As part of your career, it is important to perfect your professional presentation skills in English. Did you know, one of the biggest phobias to plague adults is the fear of public speaking?
It is understandable that giving a professional presentation in English becomes a specifically, anxiety-inducing task when you are not a native speaker. However, there are certain rules of presenting that transcend languages. Here are our top tips to help you give a great presentation by Cafe Converse Delhi’s top institute for learning Business English.
Be prepared
Complete research and preparation are important. Become an expert on your subject. The more you know related to the topic you are speaking about, the easier it will be for you to speak confidently. If you are unprepared, your audience will know it and will possibly tune you out.
Practice makes perfect
Like any other, the more you practice, the easier it becomes. Begin by practising in front of a mirror. Pay attention to your pronunciation, but also observe your eye contact, gestures, and body language. Remember to stand straight and look your audience in the eye. Once you have mastered your presentation in front of the mirror, it is time to practice with a real audience.
Running through your presentation with a friend or family member could be a great way to form your confidence and help you memorize your material. Nerves can mostly make a presenter speak too quickly, so take a deep breath and time yourself to make sure you are not rushing through important information.
Tell a story
Everyone loves a good story, and you are far more likely to engage your audience if you are able to weave your information into a memorable narrative. Stay focused on your topic, but draw your audience in by conveying your message through passion and purpose.
Less is more
Do not bore your audience by giving them big paragraphs or long lists of bullet points. If you are using PowerPoint as part of your presentation, consider using pictures and short phrases rather than full sentences or paragraphs to illustrate your point. Depending on these as prompts while you are presenting will help you to speak naturally, instead of reading to your audience.
Be bold
A bold speaker is a memorable one. Maintain your audience’s interest by making a huge statement or including a funny anecdote that is relevant to your topic. Everyone loves to laugh, and you will make a positive impression if you can manage to hold your audience’s attention with a little humour.
Move around
Be natural and connect with your audience. Do not hide behind a table or depend on a podium to hold you up. Use gestures to emphasize vital points and exude positive body language at all times.
Avoid technical glitches
Technical problems on a presentation day may happen, so be ready. While certain issues are unavoidable, you can safeguard against them by having a backup strategy. Wherever possible, do not rely on the internet. Rather take screenshots and bring downloaded files.
Anticipate questions
Expect that people might ask questions or require clarification on a few points. Try to anticipate what could be asked and prepare some answers in advance, so you would not be caught off guard. If you do not know how to respond to a question instantly, you can always invite the questioner to meet with you post the presentation.
Ms Sonu Goel is a professionally acclaimed certified ESL trainer from the British Council having 15 years of strong background for teaching the English language in both online and physical classes. She is dedicated to teaching of English in an interactive and practical way, whereby learners feel enriched with knowledge and experience the language hands-on. She uses creative ideas and aids to let the learning happen as organically and efficiently as possible. Ms Goel has travelled to various European countries and experienced an array of cultures and linguistic skills for the English language.
To learn more about Sonu Goel please visit : https://cafeconverse.com/best-english-tutor-coach-teacher-sonu-goel.html
