcoming audience participation can boost engagement and make attendees feel like a part of a conversation.

Question 15

Be Entertaining.

Answer 15

Don’t be afraid to inject a little humor into your talk. If you’re not sure about whether a presentation is “too much,” run through it for a couple of friends and ask them to tell you how it sounds.

Question 16

Admit You Don’t Have All the Answers.

Answer 16

We all know that nobody can know everything about a given topic, admitting so in a presentation can actually improve your credibility.

Question 17

Use a Power Stance.

Answer 17

Practicing confident body language is another way to boost your pre-presentation jitters. When your body is physically demonstrating confidence, your mind will follow suit. Whatever you do, don’t sit–sitting is passive.

Question 18

Drink Water.

Answer 18

Dry mouth is a common result of anxiety. Prevent dry mouth by staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water before your talk.

Question 19

Join Toastmasters.

Answer 19

Toastmaster clubs are groups across the country (and the world) dedicated to helping members improve their public speaking skills. Groups get together during lunch or after work to take turns delivering short talks on a chosen topic. The more you present, the better you’ll be.

Question 20

Don’t Fight the Fear.

Answer 20

Accept your fear rather than trying to fight it. Getting yourself worked up by wondering if people will notice your nervousness will only intensify your anxiety. Remember, those jitters aren’t all bad – harness that nervous energy and transform it into positive enthusiasm.