Top 10 Tips to Deliver Amazing Presentations

I have always found it extremely distressing to talk in meetings, present PowerPoints, or speak to a group of people.

I never felt confident enough and doubted myself too much. Thoughts like "What if I messed up?", "My presentation is not good enough," or "What do they think of this?" always popped into my mind before and during presentations.

No matter how prepared I was, the feeling that something would go wrong never let go of me, which affected my presentations and was very noticeable.

I knew that the material was good and that my ideas worked, but the moment I saw a group of people staring at me, doubt would instantly infiltrate.

I decided that I needed to improve and work on the deficiencies that I had so that I could deliver presentations in confidence and control.

I'm sharing with you what worked for me and the steps I took to overcome my shortcomings. Some of these tips I learned from research and study, while others I had to figure out by myself.

A few points to consider before we delve into the actionable items:

• You are not as bad as you might think. We tend to undervalue our work and abilities.
• Others are not as good as you might think. Don't overestimate other people's abilities.
• The audience is not obsessed with digging mistakes or errors in your presentation. They just want to hear your ideas.
• You will NEVER appeal to everyone. There will always be people who will downplay you no matter how brilliant you are; just ignore them.
• Don't be a perfectionist. It is OK if things are not perfect.

Now that we got those principles straight and laid out, let us delve into the science and art of delivering killer presentations.

• 1. Body Language: Being confident and in control

  

  The key to successful presenting is body language. Non-verbal gestures account for more than 50% of your ability to influence or persuade others.

  No matter how good your speech or words are, if you look shaky or hesitant, it will negatively affect your presentation.

  We humans are masters of reading body language. We can easily detect an unsettled person just by watching them.

  Look confident and half of your delivery is established.

• 2. Smile and Keep it Positive

  

  It is extremely important to remain positive and optimistic throughout your presentation.

  Radiate positive vibes by smiling and being genuinely excited.

  Positivity is contagious. The audience will feel it and pick it up, which sets the mood for a good reception.

• 3. Utilize Beverages

  

  Studies have shown that people tend to be more agreeable as they eat or drink a beverage. That is why a business lunch is so effective.

  If you can control the setting, make sure that beverages are easily accessible or placed directly in front of your audience.

  A trick that worked well for me is placing nuts on meeting tables before I presented a business plan or a proposal. My audience would listen to me talk, nodding their heads down in full agreement.

  In addition to providing beverages to the audience, consider having one yourself.

  Having small sips of coffee or tea will put you at ease and calm you down. You will feel more relaxed and confident.

  In addition, having a beverage in front of you speaks confidence and control, but be careful with this one—you don't want to offend anyone.

  If no one else is having a beverage, it is better not to. In this case, a bottle or glass of water will do the trick.

• 4. Maintain Eye Contact

  

  Maintain eye contact. I don't mean staring awkwardly at people and making them uncomfortable.

  What you should do instead is make sure to look your audience in the eyes every once in a while: first, to make sure that they remain focused, and second, to ensure that they get the necessary focus and attention that they need.

  When you look in the direction of a certain individual, you are essentially saying: "Your presence is important, and this presentation is for you."

• 5. Use Persuading Gestures

  

  We have already established that non-verbal communication is key to successful crowd control, but what exactly should you do?

  • The posture should be firm and straight. Keep your legs a bit apart to establish authority and stance.
  • Use the "Hold the Ball" technique: Imagine that you are holding a ball in front of you as you speak. Put your hands next to each other as if you are holding an imaginary ball. This technique gives the impression that someone is in control, as if everything is within the reach and confinement of your hands.
  • Use the "Clinton Box" technique to increase and control emotions. This term has been coined after former President Bill Clinton successfully utilized it in his speeches before and during his presidency. It is similar to the "holding the ball" gesture mentioned earlier, but does not necessarily imply that you have to actually form a sphere in front of your body. Just visualize a small tight box in front of you and keep all your hand movements within that box. Movement of the hands should be minimal and limited. Avoid exaggerated movements that span all over the place.

• 6. Promote Conversation

  

  Encourage conversation at critical moments to engage your audience and to make sure that everyone remains focused.

  One way to do that is to check whether anyone has questions. More often than not, someone in the audience will raise their hand and ask something, which might ignite a discussion.

• 7. Ask the Questions Yourself

  

  Anticipate possible questions yourself and ask them before the crowd even gets a chance. This has to be prepared and planned beforehand.

  By asking the questions in the minds of the audience, you showcase that you truly understand the subject and that you are master of your domain.

  Additionally, you convey the impression that you understand your audience and the problems they are trying to solve.

  By resonating with the thoughts and feelings of the people around you, you gain their trust and establish a connection that opens the door to influence. True persuasion begins with understanding.

• 8. Speak and Respond Slowly

  

  Make sure your words are loud and clear. If you speak too fast, your message may not be understood properly or you might make mistakes.

  Avoid saying "uh", "um", or similar filler words. They give the impression of unclear thoughts or lack of knowledge, which is another reason why speaking slowly is important.

  Additionally, take your time to answer questions. It is better to provide a delayed, firm, and confident response than a hasty and shaky quick one.

• 9. Avoid Nervous Behavior

  

  Avoid anything like fidgeting, finger or feet tapping, touching the face frequently, and shaky hands. You will automatically get rid of these behaviors by embracing the confident mindset we mentioned earlier.

  It is all in your head and you can control it if you choose to. Remember that you are good enough and people are gathering because they want to hear your thoughts and ideas.

• 10. Practice with an Invisible Audience or Mirror

  

  Practice with a mirror or record your presentation and rewatch it. Did you convince yourself? If not, take note of what can be improved and try again.

  This may seem daunting and too much effort, but it is only temporary. You will eventually get the hang of it and will start doing all the right things spontaneously.