Good Tips when giving a talk/presentation?

Question

I have to give a talk to my department. I have gained loads of weight...and preparation time will be 1 one day. I always find it hard to look up for long periods especially at the marking tutors eyes.

Any tips?

i lose my trail of thought really easily...

Answer 1

Make sure your zip is up.......

Answer 2

Making eye contact is essential to a good talk, but looking up at the back of the room can work, too. Make good brief notes of your transitions from one paragraph to the next not just the list of topics so if you lose your train of thought you can read your transition to the next point and continue along smoothly.

Wear comfortable and nice looking clothes. If you've gained weight, go find a new outfit that fits your new size. If your clothes don't feel right, your discomfort will come across in your talk as being uncomfortable with the audience...not good.

PRACTICE practice practice. no, you don't have to memorize your presentation, but say the words out loud, hear yourself say them, believe what you're saying is interesting and necessary and your audience will pick up on your confidence. And learn your transitions. Include words like..."pause, look up" in your notes and do it. A good pause gives your audience a chance to think about what you've said. Silence belongs in good presentations as much as good words.

Good luck! You can do this!

Answer 3

Prepare and practice as much as you can. Rehearse the words you are going to say, and how you are going to say it. Think of the talk as 'a performance', and remember that it is only for a short while. I know it is difficult to look at people whilst presenting, but by doing so you will fully engage them and make it interesting to them.

Have bullet points in front of you to remind you of the main points you need to get across. Something that may help is depending on the topic, you may chose to invite the audience to participate or give an opinion.

As long as the audience feels involved, they will be interested.

Smile as much as you can ( even though you may be pooing your pants). Remember it is an act. If your hands shake, (as mine do), hold them behind your back, so that no-one can see.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Always try to focus on the group or the person to who you are talking. Take a day or two days before to memorize more or less what you want to say. Dress accordingly. Do not wear too much cologne or make-up. Brush your teeth and your hair. If you smoke refrain from doing so before your presentation. You do not want to wear a lot of jewelry ,earrings, or necklaces. Do not wear clothes that show a tattoo or piercing you may have. Be confident. In your speech you have to make it important and relevant. Stand still unless using a blackboard or projector for references. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

In drama they taught us to imagine there is no audience or the audience is in their underwear.

Good luck

Answer 5

IN presentations I always try to make the 'audience' participate by asking them questions eg. blah blah blah and in which way do you think it would improve yor sanitary system John

I usually direct it at one person than a group as it demands a response aquick 'excellent' and move on. If it is a really negative answer like it won't you have to answer some thing like I'm glad you said that because it gives me the opportunity to go into depth on the benifits the 'Rumperdumper' in situations like yours.

The main thing is confidence and pacing your speech, never rush particularly if you are answering questions.

Answer 6

Make yourself good notes to keep yourself on track. Look up periodically and often if you can't do it for a long time. Try to overcome your insecurity about your weight. That's not what a presentation is about. Think of your audience in a compromiseing position to give yourself more confidence. I used to think of the audience naked, but that often times made me sick, so I just imagine them in their underwear now. . . .

Good luck!

Answer 7

put key points of your content on separate cards, keep the talk to the point and look at the audience, as though speaking to some one in the very back. Do not make reference to people known in the group/company or organisation. Be concise and imagine you are speaking to a whole field of cabbage-heads. That should give you a smile and a whole lot of confidence. Good Luck !!!!!

Answer 8

You did not give alot of information to decide on how to help you! Maybe a ruler would help you keep your place in the presentation and if your are sitting use the table to hide your weight gain - if using a podium this will also help hid your weight gain - and if you are giving a presentation/talk your weight gain is the least of your worries!@

Answer 9

bring an outline, use large fonts, use it as a guideline

practice/rehearse in front of a mirror so you can see your facial expressions and make sure you're not doing something like running your fingers in your hair

tape yourself to see where you might improve, if you're audible, if you catch yourself saying too many ers, you knows, and so on

time yourself so you know how long your talk runs
the longer you need to speak, bring some visual aids to enliven your talk

Answer 10

stay animated and on your feet

walk around and be lively and vary your tone of voice throughout your presentation

if you have trouble with stopping after looking at peoples eyes, then dont look at people's eyes look around AT people but you dont have to gaze at their eyes. You can look out over their faces but you dont have to stare into their eyes... trust me they WONT notice the difference. Good Luck!

Answer 11

I would strongly suggest that you get out of giving a presentation. Pretend you have lost your voice or some such thing.