How to Make a Presentation

Many people suffer from stage fright whenever they are called upon to make presentations. The best way to handle stage fright is to be prepared and to get used to doing presentations. There are various kinds of presentations. There are thesis defenses, project presentations and short paper presentations. There is almost never enough time to say everything that should be said in a presentation. The presenter is therefore required to plan to ensure the most important things are said.

Planning a presentation can be tricky. First, the presenter should ensure they understand their content well. This way, they will avoid running out of content in the middle of the presentation. The presenter also puts down a plan to ensure he does not forget some parts of his presentation. Wild cards are a favorite for those who make presentations. Important points are noted on wild cards. The presenter then makes short glances at the cards to have an idea of what to present next. It is also vital for the presenter to dress for the occasion if possible. A first impression is very important both for the audience and the presenter (Reekers, 2010).

During the presentation, the presenter should avoid talking too much about one issue in the presentation. Instead, he should give every issue a substantially equal amount of time. Media should only be used for emphasis. One should avoid putting too much information on PowerPoint presentations as to make themselves expendable.  The presentation should only offer support to his presentation. Reading through the slides should be avoided (Reekers, 2010).

Finally, the presenter should give eye contact to his audience. They should also be ready to skip some slides if using PowerPoint to save time. Limited animation may be necessary to emphasize some issues. If overused, they can be detrimental to the presentation.

References

Reekers, J. (2010). How to Make a Perfect PowerPoint Presentation, 19–38.