Presentation skills: from amoeba to star

"Good day to you! Probably every speaker would like to say “Turn off your phones” and, of course, no one will. Everslide will help bring this to your advantage so you can say “Turn on your phones!” ”
- An example of the introduction of an Everslide presentation .



Imagine that you have a task - to present a product or service to an audience. You have never spoken and are terribly afraid of disgrace. You can, if you can’t avoid all the mistakes, then significantly reduce their number and make them your star of performances.

Any presentation consists of two parts:

1. Slides
2. The content of the presentation

We consider each part separately and derive the rules.

Slides

• Rule 1 - Do not use bulleted lists.
  
  Bulleted lists in presentations - Moveton. Try to get rid of the lists, but if you cannot do without lists, then use the tips from the article " How to focus the viewer's attention on slides ", we described how to display lists and make them easier for the viewer to perceive.
  
  
• Rule 2 - No more than seven words per slide.
  
  A large amount of text on the slide causes the viewer to read and, therefore, cannot hear you.
  
  The viewer should look at you, not read the slide!
  
  
• Rule 3 - Font size ~ 30pt
  
  For quick and easy reading of the text, the font should be large and clear.
  
  
• Rule 4 - Use Images
  
  It has long been proven that images are perceived easier and many times faster than text. Therefore, use high-quality images that reflect the essence of the slide.
  
  
  The amount of perceived information from the slide, depending on the type of information.
  
  
• Rule 5 - Images should occupy the entire slide or most of it.
  
  Based on the graphics above, give preference to large and clear images reflecting the essence of the slide.
  
  
• Rule 6 - Break the Ice
  
  To reduce the tension and make the audience a little relax, tell an entertaining story or joke. Giving a humorous touch to the introduction can help melt the ice between you and the audience. Just like the story, your joke should be relevant to the topic of the presentation.
  
  

The content of the presentation

The content of the presentation is not only your speech, intonation, voice, but also your movements - your entire image.

• Rule 7 - Confidence
  
  During the speech, your speech should be confident and even, but not without emotional. You can talk with small pauses, but try to get rid of parasite words like “mm”, “hmm ...” and others. Words-parasites in speech very much spoil the impression of the speech and create the feeling that the speaker "floats" in the subject.
  
  To be more confident, train your performance, first to yourself, then in front of the mirror, then in front of the family.
  
  
• Rule 8 - Body language and eye contact
  
  As mentioned in the article “ Six Tips for a First-Class Presentation ”, if the audience is large, then “scan” the horizon. If the size of the audience allows, then meet your gaze with the audience - make eye contact.
  
  Also, while speaking, watch your body language. Make movements openly and naturally. Inexpressive movements reduce confidence in the speaker, as a result of which you will have to make additional efforts for a successful performance.
  
  
• Rule 9 - Be interesting.
  
  Your presentation should be interesting not only in the topic, but also in the way you talk. Monotonous speech “kills” the viewer, and if the performance is lively and looks like a conversation with the audience, then the viewer's attention will be yours.
  
  
• Rule 10 - Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse
  
  In order for your performance to be smooth and consistent, you need to learn it and rehearse until you can repeat it from beginning to end, and then a couple more times without a single hesitation and mistake.
  
  Recognized professional speaker Steve Jobs rehearsed his speech for many hours in a row. He threw out excess and polished his speech, not only text and speech, but also movements, facial expressions, pauses. When a speech becomes part of you, it looks natural and is perceived by the audience positively and with a high credit of trust.
  
  

Additionally

• Rule 11 - Know the topic.
  
  If you “swim” in the topic of the speech, then you can get the hell out of just one question. You do not have to know the answers to all questions, then 99% for sure.
  
  
• Rule 12 - Know the market
  
  If you do not know the market, then you will not be able to answer questions about your project in projection onto the market, which means that your presentation will tell you about a greenhouse project torn from the market.
  
  
• Rule 13 - Include the basics
  
  Your presentation should answer the fundamental questions: “What?”, “Who?”, “Why?” And “For whom?”.
  
  
• Rule 14 - Key Points A
  
  performance of 2 hours without breaking down into thematic blocks is very difficult for perception. It is necessary to break the speech into blocks, which will allow not to lose the viewer's attention and switch it from one question to another, as part of the presentation.
  

The path to the star of performances can only be comprehended in practice, books can only be directed, but the path to the star performance lies through monotonous performances, falling asleep spectators, tricky questions, confusion, fear and much more.