20 ways to improve your presentation skills

21 Ways To Improve Your Presentation Skills

Updated: April 07, 2023

Published: February 02, 2015

You know the feeling of sitting through a boring presentation. A text distracts you. A noise outside pulls your gaze. Your dog begs for attention. By the time the presentation ends, you question why you needed to sit and listen in the first place.

Effective presentation skills can stop you from boring an audience to oblivion. Delivering strong presentations can help you stand out as a leader, showcase your expertise, and build confidence.

Table of contents:

• Presentation skills definition
• Importance of presentation skills
• How to improve presentation skills
• Effective presentation skills
• Presentation skills for executives

Presentation Skills Definition

Presentation skills include anything you need to create and deliver clear, effective presentations to an audience. This includes creating a compelling set of slides , ensuring the information flows, and keeping your audience engaged.

Speakers with strong presentation skills can perform the following tasks:

• Bring together different sources of information to form a compelling narrative
• Hook audiences with a strong beginning and end
• Ensure audiences engage with their content through questions or surveys
• Understand what their audience wants and needs from their presentation

Importance of Presentation Skills

At some point in your career, you will present something. You might pitch a startup to a group of investors or show your research findings to your manager at work. Those in leading or executive roles often deliver presentations on a weekly or monthly basis.

Improving your presentation skills betters different aspects of your working life, including the following:

Communication: Improving your presentation skills can make you a better communicator with your co-workers and friends.

Confidence: 75% of people fear public speaking. By working on your presentation skills, you can gain confidence when speaking in front of a crowd.

Creativity: You learn to understand how to use imagery and examples to engage an audience.

Management: Presentations involve pulling together information to form a succinct summary, helping you build project and time management skills.

How To Improve Presentation Skills

1. create an outline.

Before designing slides and writing a script, outline your presentation. Start with your introduction, segue into key points you want to make, and finish with a conclusion.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice

Almost 8 in 10 professionals practice their presentations for at least an hour. So, practice your presentation in the mirror or to a close friend.

3. Start With a Hook

When presenting, grab your audience with a hook. Consider starting with a surprising statistic or a thoughtful question before diving into the core information.

4. Stay Focused on Your Topic

You might want to cover everything under the sun, but information overload can overwhelm your audience. Instead, stay focused on what you want to cover. Aim for key points and avoid including unnecessary details.

5. Remember To Introduce Yourself

At the beginning of the presentation, introduce yourself. Kill any tension in the room by mentioning your name, your role, and any other helpful details. You could even mention a fun fact about yourself, putting the audience at ease.

6. Work on Your Body Language

55% of people look to nonverbal communication when judging a presentation. Straighten your back, minimize unnecessary gestures, and keep your voice confident and calm. Remember to work on these aspects when practicing.

7. Memorize Structure, Not Words

You might feel better knowing exactly what you want to say. But skip the script and stick to memorizing the key points of your presentation. For example, consider picking three to four phrases or insights you want to mention for each part of your presentation rather than line-by-line memorization.

8. Learn Your Audience

Before crafting a killer outline and slide deck, research your audience. Find out what they likely already know, such as industry jargon, and where they might need additional information. Remember: You're presenting for them, not you.

9. Reframe Your Anxiety as Excitement

A study conducted byHarvard Business School demonstrates that reframing your anxiety as excitement can improve performance. For example, by saying simple phrases out loud, such as “I’m excited,” you then adopt an opportunity-oriented mentality.

10. Get Comfortable With the Setting

If you plan to present in person, explore the room. Find where you’re going to stand and deliver your presentation. Practice looking into the seats. By decreasing the number of unknowns, you can clear your head and focus on the job.

11. Get Familiar With Technology

Presenting online has unique challenges, such as microphone problems and background noise. Before a Zoom presentation, ensure your microphone works, clean up your background, test your slides, and consider any background noise.

12. Think Positively

Optimistic workers enjoy faster promotions and happier lives. By reminding yourself of the positives — for example, your manager found your last presentation impressive — you can shake off nerves and find joy in the process.

13. Tell a Story

To engage your audience, weave storytelling into your presentation — more than 5 in 10 people believe stories hold their focus during a presentation. Consider ways to connect different parts of your slides into a compelling narrative.

14. Prepare for Questions

At the end of your presentation, your audience will likely have questions. Brainstorm different questions and potential answers so you’re prepared.

15. Maintain Eye Contact

Eye contact signals honesty. When possible, maintain eye contact with your audience. For in-person presentations, pay attention to each audience member. For online ones, stare at your camera lens as you deliver.

16. Condense Your Presentation

After you finish the first draft of your outline, think about ways to condense it. Short and sweet often keeps people interested instead of checking their phones.

17. Use Videos

Keep your audience’s attention by incorporating video clips when relevant. For example, videos can help demonstrate examples or explain difficult concepts.

18. Engage With Your Audience

Almost 8 in 10 professionals view presentations as boring. Turn the tide by engaging with your audience. Encourage audience participation by asking questions or conducting a live survey.

19. Present Slowly and Pause Frequently

When you get nervous, you talk faster. To combat this, remember to slow yourself down when practicing. Place deep pauses throughout your presentation, especially when transitioning between slides, as it gives you time to breathe and your audience time to absorb.

20. Start and End With a Summary

A summary at the start of a presentation can pique your audience’s interest. One at the end brings everything together, highlighting key points your audience should take with them.

21. Ask for Feedback

You will never deliver the perfect presentation, so ask for feedback. Talk to your managers about where you could improve. Consider surveying your audience for an unbiased look into your presentation skills.

Effective Presentation Skills

Effective presentation skills include communicating clearly, presenting with structure, and engaging with the audience.

As an example, say a content manager is presenting a quarterly review to their team. They start off with a summary. Their introduction mentions an unprecedented 233% growth in organic traffic — numbers their team has not seen in years. Immediately, the presenter grabs their team’s attention. Now, everyone wants to know how they achieved that in one quarter.

Alternatively, think of an entrepreneur delivering their pitch to a group of investors. They start with a question: How many of you struggle to stay awake at work? They then segue into an exciting product designed to improve the sleep quality of working professionals. Their presentation includes videos demonstrating the science behind sleep and surprising statistics about the demand for their product.

Both examples demonstrate effective presentation skills. They incorporate strong attention grabbers, summaries, and attempts to engage the audience.

Think back to strong presentations you viewed as an audience member. Ask yourself: What made them so memorable, and how can I incorporate those elements into my presentations?

Presentation Skills for Executives

Presentations take up a significant portion of an executive’s workload. Executives regularly showcase key company initiatives, team changes, quarterly and annual reviews, and more. Improving your presentation skills as a leader can help with different parts of your job, such as:

Trust: Delivering great, effective presentations can build trust between you and your team.

Confidence: Most people dread presentations — so a strong presenter projects the confidence needed by a leader.

Emotional intelligence: A great presentation taps into the audience’s perspectives, helping executives improve their emotional intelligence .

