Presenting information clearly and effectively is a key skill to get your message or opinion across and, today, presentation skills are required in almost every field. 

Whether you are a student, administrator or executive, if you wish to start up your own business, apply for a grant or stand for an elected position, you may very well be asked to make that dreaded presentation. 
 
If, in this position, the first thing you do is open up PowerPoint, then you should probably first spend some time developing your presentation skills.  Delivering an inspirational or captivating presentation requires a lot of preparation and work, and you may not even need PowerPoint at all!

Many people feel terrified when asked to make their first public talk, but these initial fears can be reduced by good preparation which will also lay the groundwork for making an effective presentation.

Here you can learn how to develop your presentation skills including:

What is a Presentation?

A presentation is a means of communication which can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team. To be effective, step-by-step preparation and the method and means of presenting the information should be carefully considered. 

Preparing a Presentation

Preparation is the most important part of making a successful presentation.  This is the crucial foundation and there should be no short-cuts. 

Organising the Material

Irrespective of whether the occasion is formal or informal, always aim to give a clear, well-structured delivery.  You should know exactly what you want to say and the order in which you want to say it.  Clarity of ideas and good organisation should result in a lively, logical and compelling message. 

Writing Your Presentation

This article offers advice on how to write an effective presentation.   Before you write your presentation, you should already have started to prepare by developing your ideas and selecting the main points to include. 

Deciding the Presentation Method

Few people are able to give a presentation without notes. You will need to know your own abilities and decide how best to make the presentation. You might manage your talk by using full text, notes on cue cards, keywords on cue cards, or mind maps

Working with Visual Aids

Most visual aids will need advance preparation and should be operated with efficiency.  Only use visual aids if they are necessary to maintain interest and assist comprehension: do not use them just to demonstrate your technological prowess. If visual aids are used well they will enhance a presentation by adding impact and strengthening audience involvement, yet if they are managed badly they can ruin a presentation. 

Managing the Event

The practicalities of how you manage your presentation even can make a significant difference to its success, and to your nerves!

Coping with Presentation Nerves

It is entirely natural to feel nervous before making a presentation. Fortunately, there are some tried and tested strategies and techniques to manage your nerves so that you can concentrate on delivering an effective and engaging presentation.

Dealing with Questions

At the start of your presentation, you should make it clear whether and when you would prefer to deal with questions. Some speakers prefer questions to be raised as they arise during the presentation whilst others prefer to deal with questions at the end. Decide in advance how and when you wish to handle questions.