How do you prepare and deliver presentations?

1 Know your purpose

Before you start working on your presentation, you need to define your purpose and your main message. What are you trying to achieve with your presentation? What do you want your audience to know, feel, or do after listening to you? How will you measure your success? Having a clear purpose will help you focus your content, structure your presentation, and tailor it to your audience's needs and expectations.

2 Design your slides

Your slides are not your presentation, they are your visual aids. They should support your verbal delivery, not distract from it or replace it. Therefore, you should design your slides with simplicity, clarity, and consistency in mind. Use a minimal amount of text, avoid clutter and unnecessary animations, and choose fonts, colors, and images that are easy to read and relevant to your topic. You can also use charts, graphs, diagrams, or other visual elements to illustrate your data, concepts, or processes, but make sure they are accurate, labeled, and explained.

3 Practice your delivery

The way you deliver your presentation is as important as the content and the design. You need to practice your delivery to improve your confidence, fluency, and timing. You can practice by yourself, using a mirror, a recorder, or a camera, or with a friend, a colleague, or a coach who can give you feedback. You should also rehearse in the same or similar setting as your actual presentation, using the same equipment and tools. Practice your body language, eye contact, voice, and gestures, and anticipate possible questions or challenges from your audience.

4 Engage your audience

Your presentation is not a monologue, it is a dialogue. You need to engage your audience throughout your presentation, not just at the end. You can use various techniques to capture their attention, stimulate their interest, and invite their participation. For example, you can start with a hook, such as a story, a question, a quote, or a statistic that relates to your topic and your audience. You can also use polls, quizzes, surveys, or games to interact with your audience and get their feedback. You can also ask questions, encourage comments, or share examples that involve your audience and make them feel part of your presentation.

5 Handle nerves

It is normal to feel nervous before and during a presentation, especially if you are not used to speaking in public or if the stakes are high. However, you can manage your nerves and turn them into positive energy. You can prepare yourself mentally and physically by having a positive attitude, visualizing your success, breathing deeply, and relaxing your muscles. You can also cope with your nerves by focusing on your audience, not on yourself, and by remembering your purpose and your message. You can also deal with any mistakes, interruptions, or technical issues by staying calm, professional, and flexible.