Expertise: Presentations help executives display their subject-matter expertise, making employees safe in their hands.

Delegation: At times, executives might need to pull information from different sources for a presentation — improving their ability to delegate as managers.

What did you think of this article?

Give Feedback

Don't forget to share this post!

Outline your company's sales strategy in one simple, coherent plan.

Powerful and easy-to-use sales software that drives productivity, enables customer connection, and supports growing sales orgs

Daring Leadership Institute: a groundbreaking partnership that amplifies Brené Brown's empirically based, courage-building curriculum with BetterUp’s human transformation platform.

What is Coaching?

Types of Coaching

Discover your perfect match : Take our 5-minute assessment and let us pair you with one of our top Coaches tailored just for you.

Find your coach

We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion.

Join us and create impactful change.

Read the buzz about BetterUp.

Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce.

For Business

For Individuals

6 presentation skills and how to improve them

Jump to section

What are presentation skills?

The importance of presentation skills, 6 presentation skills examples, how to improve presentation skills.

Tips for dealing with presentation anxiety

Learn how to captivate an audience with ease

Capturing an audience’s attention takes practice. 

Over time, great presenters learn how to organize their speeches and captivate an audience from start to finish. They spark curiosity, know how to read a room , and understand what their audience needs to walk away feeling like they learned something valuable.

Regardless of your profession, you most likely use presentation skills on a monthly or even weekly basis. Maybe you lead brainstorming sessions or host client calls. 

Developing effective presentation skills makes it easier to contribute ideas with confidence and show others you’re someone to trust. Although speaking in front of a crowd sometimes brings nerves and anxiety , it also sparks new opportunities.

Presentation skills are the qualities and abilities you need to communicate ideas effectively and deliver a compelling speech. They influence how you structure a presentation and how an audience receives it. Understanding body language , creating impactful visual aids, and projecting your voice all fall under this umbrella.

A great presentation depends on more than what you say. It’s about how you say it. Storytelling , stage presence, and voice projection all shape how well you express your ideas and connect with the audience. These skills do take practice, but they’re worth developing — especially if public speaking makes you nervous. 

Engaging a crowd isn’t easy. You may feel anxious to step in front of an audience and have all eyes and ears on you.

But feeling that anxiety doesn’t mean your ideas aren’t worth sharing. Whether you’re giving an inspiring speech or delivering a monthly recap at work, your audience is there to listen to you. Harness that nervous energy and turn it into progress.

Strong presentation skills make it easier to convey your thoughts to audiences of all sizes. They can help you tell a compelling story, convince people of a pitch , or teach a group something entirely new to them. And when it comes to the workplace, the strength of your presentation skills could play a part in getting a promotion or contributing to a new initiative.

To fully understand the impact these skills have on creating a successful presentation, it’s helpful to look at each one individually. Here are six valuable skills you can develop:

1. Active listening

Active listening is an excellent communication skill for any professional to hone. When you have strong active listening skills, you can listen to others effectively and observe their nonverbal cues . This helps you assess whether or not your audience members are engaged in and understand what you’re sharing. 

Great public speakers use active listening to assess the audience’s reactions and adjust their speech if they find it lacks impact. Signs like slouching, negative facial expressions, and roaming eye contact are all signs to watch out for when giving a presentation.

2. Body language

If you’re researching presentation skills, chances are you’ve already watched a few notable speeches like TED Talks or industry seminars. And one thing you probably noticed is that speakers can capture attention with their body language. 

A mixture of eye contact, hand gestures , and purposeful pacing makes a presentation more interesting and engaging. If you stand in one spot and don’t move your body, the audience might zone out.

3. Stage presence

A great stage presence looks different for everyone. A comedian might aim for more movement and excitement, and a conference speaker might focus their energy on the content of their speech. Although neither is better than the other, both understand their strengths and their audience’s needs. 

Developing a stage presence involves finding your own unique communication style . Lean into your strengths, whether that’s adding an injection of humor or asking questions to make it interactive . To give a great presentation, you might even incorporate relevant props or presentation slides.

4. Storytelling

According to Forbes, audiences typically pay attention for about 10 minutes before tuning out . But you can lengthen their attention span by offering a presentation that interests them for longer. Include a narrative they’ll want to listen to, and tell a story as you go along. 

Shaping your content to follow a clear narrative can spark your audience’s curiosity and entice them to pay careful attention. You can use anecdotes from your personal or professional life that take your audience along through relevant moments. If you’re pitching a product, you can start with a problem and lead your audience through the stages of how your product provides a solution.

5. Voice projection

Although this skill may be obvious, you need your audience to hear what you’re saying. This can be challenging if you’re naturally soft-spoken and struggle to project your voice.

Remember to straighten your posture and take deep breaths before speaking, which will help you speak louder and fill the room. If you’re talking into a microphone or participating in a virtual meeting, you can use your regular conversational voice, but you still want to sound confident and self-assured with a strong tone.

If you’re unsure whether everyone can hear you, you can always ask the audience at the beginning of your speech and wait for confirmation. That way, they won’t have to potentially interrupt you later.

Ensuring everyone can hear you also includes your speed and annunciation. It’s easy to speak quickly when nervous, but try to slow down and pronounce every word. Mumbling can make your presentation difficult to understand and pay attention to.

6. Verbal communication 

Although verbal communication involves your projection and tone, it also covers the language and pacing you use to get your point across. This includes where you choose to place pauses in your speech or the tone you use to emphasize important ideas.

If you’re giving a presentation on collaboration in the workplace , you might start your speech by saying, “There’s something every workplace needs to succeed: teamwork.” By placing emphasis on the word “ teamwork ,” you give your audience a hint on what ideas will follow.

To further connect with your audience through diction, pay careful attention to who you’re speaking to. The way you talk to your colleagues might be different from how you speak to a group of superiors, even if you’re discussing the same subject. You might use more humor and a conversational tone for the former and more serious, formal diction for the latter.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to presenting. Maybe you’re confident in your use of body language, but your voice projection needs work. Maybe you’re a great storyteller in small group settings, but need to work on your stage presence in front of larger crowds. 

The first step to improving presentation skills is pinpointing your gaps and determining which qualities to build upon first. Here are four tips for enhancing your presentation skills:

1. Build self-confidence

Confident people know how to speak with authority and share their ideas. Although feeling good about your presentation skills is easier said than done, building confidence is key to helping your audience believe in what you’re saying. Try practicing positive self-talk and continuously researching your topic's ins and outs.

If you don’t feel confident on the inside, fake it until you make it. Stand up straight, project your voice, and try your best to appear engaged and excited. Chances are, the audience doesn’t know you’re unsure of your skills — and they don’t need to.

Another tip is to lean into your slideshow, if you’re using one. Create something colorful and interesting so the audience’s eyes fall there instead of on you. And when you feel proud of your slideshow, you’ll be more eager to share it with others, bringing more energy to your presentation.

