April's Guide to Better Presentations


Speak loud enough, and clearly enough, that people can both hear and understand you.

Be creative and fun.

Avoid (visual)(informational) clutter.

SIMPLIFY!

Don't READ if you can avoid it- be engaged in yourself- be enthusiastic.

Don't ramble- say only what you need to, and don�ft repeat.

Don't have a power point, or other visual, that is so engaging people just stare at it (rather than listening to you)- Give them a reason or make them look at you.

Don't clutter your power points/slides/overheads with too much information.

Use your strengths:

Let people who talk the best talk the most

People who don't talk as well should still talk, but give them less talking and instead give them other jobs/tasks they are more suited for.

Let an "expert" run the media

Do what "works" for "you"

(For instance, if you need note cards written out in sentences, do that. If you need a note card outline, do that. If you need a piece of paper with and outline, do that. If you like to talk completely off the cuff, do that. Just be prepared.)

Work out transitions and when you are showing video clips, etc, BEFORE the actual presentation so everyone knows who is going when and what goes where.

BE FLEXIBLE and ADAPTABLE. Sometimes even the best planing can be ruined with an accident. What happens if the technoloy - like the computer - just stops working? Be able to adjust to this quickly, without losing a beat, and make sure whoever isn't talking fixes the problem straight away.

Add humor where possible- it helps keep you audience engaged.

"Listen" to your audience- are they listening to you? If they aren't, change something!