Improving Presentation Skills: Techniques and Strategies for Success

This assignment presents techniques to improve presentation skills, focusing on preparation, developing a unique style, and managing anxiety. The presentation emphasizes the importance of adequate preparation, including audience analysis, content organization, and rehearsal. It encourage...Read More

The Art of
Presentation
By (Name)

Introduction
• Presentation is a powerful communication tool.
• It entails explaining and demonstrating content to an
audience
• It provides a succinct and interesting way of
communication.
• Main objective is to inform, motivate, influence, and
positively impact audiences.
• However, a presentation has to be well done.

Techniques to improve my presentation skills

1) Ensure Adequate Preparation
• This is an essential prerequisite.
• Therefore embracing adequate preparation is vital.
• Adequate preparation encompasses;
• Audience Analysis
• Content Preparation
• Rehearsal

Adequate Preparation
Audience Analysis
• The audience is that the most important component of any presentation.
• It is the primary reason for the presentation.
• Thus, understanding the audience is key.
• Understand;
• Basic demographics such as age, gender, ethnicity, education, and cultural
background.
• Their beliefs, attitudes, and values.
• Needs, expectations and knowledge of the topic.

Adequate Preparation
Why Audience Analysis?
• Key reason is to adapt presentation to the audience.
• Audience adaptation covers;
• Content of the presentation.
• Style of the presentation.
• Thus it allows;
• The creation of content relevant to audience.
• Better connection with the audience.

Adequate preparation
Content Preparation
• Content preparation will be in two ways.
1. Properly research the topic.
• Ensure adequate knowledge and familiarity of the presentation topic
2. Organize content properly
• Arrange ideas logically.
• Ensure proper transition between ideas.
• Use various presentation aids such as charts, images, and videos.

Adequate Preparation
Rehearsal
• Allocate enough rehearsal time.
• Think about how you will deliver your message.
• Rehearsals are a key evaluation period.
• They allow one to review the presentation and make
corrections.
• Thus, it is at this stage where one can refine their
presentation

2) Develop a personal unique presentation style
Personal Style: What it Is.
• Each individual is unique.
• Thus, one should develop their unique style in line with their
individual strengths.
• A personal style enables one to be natural as they deliver their
message.
• Thus, one becomes comfortable with their audience.
• Also, these strengths further enhance the presentation.

Develop a personal unique presentation style
How to develop a personal style
• Carry out individual reflection to identify one’s unique
qualities.
• Then, build a personal style based on these qualities.
• Consequently, one becomes effective in their presentation.

3) Continuous Improvement
• It entails constant practice.
• Good presentation is a skill that can be learned and
improved on gradually.
• Therefore, keep learning and improving.
• Consequently, one will become an expert at doing
presentations.

Anxiety During
Presentation

Anxiety During Presentation
Anxiety: What it is
• Anxiety and fear are common in public speaking.
• Public presentations places the presenter at the center of attraction.
• Thus, this causes anxiety.
• This negatively affects the presentation.
• Because it prevents the speaker from being natural in their
presentation.
• Dealing with anxiety is therefore important.

Anxiety During Presentation
How to deal with anxiety
1. Conduct proper preparation.
• Preparation will allow one to;
• learn about their audience.
• get familiar with their topic.
• organize their content,
• select their delivery style, and,
• practice and rehearse on their delivery.
• Anxiety is therefore replaced by preparedness instead.

Anxiety During Presentation
2. Involve the audience
• One way to involve the audience is to ask questions
throughout the presentation.
• It makes them active participants in the presentation.
• Thus, it takes away some of the attention from the
presenter to the audience.

Anxiety During Presentation
• Other ways include;
3. Get to the venue early.
4. Positive visualization
• Imagine a positive outcome rather than a
negative one.

Importance of mastering key
presentation techniques.
• Main purpose of any presentation is to inform, motivate and
influence audiences.
• Mastering key presentation techniques is vital in ensuring that
one delivers impactful presentations.
• For example, mastering proper preparation enables one to;
• Understand their audience.
• Deliver content that is relevant to them.

Importance of mastering key
presentation techniques.
• On the other hand, developing a personal style enables
one to;
• be natural before their audience.
• Interact better with the audience
• Additionally, it is essential to reducing presentation
anxiety.
• Overall, mastering key presentation techniques is vital for
good presentations.

References
• Anderson, C. J. (2016). TED TALKS: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
• Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Ivy, D. K. (2013). Communication: Principles for a Lifetime(5th ed.). Pearson.
• Hartigan, L., Mone, F., & Higgins, M. (2014). How to prepare and deliver an effective oral presentation. BMJ, g2039. doi:
10.1136/bmj.g2039
• Hoogterp, B. (2014). Your Perfect Presentation: Speak in Front of Any Audience Anytime Anywhere and Never Be Nervous
Again. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Professional.
• Peery, A. (2011). Creating Effective Presentations: Staff Development with Impact. Lanham, MD: R&L Education.
• Raja, F. U. (2017). Anxiety Level in Students of Public Speaking: Causes and Remedies. Journal of Education and Educational
Development, 4(1), 94. doi:10.22555/joeed.v4i1.1001
• Rhodes, M. (2018). How To Present To Absolutely Anyone: Confident Public Speaking and Presenting in Every Situation.
Mankato, MN: Capstone.
• Ross, D. (2013). Deep Audience Analysis: A Proposed Method for Analyzing Audiences for Environment-Related
Communication. Journal of the society for technical communication, 60(2), 93-117.
• Stewart, J. P., & Fulop, D. (2019). Mastering the Art of Oral Presentations: Winning Orals, Speeches, and Stand-Up
Presentations. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
• Swathi, T. (2015). The Importance of Effective Presentation for Organizational Success. The IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 9(2).