2. Watch other presentations

Developing the soft skills necessary for a good presentation can be challenging without seeing them in action. Watch as many as possible to become more familiar with public speaking skills and what makes a great presentation. You could attend events with keynote speakers or view past speeches on similar topics online.

Take a close look at how those presenters use verbal communication and body language to engage their audiences. Grab a notebook and jot down what you enjoyed and your main takeaways. Try to recall the techniques they used to emphasize their main points, whether they used pauses effectively, had interesting visual aids, or told a fascinating story.

3. Get in front of a crowd

You don’t need a large auditorium to practice public speaking. There are dozens of other ways to feel confident and develop good presentation skills.

If you’re a natural comedian, consider joining a small stand-up comedy club. If you’re an avid writer, participate in a public poetry reading. Even music and acting can help you feel more comfortable in front of a crowd.

If you’d rather keep it professional, you can still work on your presentation skills in the office. Challenge yourself to participate at least once in every team meeting, or plan and present a project to become more comfortable vocalizing your ideas. You could also speak to your manager about opportunities that flex your public speaking abilities.

4. Overcome fear

Many people experience feelings of fear before presenting in front of an audience, whether those feelings appear as a few butterflies or more severe anxiety. Try grounding yourself to shift your focus to the present moment. If you’re stuck dwelling on previous experiences that didn’t go well, use those mistakes as learning experiences and focus on what you can improve to do better in the future.

Tips for dealing with presentation anxiety 

It’s normal to feel nervous when sharing your ideas. In fact, according to a report from the Journal of Graduate Medical Education, public speaking anxiety is prevalent in 15–30% of the general population .

Even though having a fear of public speaking is common, it doesn’t make it easier. You might feel overwhelmed, become stiff, and forget what you were going to say. But although the moment might scare you, there are ways to overcome the fear and put mind over matter.

Use these tactics to reduce your stress when you have to make a presentation:

1. Practice breathing techniques

If you experience anxiety often, you’re probably familiar with breathing techniques for stress relief . Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine can help you stop worrying and regulate anxious feelings. 

Before a big presentation, take a moment alone to practice breathing techniques, ground yourself, and reduce tension. It’s also a good idea to take breaths throughout the presentation to speak slower and calm yourself down .

2. Get organized

The more organized you are, the more prepared you’ll feel. Carefully outline all of the critical information you want to use in your presentation, including your main talking points and visual aids, so you don’t forget anything. Use bullet points and visuals on each slide to remind you of what you want to talk about, and create handheld notes to help you stay on track.

3. Embrace moments of silence

It’s okay to lose your train of thought. It happens to even the most experienced public speakers once in a while. If your mind goes blank, don’t panic. Take a moment to breathe, gather your thoughts, and refer to your notes to see where you left off. You can drink some water or make a quick joke to ease the silence or regain your footing. And it’s okay to say, “Give me a moment while I find my notes.” Chances are, people understand the position you’re in.

4. Practice makes progress

Before presenting, rehearse in front of friends and family members you trust. This gives you the chance to work out any weak spots in your speech and become comfortable communicating out loud. If you want to go the extra mile, ask your makeshift audience to ask a surprise question. This tests your on-the-spot thinking and will prove that you can keep cool when things come up.

Whether you’re new to public speaking or are a seasoned presenter, you’re bound to make a few slip-ups. It happens to everyone. The most important thing is that you try your best, brush things off, and work on improving your skills to do better in your next presentation.

Although your job may require a different level of public speaking than your favorite TED Talk , developing presentation skills is handy in any profession. You can use presentation skills in a wide range of tasks in the workplace, whether you’re sharing your ideas with colleagues, expressing concerns to higher-ups, or pitching strategies to potential clients.

Remember to use active listening to read the room and engage your audience with an interesting narrative. Don’t forget to step outside your comfort zone once in a while and put your skills to practice in front of a crowd. After facing your fears, you’ll feel confident enough to put presentation skills on your resume.

If you’re trying to build your skills and become a better employee overall, try a communications coach with BetterUp. 

Understand Yourself Better:

Big 5 Personality Test

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

8 tips to improve your public speaking skills

The significance of written communication in the workplace, what is an entrepreneur understanding the different types and examples of entrepreneurship, 9 signs that you’re being pushed out of your job, the 11 tips that will improve your public speaking skills, get smart about your goals at work and start seeing results, goal-setting theory: why it’s important, and how to use it at work, the importance of good speech: 5 tips to be more articulate, empathic listening: what it is and how to use it, how to write a speech that your audience remembers, impression management: developing your self-presentation skills, 30 presentation feedback examples, your guide to what storytelling is and how to be a good storyteller, how to give a good presentation that captivates any audience, 8 clever hooks for presentations (with tips), how to make a presentation interactive and exciting, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

3100 E 5th Street, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78702

• Platform overview
• Integrations
• Powered by AI
• BetterUp Lead™
• BetterUp Manage™
• BetterUp Care®
• Sales Performance
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Case studies
• ROI of BetterUp
• What is coaching?
• About Coaching
• Find your Coach
• Career Coaching
• Communication Coaching
• Personal Coaching
• News and Press
• Leadership Team
• Become a BetterUp Coach
• BetterUp Briefing
• Center for Purpose & Performance
• Leadership Training
• Business Coaching
• Contact Support
• Contact Sales
• Privacy Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Trust & Security
• Cookie Preferences

What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

by Carmine Gallo

Summary .   

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

Partner Center

Top 20 Presentation Skills You Need to Wow Your Audience

Pick up the key presentation skills, including confident delivery, preparation, breathing techniques, and more!

Dag Hendrik Lerdal

• Share this on WhatsApp
• Share this on FaceBook
• Share this on Twitter

Standing in front of an audience and giving a presentation isn’t a walk in the park. Sure, it comes naturally to some people, but others have to work hard to cultivate the skills to make them master presents.

If you’re looking for ways to elevate your presentation, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll walk you through the top 20 presentation skills you need to wow and captivate your audience. 

1. Master Verbal Communication

Public speaking is a bit like a conversation on steroids. To ace it, your words need to be clear, concise, and concrete. No one likes a rambler. Speak to the point, ditch the jargon, and offer real examples. Remember, your audience is not here for a linguistic acrobatics show – they just want to hear what you have to say, plain and simple.

How to master verbal communication:

• Get straight to the point; avoid unnecessary preamble.
• Eliminate filler words that dilute your message.
• Use language that anyone, regardless of expertise, can understand.
• If you must use technical terms, provide simple explanations.
• Ground your ideas in real-life situations.
• Stories and examples make your content relatable and memorable.

2. Show Your Leadership

Have you ever been in a room where someone walks in, and you just know they’re in charge? That’s the power of leadership in public speaking. Establish your presence. Confidence is your ally; speak with conviction, maintain eye contact, and let your body language scream: “I got this!” When your audience sees you as the captain of the ship, they’ll willingly follow your lead.

How to show your leadership:

• Enter the room with confidence and purpose.
• Project an aura of authority through your demeanor.
• Speak with conviction and assurance in your voice.
• Believe in your message, and your audience will, too.
• Stand tall, use purposeful gestures, and avoid nervous tics.

