Express Yourself! ~ All About Your Presentation Skills

The normal day-to-day routine was broken for the last two days. But, it was all for good. I attended a training for corporate called 'Express Yourself'. Basically, it is all about tips and tricks of good presentation skills. Good experience, great exposure :-)

First, overcome your nervousness!

How do you do this? Calm yourself down by taking few deep breaths. Or you can opt to do 'Brain Gym' techniques. Try out one of this activity. This activity will stimulate your left and right brain. 

What if you are still nervous? Try below points:

1. Turn your nervousness (negative energy) to positive

2. Engage into exercise to ease tension

3. Refrain your negative thoughts

4. Think of positive events in your life

5. Organise and rehearse

6. Use anchoring (for eg. pat your shoulder)

7. Powerful act - SMILE

There are 2 parts of delivering successful presentation - the way you present and your slide deck.

Presentation slides (tips & tricks)

1. Use maximum of 4 colors

2. Use font size of 30 or 32, colors should not be too bright (remember any color on white will make eyes tired)

3. Data should be in point forms (highlight & explain as you go thru the points)

4. Use visual aids appropriately (make sure it is relevant to your content)

5. Limit text on visual

6. Use statistics, graphs, comparisons, findings, blow out texts or pictures

You as a presenter :

1. Know your audience

2. Start with opening, body and closing. Opening is powerful when you involve your audience with multimedia presentation aids, props or questions, counter tension/ice breakers, tell popular quotes, use impactful statements, metaphors. Capture your audience.

3. Show confidence, avoid clasping hands, avoid touching your hair, keep your hands to your side. Use gestures, body language

4. Engage your audience. Ask questions. 

5. Avoid saying "Sorry","I think..", "But..", "However.."

6. Include humor

7. Must include - purpose, objective, strategies, action

8. Use tonality, high & low pitch

9. Eye Contact with audience

10. Use props (flipcharts). Remember, write, turn to audience and talk.

11. Response positively to audience's questions. (Say thanks, acknowledge). Avoid negative comments.

There are many CEOs out there has given remarkable and memorable presentation, one of it is Steve Job's product launch.

Practice makes perfect - very true in delivering an impactful presentation :-)