Learning outcome: To be able to deliver your presentation in an engaging, confident and genuine way.
The Room
It is important to be comfortable in your space while you present, so make sure you leave enough time before your talk to familiarise yourself.
- Check the venue has all the equipmentyou need [If you have a powerpoint presentation you will need a projector and screen. If you have demonstrations, think about tables, power sockets and other requirements. Think about the size of your audience and whether you will need a microphone. Talk to the organisers about your needs in advance of the presentation date.]
- Suss the room [Think about where the best place is for you to sit/stand, and where the best place would be to set up any equipment. Make sure you won’t be blocking the visual displays. Think about safety, eg tape down power cords.]
- Check lighting and sound [Lighting and sound levels will depend on the venue and whether or not you have demonstrations or videos to show. If you need to change levels during the show find out how to do it yourself or if there is someone on hand to do it for you. Familiarise yourself with the lighting settings and choose the optimum combination so that the audience can see both the screen and you clearly.]
- Have a back-up planfor if the projector doesn’t work [Take a copy of the presentation and be prepared to just talk.]
Warm Up
If you have done any presenting before then you will know that you usually start off nervous and stiff, with your heart beating fast, your breath short and your voice shaky. Your body is in a high-alert state – this is your body’s protection. As the presentation progresses you begin to feel more comfortable, more relaxed and more aware of the audience. It feels easier because your body is activating and warming up.
You can help yourself by warming up in private beforehand so that you are fluid, flexible and ready to respond. Here are some ideas for warming up that are effective but won’t be obvious to others:
- Chew gum [This loosens the jaw and the tongue and helps you articulate.]
- Yawn [This lifts the soft palate, enlarging the space in your mouth that acts as a resonance chamber and increasing your ability to project.]
- Sing [Warm up your vocal chords before you go onstage. Start with humming if it’s early in the morning and build up to singing. You don’t have to sing scales – though you could do – just sing your favourite songs in the shower, the car, the park, or wherever you can.]
- Whistle [This is good for breath and voice control.]
- Stretch and shake [Warming up your body is as important as warming up your voice. Even limbering up in the morning several hours before your presentation will help, as your body will retain its flexibility. So go to the gym, or just do a few stretches in your room. Just before the talk, go somewhere private (like the loo) and shake your hands and arms, roll your shoulders and wiggle a bit. This should loosen you up ready to go onstage.]
- Breathe [Control of your breath is important for articulation and projection. Additionally, breathing deeply is calming. Try the following exercise. Visualise a candle flame on the opposite wall. Take a deep breath and make a controlled 15-20 second exhale, imagining you are trying to blow a column of air across the room to make the candle flicker.]
The Talk
The room is set up, the audience are waiting, you are warmed and ready (albeit a little nervous). Here are some tips for when you step out on stage:
- Pause and breathe. [Be relaxed and composed – don’t just rush straight into it.]
- Know your opening. [Being very sure of the first few things you are going to say gives time for your nerves and body-language to settle.]
- Speak to everybody. [Talk to your audience not to the visual display! Use eye contact all around the room; don’t just focus on one person (which could be intimidating for them).]
- Don’t let quirkiness in the audience distract you.
- Pay attention to people – take cues from your audience.
- Use humour if you can to lighten the mood [Think what makes you laugh and why it is funny. Borrow humour from others. Try things out gently and have a trick to ride jokes that fall flat – keep talking!] BUT…
- Be yourself and be natural. [Don’t feel pressure to do things that make you feel uncomfortable. Be natural – not restricted – with movements and hand gestures. Imagine you’re talking to friends.]
- Be confident – believe in yourself! [The audience are on your side – they have chosen to come to hear your talk and therefore want you to do well.]
Thanks to contributions from Piero Vitelli–presenter, trainer and consultant–and Malcolm Love.
Helpful books on better using your voice:
The Voice Book by Michael McCallion
The Right to Speak by Patsy Rodenburg