You’ve really nailed that presentation! Not only does it look fabulous, but it really gets the point across. But does that mean you’re all ready to deliver your presentation? Nope. Knowing how to make a presentation doesn’t start or end with the PowerPoint itself, but with your delivery and presentation skills. And you can learn all about the strategies and hacks to making your presentation polished and persuasive with Kool Kanya's course, 'Make power-packed Presentations - The 8-step approach'.
If you’re an anxious woman, we stan your self-awareness, but we know how hard it is to deliver the perfect presentation. But, we’ve got your back. Here’s our guide on not just how to make a good presentation, but to master those presentation skills such that your anxiety won’t be able to get in the way anymore.
Are you on the lookout to challenge yourself, gain some lifelong skills, and find a community of like-minded career-driven women? You’ve come to the right place. By purchasing Kool Kanya’s PowerPass, you can take a variety of our LIVE online courses and come out smarter. #RaiseYourPower
Know your point and then make it
The key to a successful presentation is - first - to know your point, and - second - to make your point. Any experienced public speaker will tell you that knowing your subject matter inside-out will lead to an effective outcome. If you fear the embarrassment and humiliation of somehow making a mistake during your presentation, remember that you’re not being judged. You simply have to move important information from your head to your audience’s.
Being entertaining or charismatic is secondary. You first have to effectively convey your point. You can ask yourself 4 easy questions to understand if you’ve absorbed the matter.
- What is the concept?
- Which strategies make the concept succeed?
- What is the impact of that success?
- What can others take away from that success?
Once you are able to answer these questions, be rest assured that the audience will understand the point you are trying to make. To take your presentation to the next level, you can take a look at our article on ingredients of a good PowerPoint presentation.
Make your voice heard
And, we don’t just mean being loud, but also being yourself. Volume is critical to making powerful points whether you're in a room or on Zoom. Your increased volume will convey that you are confident and competent. It also conveys that you are assertive, persuasive, and passionate about the matter. Even if your best authentic self is flawed, your audience will respond positively to it.
Coming across as artificial on the other hand will harm your credibility with the audience and reduce your engagement. If you are comfortable using your hands to gesture, do that. If you are humorous by nature, be humorous. Being yourself will make you the most confident speaker that you can be. Smile when you can, and try to visualise your success as you speak. If you are making an online presentation and want to make it more engaging, here’s your guide to making impressive and engaging online presentations.
Practise, practise and practise
Finally, not only does practise make you perfect, but practice makes you more confident. Once you are self-assured that you know your material inside and out, the chances of you being anxious are quite less. When practising, do so meaningfully, don’t just mumble your lines, but act it out and do it loudly as if you are actually making the presentation.
If you are feeling comfortable enough, take this chance to ask a trusted friend or family member to share some feedback with you. You can also record yourself and play it back to see if there is room for improvement. All you need is time and space to go over your entire presentation. If you are on the lookout for mistakes to avoid when making your presentation and what to do right, take a look at this article on, DOs and DON’Ts of a presentation.
Support yourself
While we can go on and on about confidence, charm, and knowing your material, there are a few other factors that can help you reign in your anxiety on the big day. You can start by arriving early or joining the Zoom meeting before time. This will help you get settled and keep those nerves at bay.
Avoid stimulants - like coffee - before your presentation. Caffeine in your system will only make you jittery and heighten your anxiousness. Drink lots of water and remember to stay excited. Turn your nervous energy into enthusiasm by focusing on the positive aspects, such as the opportunity to present the final outcome.
For a deeper understanding of how your presentation and delivery correspond to a well-made presentation, register for Kool Kanya’s course, ‘Make power-packed presentations: The creative edition’. The course also covers how to present with confidence, including tips and tricks for creating memorable presentations. So, if you want to know how to create outstanding slides, and go beyond generic templates to make a truly engaging presentation, this course is for you.
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Knowledge is power. At Kool Kanya, we urge you to Raise Your Power by learning things you never learnt in classroom. Get your PowerPass now, and build a career you love.