3. Using Storytelling to Your Advantage

Let’s face it: nobody remembers a presentation that’s dryer than last week’s leftover pizza. Spice it up with storytelling. Whether it’s a personal anecdote or a gripping case study, hook your audience from the start.

Make them care about your message by weaving it into a story. It’s the difference between a monologue and a memorable experience.

You can also try common storytelling techniques, like in the example from SimilarWeb below:

How to use storytelling to your advantage:

• Engage your audience emotionally by connecting facts and concepts to relatable narratives.
• Begin with a captivating story to grab immediate attention.
• Weave your message into a story that resonates with your audience.

4. Understanding Yourself Is a Critical Presentation Skill

Before you can lead others, you’ve got to lead yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Embrace what you’re good at, and be honest about where you can improve. Confidence comes from self-awareness, not perfection. Lead with your strengths, and your authenticity will do more for you than a rehearsed facade ever could.

How to understand yourself for presentations:

• Identify your strengths and leverage them in your presentation.
• Acknowledge areas for improvement without fear.
• Authenticity is more compelling than perfection; let your audience see the real you.
• Lead with honesty, and your audience will connect with your genuine approach.

5. Your Presentation Delivery Matters

Presenting isn’t just about what you say; it’s how you say it. Use body language to punctuate your points – it’s the exclamation mark to your words. Pauses are not awkward silences but spaces where your audience absorbs and appreciates your message. Your delivery is critical to connecting and resonating with your audience.

How to improve your delivery:

• Practice your presentation so it sounds more natural and fluent.
• Be aware of your body language and tone.
• Avoid fillers like “um” and “uh.”
• Speak with confidence and authority.

6. The Art of Persuasion Is a Presentation Skill, Too!

Think of your presentation as a friendly sales pitch – and you’re selling ideas instead of products. That’s where the art of persuasion comes into play. Clearly outline the benefits, address concerns upfront, and sprinkle in some compelling evidence. Leave your audience nodding their heads, thinking, “I’m in!”

How to be more persuasive:

• Start with a compelling hook to grab your audience’s attention.
• Clearly articulate the benefits of your ideas in simple language.
• Anticipate objections and address them during your presentation.
• Incorporate real-life examples and data to support your points.

7. Active Listening

Sure, you’re the one doing the talking, but that doesn’t mean your audience can’t get in on the action. In fact, the best presentations are a two-way street. Active listening is your backstage pass to audience participation. Respond to questions, gauge reactions, and adjust your tone accordingly. Remember, it’s only about being heard but also hearing your audience.

How to practice active listening when presenting:

• Encourage questions, comments, and interaction.
• Observe your audience’s body language and facial expressions.
• Be flexible with your tone based on audience engagement.
• Actively listen to questions and respond thoughtfully.

8. Develop Networking Skills

Conference speaking is like a professional mixer with a microphone. Before you hit the stage, work the room. Learn about your audience, their interests, and their pain points. Then, weave those insights into your talk. 

How to use networking with your presentations:

• Engage with attendees before your presentation begins.
• Discover the interests and pain points of your audience.
• Make yourself available for further conversation after your talk.

9. Manage Your Time and Keep Things Organized

The last thing you want is for your audience to feel like they’re on a mental rollercoaster. Organize your thoughts in a logical flow, creating a journey for your audience. Time management is your co-pilot; stick to it like glue. Practice your presentation to know how long each section will be, and trim off any fat if things go too long. And leave time for you to interact with the audience. 

How to improve your presentation organization skills:

• Structure your presentation logically.
• Rehearse to gauge time for each section.
• Remove unnecessary content to stay within time limits.
• Plan for interactive segments during your presentation.

10. Utilizing Visual Elements in Your Presentations

Your slides are there to support, not steal the show. Keep them brief, clear, and visually striking. Ditch paragraphs and bullet points for videos and gifs, and let visuals speak volumes. Your audience should be able to glance at a slide and instantly grasp the message. 

• Replace text-heavy slides with visuals, videos, and gifs.
• Make your slides easy to understand at a glance.
• Use visuals to add dynamic elements to your presentation.

11. Managing Your Emotions During a Presentation

Getting on stage and speaking in front of a room of people isn’t anything to be scoffed at. In fact, around three out of four people might break a sweat at the mere thought of it. But here’s the deal – embrace the nerves. They’re the butterflies that remind you it matters. Manage your emotions like a rockstar, especially when the unexpected happens. Handling rejection, like a heckler in the crowd, is just part of the gig. Keep your cool, stay focused, and you’ll own the room.

How to manage your emotions when presenting:

• Understand that feeling nervous is natural.
• Channel nerves into enthusiasm and energy.
• Concentrate on your message to maintain composure.
• Realize that surprises may happen.

12. Be a Problem Solver

A great presentation provides a solution to the audience, even if they don’t immediately realize it. Identify the problems your audience faces and present your content as the remedy. Be ready to engage in problem-solving on the spot. Whether it’s answering tough questions or tackling issues in real time, providing real solutions will make your presentation unforgettable.

How to be a problem solver:

• Identify the problems your audience might be facing.
• Prepare for the tough questions ahead of time.
• Be ready to tackle problems as they arise during the presentation, whether they are tech issues or unruly participants.
• Ensure that your content directly addresses the audience’s concerns.

13. Learn to Research and Come Prepared

A presentation without solid facts lacks substance. Conduct thorough research to parse out statistics, facts, examples, and stories that bolster your message. Being armed with well-researched info not only makes you more credible but also shows your audience that you mean business.

And this goes beyond your subject matter. Also, research your audience to understand the best way to resonate with them. Are they industry experts? What is the average age range? Speaking to Gen Z requires a different approach than speaking to Boomers.

How to research and be prepared for your presentation:

• Primary and reliable sources for your stats and facts.
• Provide real-world examples that support your message.
• Adapt your presentation style to resonate with the specific audience characteristics.

14. Flex Your Funny Bone

You don’t need a stand-up routine, but a dash of humor can turn a good presentation into a memorable one. It’s like seasoning – a pinch is often enough, and too much ruins the dish. Relatable anecdotes, witty remarks, or a well-timed joke can break the ice and keep your audience on their toes. Remember, it’s a presentation, not a eulogy – see, that’s a joke.

How to add humor to your presentation:

• Use puns or inside jokes that resonate with your audience.
• Err on the side of caution – if you think it might offend someone, leave the joke out.
• Place jokes strategically for maximum impact.

15. Connecting with Eye Contact

When you’re chatting with a friend, you look them in the eye, right? The same goes for your audience. Connect and engage by making eye contact. It’s not a staring contest, so pick friendly faces from the left, center, and right. Hold that gaze for 5-10 seconds, then shift. It’s a simple gesture to make your audience feel seen and heard.

How to properly make eye contact:

• Don’t single out an individual and only focus on them.
• Walk around the stage, moving your eyes from one side to the other.
• When making impactful points, don’t be afraid to hold your gaze.

