Presentation Do’s and Don’ts

We’ve all sat through them – presentations that seem to drag on and on. The ones that just beg us to check our email or focus on anything else BUT the presentation. Then there are gems that keep us focused and riveted – the ones that leave us wanting more, that keep us engaged and become a topic of discussion long after they’re done. But what sets them apart? Is it the presenter, medium, graphics, words, venue or topic? In fact, all play a vital role in the success of any presentation. And, over the years, I’ve sat in on (and yes, even presented) my fair share of “lemons.” Here are some observations:

Set expectations up front

Let your audience know what you’ll be presenting. Will you be taking questions throughout or only at the end? Will you provide the presentation to them as a handout or must they take notes? If you’re encouraging social media sharing, ensure that the relevant hashtags and handles are embedded into the footer.

A picture is worth a thousand words

If your audience can read everything you’re about to say, then why are you there in the first place? A great image lets them use their imagination while you tell the story that makes it all come to life.

Stay clear of the kitchen sink

Pie charts, bullet points, colourful text, a myriad of fonts…they all have their place. Just please keep each slide to a single message. Use animation builds where they make sense and leave time for the audience to absorb your message before moving on.

Know your audience

Are you presenting to a group of executives, students or prospects? What’s their level of understanding? There’s nothing worse than going into a technical deep dive when the expectation is a basic overview.

Engage

The more you engage, the better. Give your audience permission to contribute comments. Make notes if necessary, so that you can reflect on them at the ideal time. Maintain control – but keep it flexible.

Leave time for questions

Leave time for audience questions during the presentation, not just at the end. When you ask a question or ask for audience feedback, make sure you take a breath, pause, and look around the room for a good ten seconds before moving on. The advantage of a “pregnant pause” is that it’s often a great catalyst for conversation. Smile. Make eye contact. Engage.

Know where it’s being projected

What is the screen format? PowerPoint gives you the option to select between standard 4:3 ratio and Widescreen 16:9. Customize your presentation accordingly. Make sure you have all the right cables and adapters as well.

Sound check

Are you presenting virtually? Test the sound quality to ensure there’s no ambient noise. If you’re presenting to a large group and have the option of using a microphone…take it! Your audience will appreciate it.

Proofread

The number one area where typos typically occur is in headlines. And this is blatantly apparent in presentations. Print out your presentation and have someone proofread it – all of it. (Tip: reading back-to-front removes context and helps focus purely on spelling and grammar).

Practice and test

There’s a fine line between “winging it” and over-rehearsing. If you have 45 minutes to deliver a presentation, make sure you get through it without scrambling at the end, or worse, running out of time before finishing. Test all your transitions and make sure your text is legible from a distance.

Remember your brand

Want folks to tweet during your presentation? What them to “like/follow” you or your company’s page? Don’t make them guess; include all the pertinent information in your footer. This includes your website (omit the www…it takes up valuable space), your company’s/personal twitter handle and any special hashtags – and of course your logo (unless it’s already part of the overall template). If you plan to print out your presentation as a handout, I recommend page/slide numbers too.

You’re only human

Don’t worry if you make a mistake. Own it and move on. If you can, make a joke about it. Be like a duck: calm and collected above the surface and paddling like crazy below.

Bonus Tip: The very last slide…the one that stays up during the Q&A session…should contain ALL your contact info, including all social media handles, company pages, website, phone numbers, email address, etc. This will be the last slide they see, so make it memorable.