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Rehearse your presentation in conditions as close to the real situation as possible. Get used to your technology, know where your notes will be, and be aware of your body language.
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You've gone through a dry run of
reading your presentation out loud and
0:01
you also have a good idea of how long it
will take you to get through everything.
0:04
Closer to the day of presenting, rehearse
your presentation in conditions as close
0:09
to the real situation as possible.
0:13
For example, use the tools that you'll
actually be using when you present.
0:16
If you'll be sharing your screen,
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be sure that your monitors
are set up the way you like them.
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I like to put the slides I'll be
sharing on one screen and my notes,
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where people can't see them, on another.
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If you'll be using your own laptop, get
familiar with turning off notifications
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from your calendar or messaging apps.
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I've seen some presenters get into
embarrassing situations because they
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received a text from a friend in
the middle of sharing their screen, oops.
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Your screen sharing software may allow
you to share just part of your screen or
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one window to avoid
that type of situation.
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Will you be sitting or
standing when you give your presentation?
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If you're able to stand, it can
potentially boost your confidence levels.
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If you will be presenting
remotely from your desk at home,
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you may not be able to stand.
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In that case, sit up straight,
look into the camera and
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make sure your speaking notes are within
eyesight or reaching distance.
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I can't emphasize how important
it is to have your notes handy.
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I, personally, have been in a few
situations where I've shared my screen and
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I didn't have another monitor to
see the notes that I had written
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in Google Slides or Keynote.
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This is why practicing your
setup ahead of time is key.
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You'll catch little things like this,
they could help save your presentation.
1:28
When you are working on pacing,
you may have decided to eliminate or
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condense some slides.
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Now it's you last chance
to make any big changes.
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Ask yourself one last time, is this piece
of information relevant to my audience?
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Is there anything missing?
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I already mentioned to consider
whether you'll be sitting or standing.
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But let's talk more about the physical
part of giving a presentation.
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You don't have to be over the top and
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jump around like Steve Ballmer famously
did at a Microsoft developers conference.
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Check the teachers notes for
a clip of that video.
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On the other hand, your audience
may not be as enthused if your have
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no expression on your face and
sit still for your entire presentation.
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You'll wanna find a comfortable place
somewhere in the middle of those
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two extremes.
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Try practicing in front of a mirror or
front facing camera
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to get an idea of what your natural facial
expressions look like when speaking.
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For many of us, myself included, we feel
like we have a huge smile on our face,
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but in reality, it's barely noticeable.
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I likeable presenter will connect
well with her audience and
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may ultimately have more power
to influence a decision.
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So smile a little, but
overall, act naturally.
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Be aware of fidgeting and your body
language when presenting, like rocking in
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your chair, or tapping a pen, or crossing
your arms and closing yourself off.
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Make note of what your habits are and
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be aware of them on the day
of the presentation.
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If you spend 45 minutes tapping your pen,
nervously,
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while you speak, the audience may be so
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distracted that they won't concentrate on
the important content you're delivering.
3:05
The same advice goes regarding
talking with your hands.
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Don't let excessive movements
become a distraction.
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If you naturally talk with your hands,
I don't think you should try to
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turn that off, but use gestures and
movement with purpose.
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Overall, you want your
voice to do the work.
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Speak clearly and in a steady rhythm.
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If you're presenting in person, speak
loudly enough that everyone in the room
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can hear you, it's okay to even ask at the
beginning, if everyone can hear you well.
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Speak to the person in the back of
the room, instead of the camera or
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the person seated closest to you.
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If you'll be presenting remotely,
I always recommend using a headset with
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a microphone, so your audience can hear
you the best and not background noise.
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Using a headset will also help you
block out any distractions, so
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you're able to concentrate
on the task at hand.
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Rehearsal is an important step
that is often forgotten about or
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ignored, when planning a presentation.
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I can't recommend it enough.
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The more you rehearse,
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the more natural your presentation
will feel on the big day.
4:10
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