16. Know Your Stuff Inside Out

The best presenters don’t read off scripts or stand there reading their slide bullet points. You need to memorize your presentation inside out – every word, every pause, every gesture. As an added bonus, it helps you with time management and organization, like I mentioned above. And it will give you that boost of confidence that comes from knowing what you’re talking about and not simply guessing.

How to memorize your presentations:

• Practice your presentation weeks in advance.
• Use your slides as “reminders” to guide the presentation.
• If you can, record your speech and listen to it regularly.

17. Use Breathing Techniques

Before you step into the spotlight, take a moment to breathe. Learn a breathing technique to calm those pre-presentation jitters. Slow, deliberate breaths can lower anxiety and bring a sense of calm. And it helps ground you in the moment so when you step on the stage, you’re ready to wow your audience.

Effective breathing techniques:

• Take slow, deep breaths through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale through your mouth.
• Focus on your body during this time.
• While on stage, take gentle breaths between pauses.

18. Using Repetition to Hammer Ideas Home

Ever had a catchy tune stuck in your head after hearing it a few times? Repetition works in presentations the same way. Repeat your core ideas throughout your talk. Of course, you don’t want to come off as annoying or treating people like they’re unintelligent. But by repeating the main points of your presentation, you can ensure that people at least leave with the important parts. 

How to use repetition to enhance your presentation:

• Strategically place your core idea throughout the presentation.
• It doesn’t need to be verbal – include multiple slides that re-iterate the idea.
• Engage the audience and ask them questions to make them think about the main points.

19. Speaking Loudly and Clearly

The last thing you want to do when presenting is sound like there’s a spoonful of peanut butter in your mouth. Speak loudly and clearly, enunciating your words with precision. You not only want to be heard, but you want to be understood. Articulate each syllable, speak in a natural cadence, and take the necessary pauses to let your message sink in. A clear voice cuts through the noise and commands attention.

How to speak loudly and clearly:

• Project your voice from your chest.
• Open your mouth wide when speaking.
• Slow things down and clearly communicate each word.

20. Being a Show(wo)man

Welcome to the era of short attention spans and viral videos. To keep your audience hooked, channel your inner show(wo)man. You don’t need to juggle fire (unless that’s your thing) but about infusing your presentation with elements that grab attention – games, visuals, questions, and stories.

Make it a performance, not a lecture.

But again, don’t overdo it – the goal is to educate AND entertain. The two need to work in harmony.

How to be a true show(wo)man:

• Be animated with your speech – move around, use hand gestures, etc.
• Use props and other assets to get your point across.
• Whether it’s a suit or casual wear, dress for the part.
• Encourage the audience to participate with you, e.g., call and response.

4 Best Practices and Tips to Supercharge Your Presentations

While these 20 skills are a must-have for taking your presentations to the next level, here are a few best practices that you can use in combination with them.

Practice Makes Perfect

You want to rehearse your presentation like you’re preparing for a concert. The more you run through it, the smoother it gets. It’s not about memorizing every word but being more familiar with the structure. Once you have the structure down packed, you make adjustments on the fly and go through your presentations with confidence.

Use Metaphors, Similes, and Rhetorical Questions

Remember in school when you learned about literary techniques like metaphors and similes? Well, it’s time for them to shine. They add vibrancy to your speech, and when done right, they can provide the audience with thought-provoking insights. And hey, don’t forget to throw in some rhetorical questions. They’re good because they engage the audience while still keeping you in control. 

Avoid Passive Voice

Passive language like “The throne was being desired by Jon Snow” makes your speech more wordy and confusing than it needs to be. Instead, use an active voice like “Jon Snow desired the throne” to make your message more direct and concise. Sure, you want to sound more authoritative and confident, but a passive voice does the opposite. Keep things straight to the point and use the least amount of words possible. 

Join Public Speaking Groups

You know what they say, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The same goes for improving your presentation game. Join public speaking groups – online or in your neighborhood – and soak in the wisdom. Not only do you get to flex your public speaking muscle, but you also get invaluable feedback from others looking to do the same.

Bonus: Use Tools to Spice up Your Presentations

Ready to elevate your presentations? With seamless integration of multimedia elements, SlideDog transforms your presentations into dynamic and captivating experiences. Elevate your storytelling, engage your audience, and leave a lasting impression. 

It’s time to step into the spotlight with confidence – let SlideDog be your guide to presentation excellence.

Your slides will thank you, and your audience will too. 

Ready, set, SlideDog!

Previous post

Thank you for sharing these invaluable tips on mastering presentations! Building upon the discussion of presentation tools, I’d like to highlight the importance of incorporating interactive elements to truly captivate audiences. Platforms like https://mentimeter.com https://kahoot.it https://slido.com https://polleverywhere.com https://letsattend.io offer dynamic features such as polls, quizzes, and live Q&A sessions, enriching presentations and getting meaningful engagement. Integrating these audience-engaging tools can elevate the overall impact of a presentation, making it more memorable and interactive for everyone involved.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the Remote & Live Sharing App!

Remotely control your presentations, chat and answer polls.

12 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills [for Work & Life]

According to research by the National Institute of Mental Health, around 75% of people list public speaking as their number one fear , even higher than their fear of death! 

At the same time, though, presentation skills are among the most in-demand skills for just about any job out there . 

Want to get over your fear of public speaking, improve your presentation skills, and give your career a huge boost?

You’re in the right place! This article is here to tell you everything you need to know about presentation skills from A to Z: 

• 9 Types of Presentations and Delivery Methods
• 12 Steps to Giving Better Presentations
• 5 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills

How to Add Your Presentation Skills to Your Resume

And more! Let’s dive in. 

What Are Presentation Skills?

Presentation skills are soft skills that allow you to present information clearly in front of an audience.

As such, these skills come in handy in all kinds of situations, including:

• Work. For example, giving a presentation in front of your team, pitching a new idea, etc.
• School or university. E.g., giving an oral presentation about a subject or presenting a master's thesis.
• Personal life. E.g. giving a speech at your best friend’s wedding or a toast at a restaurant.

No matter the situation, people with strong presentation skills typically possess the following skills:

• Body language
• Public speaking
• Communication skills
• Emotional intelligence

Why Are Presentation Skills Important?

But, what exactly makes presentation skills so important in basically every life area? 

Here are their most noteworthy benefits: 

• Increased employability. Presentation skills come in handy for many positions across all industries. 70% of respondents in a Prezi study said that presentation skills are critical for career success. As such, presentation skills are transferable skills that can instantly make you more employable.
• Higher academic performance. In the US, most university classes involve a presentation assignment or two. As such, being good at presenting is essential if you want to succeed academically.
• Effective networking. Having great presentation skills translates into great communication skills, which, in turn, helps you get better at professional networking .
• Improved confidence. Being able to speak in front of an audience can be a serious confidence booster, easily translating to other areas in life.

9 Types of Presentation and Delivery Methods

There are several types of presentations out there. 

