If you're currently using visual aids, stop for a while. It's
really easy to try and let the slides give the presentation, which
just doesn't work well. Try giving a speech without them; it forces
you to focus on your
technique.
Tape yourself giving your presentation. Listen carefully to
any part of the speech where you hesitate, stumble, or use word
whiskers like "Ahhh" or "Umm". Practice these
parts until you can present them smoothly.
Trim your notes heavily. The less notes you bring, the better.
Notes are memory aids; however, you shouldn't have to remember
the exact words you are going to say. You should strive to remember
the points you want to present, and let the words come naturally.
You will wind up as a much more natural, relaxed speaker.
Become adept at controlling your speed. Practice your speech
while speaking as slowly as you can. Now, practice it as quick
as you can. Repeat until you get a feel for how different speeds
of presentations effect how you sound. Once you've done that,
think about how you can use differing speeds to bring out important
points in your presentation. For example, it's a common pattern
to speak quickly while building to a crescendo, and then suddenly
slow down. The sudden contrast will cause the audience to pay
attention.
Learn to resist the temptation to use every minute of available
time. If you are running ahead of schedule and try to stretch
the material to fill the time, your audience will be able to tell.
Just a few minutes can mean the difference between a great presentation
and a marginal one. Better to leave the audience wanting more
than to leave them wishing they had less.
David Berube is a writer, software developer, and speaker.
Want to know five ways to sell more on your website? Check out http://berubeconsulting.com/
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