Effective Presentations

In an age where attention spans are short and distractions are prevalent, effective presentations are harder to make. If people are disinterested in a presentation, it's very easy for an audience member to just take out their Blackberry, even just walk out of the room. This puts a lot of pressure on the presenter to make sure that not only is the content of the presentation good, but that the manner of presentation is compelling.

Effective presentations are hard to come by, but with some foresight, preparation and confidence, you could be giving one of them. The following are some tips on crafting effective presentations.

1. It's about the audience, not you.

Oftentimes we get so worked up on the fact that we'll be doing a presentation, we forget who we're giving the presentation for. Worse, we intentionally compromise the audience's needs and expectations just to get over the anxiety of having to present. This is a big mistake. You're going to present one way or another, might as well make it an opportunity to truly inform and educate.

Taking the role of speaker means taking the accompanying responsibility of being interesting, articulate and entertaining. To do this, consider who you're talking to. By knowing your audience you can tailor-fit your presentation to their needs, likes and dislikes. If you're conducting a speech in a high school, then use less formal language and be more relaxed. Share anecdotes about your high school life relevant to your presentation.

2. Break it down.

Generally, people have an attention span of 20 minutes. So if your presentation lasts for an hour, conduct some activities to break the monotony. Question and answer or individual/group exercises are often used in effective presentations. Jokes, icebreakers and bathroom breaks can also help.

Always have a structure for your presentation, and inform your audience at the start how the presentation would flow. Ideally, your presentation should have a beginning (introduction), middle (the meat of the presentation), and end (summary, emphasis on relevance, tying up of loose ends).

Unless there's a need, stick to your outline. Unnecessary detours or staying on one topic for an extended period of time not only eats up time, but gives your audience very little to think about. Eventually they will drift off. If a member of the audience wants to discuss a particular point further and you're already pressed for time, and if the question is of no interest to the rest of the audience, discuss it with him or her after the presentation.

3. Mind your presentation style.

Style is how you deliver your presentation. It's just as important as what you say. Delivering jokes and anecdotes may take time to master, but a few basic rules are: speaking clearly, making sure you're heard, establishing eye contact with the audience, and having good posture.

Effective presentations take time. Enjoy the whole process - from planning to delivery. Do it often eough and you'll soon project the confidence and enthusiasm to keep people glued to their seats.

More resources

• Top 10 tips of effective presentations.
• Effective presenting needs some of of these skills.