Some presentations are meant to inspire the audience (such as motivational talks), while others are simply meant to instruct or inform (HR giving a presentation about company policies to new employees). 

Here are the five most common types of presentations, explained: 

• Persuasive presentations are meant to persuade the audience to make a decision, support a cause, side with a particular argument, and so on. A salesman pitching a product to a potential customer is an example of a persuasive presentation.
• Informative presentations aim to inform the audience about a topic, procedure, product, benefit, etc. An example of an informative presentation is a weatherman reading the weather report on TV.
• Inspirational presentations are meant to inspire the audience and potentially boost their confidence or morale. In a business setting, inspirational presentations are meant to motivate employees to perform better or get through tough times. In day-to-day life, on the other hand, an inspirational presentation could be trying to motivate a friend to do better at school.
• Educational presentations , just like the name implies, aim to educate the audience. Professors giving a lecture or tour guides speaking to museum visitors are examples of educational presentations.
• Instructional presentations are about instructing or guiding the audience on a set of guidelines, a new policy, a certain law, etc. An example of an instructional presentation is a flight attendant instructing passengers on what to do in case of an emergency.

On the same note, there are also 4 common ways presentations are delivered: 

• Extemporaneous presentations. These presentations are planned, but you deliver them without preparation.
• Manuscript presentations are presentations you deliver based on a script or notes.
• Impromptu presentations aren’t planned but rather delivered on the spot.
• Memorized presentations are those you learn by heart from start to finish.

11 Tips on How to Give Better Presentations

Looking to improve your presentation skills?

There’s good news and bad news.

The good news is that, with enough practice, you can get really good at delivering presentations.

The bad news, though, is that just like any other soft skill, in order to get good at delivering presentations, you’ll have to practice a lot.

To help get you started, below, we’re going to cover 12 of our best tips on how to improve your presentation skills, starting with:

#1. Prepare your presentation in advance

Impromptu presentations don’t happen that often in real life. Most times, you’ll have enough time to prepare for your presentation. 

Needless to say, you should use that time to your advantage. Don’t just make mental notes of what you’ll say during your presentation and call it a day, but actually plan it out from start to finish. 

When preparing your presentation in advance, make sure to consider the following points:

• What type of presentation are you making?
• What is your speech delivery method?
• How are you going to grab the audience’s attention from the get-go?
• What are the main points you need to cover?
• What is the best way to make the conclusion memorable?
• How much time do you have at your disposal?
• What visual aids and multimedia can you use?
• What does the audience expect to see/hear?

#2. Practice as much as possible

Just like with any other soft skill, the best way to hone your presentation skills is to practice as much as possible.

Some ways you can practice your presentation skills are:

• In front of a mirror or in front of your friends and family.
• Watch TED talks to get inspired and learn what good presentation skills look like.
• Read books on communication, presentation, and public speaking.
• Take extensive notes of what you need to improve. 
• Record and time yourself when doing presentations.
• Hire a public speaking coach on Fiverr or another platform.
• Take a public speaking course at your local community college.

The more you practice, the better your presentation skills are going to get.

Also, when practicing, make sure to pay attention to your tonality, body language, and whether you’re using a lot of crutch words .

#3. Exercise

Yes, really.

Exercise can help improve your presentation skills!

Some ways it does so are:

• It boosts the levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, all of which are known to improve your mood and regulate your anxiety. 
• It improves your ability to focus and pay attention, benefits which can last for up to two hours after your workout .
• It strengthens and protects your memory, making it easy to recall words. 

Now, when it comes to how much you should exercise, that can differ from one person to the next.

We say - find a golden mean that works best for you. If you’re not big on exercising, you can always start small with something casual like biking to work or playing a sport once or twice a week. 

#4. Arrive early

By arriving early for your presentation, you can deal with any possible setbacks (e.g. mic not working, USB failure, wardrobe malfunction, etc). 

This will give you plenty of time to start your presentation on your terms, instead of running around trying to fix things at the last minute. 

Not to mention, in certain situations arriving early can also help you to prepare mentally and emotionally for the upcoming presentation. 

Obviously, a casual presentation in front of coworkers won’t require much emotional preparation. But if you have to, say, pitch a marketing idea to your clients or address a room full of strangers, getting to exchange some words with them before the presentation could break the ice and make it easier to engage with them later on. 

#5. Know your audience

You should always keep your audience in mind when making (and delivering) a presentation. 

At the end of the day, if your message is not tailored to its audience, chances are, it’s going to fall flat.

If your audience is a group of 50-somethings, high-level executives, chances are they won’t get your Rick and Morty references or appreciate any attempts to keep the presentation light, casual, and humorous. 

Instead, stick to talking about facts and figures without any joking around, use straightforward language, and avoid over-the-top body language while delivering the presentation. 

If on the other hand, you’re delivering a presentation to your class of 20-somethings, then you’re a lot more likely to make an impact if you joke around, make references, and make the presentation more casual.

In short, if you want your presentation to carry as much impact as possible, make sure to think about who you’re presenting to. 

#6. Use Relaxation Techniques

Even the most seasoned public speakers experience some level of anxiety before giving a presentation.

To make sure nerves and anxiety don’t throw you off your A-game, you can take advantage of relaxation techniques. 

One of the simplest (and most effective) ways to relax before a presentation is to breathe.  

When we say breathing, though, we don’t mean the automatic in-and-out we do to stay alive. We mean taking deep, relaxing breaths from your stomach while being mindful of what you’re doing. 

Here’s how breathing mindfully before your presentation can help you give a better presentation: 

• Calms your nerves
• Reduces stress 
• Helps with anxiety 

To practice mindful breathing, focus on breathing from your stomach and push your stomach out each time you inhale. When you’re inhaling and exhaling, count to at least three for each breath. 

Keep doing this and you’ll soon start feeling more relaxed. 

#7. Acknowledge That You’re Nervous

People appreciate honesty. 

If you go on stage feeling extremely nervous, use this neat little trick:

Instead of trying to play it cool, simply acknowledge that you’re feeling nervous by straight-up saying it.

Chances are, a very large chunk of your audience feels exactly the same way about public speaking, and you’ll build up some rapport just like that!

This same exact tip even applies to job interviews. You can simply tell the recruiters that you’re feeling nervous and need a minute - that’s totally acceptable!

Unless you’re applying for a job in sales, the job interviewer is not going to be evaluating you on how good you are at passing interviews.

#8. Tell stories

Storytelling is a powerful presentation tool. According to the Guardian, 63% of presentation attendees remember stories , while only 5% remember statistics.

That’s because a good story can take the audience on a journey, intrigue them, inspire them, and motivate them. In turn, they’re much more likely to remember your presentation.

There are several ways you can go about incorporating stories into your presentation. 

One is to tie your own stories, along with what you experienced, learned, or observed, to make your argument more impactful and relatable. Alternatively, you can also create a story for the sake of the presentation that can be just as impactful in driving your point across. 

