Standing in front of an audience to give a presentation is a daunting prospect but you're unlikely to get through university without having to do it. Read these top tips to ensure it goes without a hitch Show
Your tutor or lecturer mentions the word 'presentation' and the first thing you do is panic but there's really no need. Depending on your subject, you might be expected to summarise your reading in a seminar, deliver the results of a scientific experiment, or provide feedback from a group task. Whatever the topic, you'll usually be presenting to your tutor and fellow students. Whilegetting up and making your case in front of an audience isn't easy, especially when you're not used to it, it really is good practice as many graduate employers use presentations as part of the recruitment process. To help ensure that your presentation stands out for the right reasons, the careers team at the University of Cumbria provide their top tips. Prepare carefullyGive yourself plenty of time to prepare thoroughly, as a last-minute rush will leave you flustered when it comes to delivering your presentation. 'Plan the structure and format - Introduction, the key facts you want to get across in the most logical order, the objective and purpose of your presentation and the conclusion,' advise the careers team at the University of Cumbria. To help plan your content and to make sure you stay on track ask yourself why you're putting the presentation together and what you're hoping to achieve. You can make detailed notes as part of your planning, but don't rely on these on the day, as reading from a prepared text sounds unnatural. If you want to take a memory aid with you use small index cards, as referring to A4 sheets of paper during your presentation can be distracting and highlight your nerves if your hands shake. At the planning stage you'll also need to consider the timings of your presentation. Time limits are set for a reason - falling short or going over this limit will likely result in a loss of marks, especially if it’s part of an assessment or exam. 'It's also a good idea to prepare answers to possible questions you may be asked about the presentation,' adds the Cumbria careers team. If you have to give a group presentation discover three tips for successful group work. Use visuals wiselyBear in mind that visual aids should complement your oral presentation, not repeat it, nor deliver the presentation for you. While your slides should offer a brief summary of points, or an illustration supporting the concept that you're discussing, you are the main focus. When putting together your slides and visual aids:
Don't fall into the trap of merely reading aloud what is written on your slides - instead use them as a starting point from which you expand and develop your narrative. It's also worth pointing out that a presentation is only as good as it's content. Visually your presentation could look beautiful but if you're lacking knowledge your audience is unlikely to be fooled. Consider your audienceThere are many elements you can include in a presentation - sound, video, hand-outs and questions at the end, for example - so you'll need to think about which ones are suitable. For example, whether your tone is serious or light-hearted might depend on factors such as the subject you're studying, or whether the presentation is an assessed piece of work. To show that you have thought about the audience consider how much background information they will need. Do they already have some knowledge of the topic you're presenting? Spending the first half of your presentation telling an audience what they already know will be frustrating for them. Equally, if you go straight into the detail they may get lost. It's vital you get the balance right, and knowing your audience is the key. Practice with a friendYou should run through your presentation in full more than once, ideally in front of an audience. Ask a friend if they'll help you with a practice run. Make them sit at a distance to check that everyone attending can hear you speaking. It’d be even better if you could do this practice run in the room you'll be giving your presentation in. This will enable you to work out whether your presentation is the right length when spoken aloud, and give you the chance to get used to expressing yourself in front of others. While you practice make sure that you:
Another top tip from the team at Cumbria is to record yourself giving the presentation on Teams or Zoom. 'Play it back and reflect on it. Ask yourself if it’s clear, concise, and if it makes sense. How are your mannerisms and non-verbals? Do you come across well? Are you talking too fast or waffling? Are you smiling and personable?' Be positiveTry developing a positive attitude in the days leading up to the presentation. This may seem obvious and easier said than done if you're shy, but pull it off and it will make a huge difference to how you perform. Acknowledge your nervousness but don't let negative thoughts win. Instead of thinking about all the things that could go wrong visualise a positive outcome and focus on what you can do to ensure it runs smoothly. On the day nerves can conspire to make you think that the room is against you but this isn't the case. Remember that your tutor and your coursemates want you to succeed. To set your presentation up for success make sure your introduction is strong. Start with a confident attitude and a smile. Don't rely on technologyWe've all witnessed the agony of a presenter struggling with a faulty USB stick or failing to get a projector to work. However, with a little bit of planning, you can minimise the risk of technology tripping you up. If possible, test your presentation beforehand with the same equipment that you'll be using for the real thing. Otherwise, try to arrive early on the day and have a run through. Make sure you know how to link your laptop to the projector and if your presentation includes links to web pages or video clips make sure these lead to the right places and are working beforehand. Bring back-ups of your documents and print out a few copies of the slides to share if things go wrong. However, you shouldn't rely too heavily on your slides. Always be ready to give your presentation without them if necessary, using your notes or index cards as memory aids. And if a piece of technology does fail, don't panic. It will happen to everyone in the room at some point. Get through it without being fazed, and it might even impress your tutor more than if everything went perfectly. Find out more
What should be avoided during a presentation?15 things not to do when presenting. Forget that you're up there not to promote how wonderful you are, but to provide value to the audience.. Lose focus of what the audience needs from you. ... . Fail to set objectives. ... . Proceed without a plan (also known as an agenda). ... . Wing it. ... . Jump from point to point in a disorganized way.. What should be avoided during a business presentation?Here are five of the most common, along with some tips on how to avoid them.. Failing to engage emotionally. You risk losing your audience when you just “state the facts,” even in a business setting. ... . Asking too much of your slides. ... . Trotting out tired visuals. ... . Speaking in jargon. ... . Going over your allotted time.. What is the main rationale for not starting to show slides as soon as you begin a presentation that features slides?What is the main rationale for not starting to show slides as soon as you begin a presentation that features slides? You should first make a connection with your audience. Which of the following is a common mistake made by speakers during a slide presentation? They spend too much time with their backs to the audience.
What are thing that good speakers will do when involving the audience in their presentations?Engage the audience — get them interested, give them a reason to listen.. Describe a scene or a character.. Tell a story.. Share a personal experience.. Relate to a recent event.. Piggyback on a previous speaker's remark or theme.. Point out something important about the audience or the current setting.. |