The
ability to present your ideas publicly is a skill that will get you ahead on
your job or in your career.
However,
if you fear public speaking, you could be setting yourself up for stagnation or
limitation on your job or in your career.
The best
way to ensure you use your presentation skills to your advantage is to take
time for a tune-up. Whether you work with a coach or make time on your own, you
can use the following basic rules to tune-up your presentation skills:
- Inform
- Prepare
- Deliver
- Summarize
Each of
these actions will allow you to tune-up your presentation skills. Let’s take a
closer look to see what each of these actions will do for you.
INFORM
The
purpose of your message is to inform your audience. When you inform your
audience, you “communicate knowledge to” them. Become clear on the knowledge
you want to communicate to your audience.
Determine
what you want your audience to know about your message. Be sure to prepare your
message with those details.
Structure
your message in a logical way so your key points inform your audience and
resonate with them.
PREPARE
When you
prepare, this action will allow you to research your topic and learn about your
audience.
The topic
on which you will speak requires that you gather facts, details, information,
and examples. You will construct your message with these facts, details,
information, and examples with what your audience must know, need to know, and
what you want them to do with your message after your presentation.
In
addition to researching your topic, you will do your homework to learn more
about your audience. Having an idea about the people with whom you will share
your message will help you to gather the appropriate facts, details,
information, and examples. Learning about your audience helps you to build
rapport and prepare the appropriate message that will resonate with them.
A final
reason to prepare is to boost your confidence. When you have confidence in your
topic and details of your message, you increase the chances of a confident
delivery.
DELIVER
Confidence
is needed when you deliver your presentation. Meaning, when you get before your
audience to speak your message, you want the nerves to be controlled and your
abilities to shine.
This will
happen because you prepared your message with the specific purpose to inform
your audience.
This will
also happen because you prepared your message to know to whom you are speaking
and about what you are talking.
Allow
your preparation to heighten your confidence so you can deliver your message
with ease.
SUMMARIZE
Be sure
to recap your message for your audience. Remind them of the key points you
informed them of within your message. Depending upon how long you speak, your
recap will be a good reminder of the key points you want your audience to
remember.
In addition,
your recap will serve as repetition for your message. It’s been said that
repetition begets retention. Meaning, a recap of your message helps your
audience to retain and remember the importance of your message.
Summarize
the key points of your message to finalize your presentation.
These are
four (4) basic rules you can follow to tune-up your presentation skills. Be
careful not to allow your presentation skills to become a barrier to you on
your job or in your career. Instead, use your presentation skills as a stepping-stone
for job and career opportunities.
Investing
time to tune-up your presentation skills will ensure you will not be held back
from job or career opportunities you deserve.