Keep in mind, though, that not every presentation requires storytelling. If your presentation is packed with data and stats showing how you managed to improve profits by 20% in the last quarter, for example, then you don’t really need to include a story in there to make it impactful. 

#9. Be humorous

This one’s quite self-explanatory; as much as you can, be humorous during your presentation. It helps ease tension, get the attention of everyone in the room, and connect with them more effectively. 

Now, some people are born with humor. If you’re one of them, cracking a joke here and there should come very naturally to you. 

Otherwise, you can practice your presentation in front of your friends and family and prepare your jokes in advance. If your mock audience laughs at your jokes, chances are, so will your real audience!

#10. Use visual aids and media

Using visuals and other media forms (e.g. music, videos, infographics, etc.), can make your presentation significantly more engaging, memorable, and striking. 

Say, for example, that your presentation consists entirely of numbers and data. You can use data visualization (e.g. charts, graphs, and maps), to make the data stick with your audience better. 

Or, if you’re a lecturer at a university, you’ll want to use as many pictures, videos, and even music to help your students remember the information you’re transmitting. 

Some of the most popular ways to make your presentations as visual as possible involve using:

• Whiteboards
• Presentation applications 

#11. Engage the audience

To give a truly memorable presentation, engage your audience as much as possible. 

Instead of speaking to your audience, try to speak with your audience.

What we mean by this is that you should be very proactive in getting your audience involved in your presentation. Ask questions, get them to share stories, and so on. 

Some examples of how you can effectively engage an audience are: 

• Asking a random audience member to share their experience on a topic.
• Doing a count of hands (e.g. “Has anyone done X? Can I see a count of hands?” or “Which one of you guys likes Y? Raise your hands.” )
• Do an on-the-spot poll (e.g. “How many of you guys do X?” or “how many of you guys think Y?” )
• Making time for a Q&A at the end of your presentation. 

6 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills

Just like any other skill, presentation skills can be learned and improved. So, if you’re looking to improve your presentation skills, follow the tips below: 

• Take every public speaking opportunity you get. The best way to learn presentation skills is by doing it. So, take every opportunity you get. E.g. volunteer to present a project, say a toast at your friend's wedding, etc.
• Check these TED talks. Is there anything TED talks haven’t covered? Check out these talks that can teach you how to give awesome presentations: “ Giving Presentations Worth Listening To ”, “ the secret structure of great talks ,” and “ the science of stage fright (and how to overcome it) ”. 
• Take public speaking classes. Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn all have great public speaking courses. Or, even better, take a class at your local college. This way, you’ll get a lot more practice than by taking an online class. 
• Attend other presentations. This one’s pretty self-explanatory. The more presentations you attend, the more you can learn from others’ successes or failures. 
• Grow your confidence. Speak in front of friends and family, film yourself, and accept constructive criticism. Soon enough, you’ll be confident enough to give excellent presentations!
• Ask for feedback. How can you improve your presentation skills if you don’t know where you’re lacking? After your presentation, ask one or two members of your audience for personal, one-on-one feedback on how you did. 

If you want to show a potential employer that you’ve got presentation skills, you’ll need to highlight them on your resume.

And in this section, we’ll teach you just how to do that!

Before you do that, though, make sure to grab one of our free resume templates!

#1. List Your Presentation Skills Under Your Soft Skills 

The first and most obvious place to list your presentation skills is under your skills section . 

This part is pretty straightforward. Your skills section should be divided into “soft skills” and “hard skills” and look something like this: 

Simply add “Presentation Skills” under the “Soft Skills” section, and you’re good to go.

#2. Mention Your Presentation Skills in Your Resume Summary 

If presentation skills are super important for the role you’re applying for, you can also include them in your resume summary : 

In a nutshell, the resume summary is a short paragraph on top of your resume that typically mentions: 

• Your title and years of experience 
• Your most noteworthy achievements
• Your top skills and qualifications

Done right, this section should highlight all your strong points right from the get-go and get the hiring manager to go through the rest of your resume in more detail. 

Here’s an example of a resume summary that effectively mentions the candidate’s presentation skills: 

• Sales professional with 7 years of experience in sales presentations and lead generation. Excellent public speaking skills. Track record of converting prospects into loyal customers.

#3. Prove Presentation Skills Through Your Work Experience 

Lastly (and most importantly), you should use your work experience section to prove that you’ve got the presentation skills you mentioned in your skills section.

Here’s exactly how you can do that: 

• Keep your work experience section relevant. List recent and relevant positions. Omit outdated and irrelevant ones. For example, if you’re applying for a customer service position, you can mention the time you worked, say, as a receptionist. Your teen job mowing lawns, on the other hand? Not as important. 
• Focus on achievements instead of responsibilities. Instead of telling the hiring manager what they already know (your responsibilities), focus on showing them how you made an impact with your achievements. A way to do that is to write down a couple of achievements for every presentation skill that you include under your soft skills. 
• Make your achievements quantifiable . Adding numbers to your achievements makes them significantly more impressive. “Delivered a presentation that closed a 6-figure client” is a lot more powerful than “Delivered client presentations,” right?
• Use action verbs and power words. Presentation skills are also about how you present yourself in your resume. Avoid dry and unimaginative language and go for these action verbs and power words instead.

Key Takeaways 

And that’s about all you need to know to improve your presentation skills!

Before you go, though, here’s a quick recap of everything we covered in this article:

• Presentation skills are soft skills that allow you to present information clearly and convey your message effectively. 
• Some important presentation skills include public speaking, communication, persuasion, creativity, humor, and emotional intelligence. 
• Presentation skills can increase your employability, improve your academic performance, make it easier to network, and help you grow professionally. 
• Some steps you can take to give better presentations are to prepare in advance, practice as much as possible, exercise regularly, be humorous, use visual aids and multimedia, engage the audience, and accept that you’re nervous. 
• To improve your presentation skills, watch videos that teach you how to give great presentations, attend public speaking classes and other presentations, and grow your confidence. 
• List your presentation skills under your skills section, mention them in your resume summary, and prove them with your achievements in the work experience section.

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

• Presentations
• Most Recent
• Infographics
• Data Visualizations
• Forms and Surveys
• Video & Animation
• Case Studies
• Design for Business
• Digital Marketing
• Design Inspiration
• Visual Thinking
• Product Updates
• Visme Webinars
• Artificial Intelligence

11 Tips for Improving Your Presentation Skills (& Free Training)

Written by: Heleana Tiburca

Are you looking for ways to completely level up your presentation skills? We’ve rounded up a list of the 10 best tips to help you deliver and create an effective presentation .

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the tips you’ll find inside:

• Create an audience journey roadmap
• Use proper and confident body language
• Meet your audience before presenting to better connect with them
• Focus on your presentation design to engage your audience

... and a whole lot more!

So, if you want to take your presentation skills to the next level, then this list will show you exactly how to do so.

Let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

Tip #1: define the purpose of your presentation., tip #2: create an audience journey map., tip #3: keep your slides short and sweet., tip #4: focus on your presentation design., tip #5: visualize boring numbers and data., tip #6: practice in front of a live audience., tip #7: meet your audience before presenting., tip #8: channel nervous energy into enthusiastic energy., tip #9: use proper and confident body language., tip #10: allow your personality to shine through., tip #11: take courses to improve your presentation skills., free presentation skills training.

Behind every successful presentation, there was carefully crafted planning that went into it beforehand. To ensure that you’ll have a powerful presentation, you need to consider your message.

The very first step to any good presentation is to define its purpose. This goes on in the very beginning during the planning process where you consider your message.

Your presentation’s end goal can be any of the following:

• To entertain
• To persuade

Your presentation’s end goal might even be a combination of the four purposes above. Consider the fact that you may need to inform buyers of your product and what problem it solves for them, but you also need to persuade them into buying it.

This is where engaging storytelling and proper visual aids will come into play to help you achieve your goal, and will either make or break your presentation.

Once you pinpoint the purpose of your presentation, you can then begin to work on the subject matter and your audience journey map.

An audience journey map is a visual representation of all the steps you need to take your audience members through, from first to last and everything in between, to achieve the goal of your presentation.

There are a few steps to creating your audience journey map.

First, you need to start your explanation at a low point — the current state of an issue. Maybe there’s a problem that you are able to solve. Describe the current situation before you lay out the undertaking ahead.

Once you lay out the problem, you can then start showing your audience the process of solving this problem. To not overwhelm your crowd, give them an actionable roadmap to follow.

With great verbal communication skills, you can tell them how you plan to take the first step.

This is many times the hardest part of the presentation, but once you have the foundation for your first step, you can easily lay out the next stepping stones and take them to your end goal with ease.

Creating an audience journey map will be a major success factor in a compelling presentation and needs to be done before writing and creating your slides.

Having a clear audience journey map will also help ensure you take your audience on a smooth journey with all your main points in line and achieve your end goal with no bumps in the road.

When giving a presentation, make sure that you keep it short, sweet and as informationally-condensed as possible. All of your slides should be easy to digest and understandable at a glance.

Let's take a look at an example. The slide below is part of Visme's simple presentation theme , which is designed to have maximum impact with minimal text.

You can customize this slide and others like it in Visme's presentation software . Or, you can apply the same concept of minimalism to any other presentation tool, such as PowerPoint.

To make sure that you stay on topic and won’t overwhelm your crowd with too much information, you need to have a plan. When you have a solid plan to go by, you won’t go off track and begin rambling about things unrelated to your presentation.

Another practical way you can stay on topic and not overwhelm your audience with too much information is to have your main points written in bold somewhere on your slides.

Here's another example of a Visme slide template that does that well:

As you can see above, you don’t need to write out all the information surrounding the main points, as this will cause your audience too much confusion.

An experienced presenter will be able to quickly glance over at their own presentation slides, see the main points and continue on with their presentation, engaging their audience without going off course.

This, of course, comes with a lot of rehearsing out loud, which we will cover more in tip number six .

Another great way to keep your presentation short is to set a specific time for asking questions.

By reserving a few minutes during your presentation for your audience to ask questions, you can present your main points and achieve your goals, without going into too much detail.

Your audience can then ask for clarity on anything that interests them and you can answer their questions in however much detail you need.

Picture this: you’re gathered around the conference table with all your colleagues early Monday morning and your manager pulls up a lifeless, colorless, text-filled Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

You’re trying your best to pay attention and understand what he’s trying to convey, but staring deep into your coffee cup seems much more interesting at this point.

Sound familiar?

This is why it’s so crucial to understand how your presentation design will affect the outcome.

By having a messy and overloaded presentation, you’ll lose your audience almost immediately. On the flip side, if it’s so mundane and boring, you will also lose their attention.

One design presentation tip that we suggest you implement is to make sure you don’t overcrowd your slides with too much text.

This is a risky thing to do because the moment you flip to the next slide, your audience’s attention goes from what you’re saying, to your slide.

They’ll begin to read everything presented on the slide and completely tune you out. This is why a minimal text approach with a maximum of 2-3 different yet complementary fonts on your slides will be ideal, like in the example below.

You can use visual aids like images, animated graphic design elements, videos and more to convey the same message that boring text would.

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to design a presentation from scratch, and that’s why it can be incredibly helpful to use a tool that offers presentation templates to help you get started.

Visme has hundreds of handcrafted presentation templates for public speakers to use for any occasion. Each presentation template is fully customizable and you’ll be able to add your branded content to your slides to make it your own.

Presenting your data can be an incredibly tricky and difficult task.

Instead of adding a bunch of tables and numbers to your slides, try switching things up by using charts, graphs and other data visualization types .

When creating a chart for your presentation, you need to be mindful of several things.

First, you need to choose the right chart to begin with. Not every type of graph is suitable for all data sets. The chart you choose will depend on the nature of your data and your unique purpose of using that chart.

Here's an infographic to help you understand what type of chart to use depending on your unique needs and nature of data.

Image Source

For example, if you're drawing a comparison between two or more items, a bar graph might be suitable. But if you're breaking down composition, a pie chart might be a better idea.

Also, make sure that you can fit all of your information into a chart without overcrowding the visual and also have your audience understand that information at a glance, like in the example below.

Other data visualization tips to keep in mind include choosing a pleasant, cohesive color scheme, sticking to max 2-3 fonts, incorporating a legend, and keeping your data as simple as possible.

Learn more about data visualization best practices to help you create engaging charts for your presentations and reports.

If you're using Visme, you can also import your data directly from Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, Survey Monkey, Google Analytics and more.

Practice, practice and practice again.

Some would argue that writing up and designing a presentation from scratch is the easiest part. Delivering the presentation in a way that it engages your audience — that's the tricky part.

When it comes to public speaking, it’s only natural that one would get a little nervous and stumble upon their words.

That’s why practicing your public speaking skills in front of others will be vital to how well you present and connect with your crowd during your actual presentation.

It’s one thing to practice in front of the mirror, but it’s something completely different when people are waiting for you to deliver information that will improve their business or life.

So gather up some friends, family members or even your pets, and present your presentation from start to finish as many times as you need.

By presenting your slides out loud, you might even catch some mistakes in your presentation or find you need to add in some missing information.

By shaking your attendee’s hand before a meeting, you’ll begin to make connections and become more approachable and likable by your audience.

Meeting your audience will help break the ice and make them more likely to listen to what you have to say. They will also feel more comfortable asking you questions later, which will increase the value they get out of your presentation.

Plus, you’ll also feel more relaxed speaking to your audience if you've met them already. When you can put a name to a face, you’ll automatically feel a sense of comfort when you make eye contact with them while presenting.

Even the most famous movie stars and popular public speakers will still get nervous before a public presentation.

It’s human nature to get butterflies and perspire a bit before having tons of eyes on you, critiquing every word you have to say.

So, if you’re feeling nervous before a presentation, instead of emotionally shutting down, take that nervous energy and transform it into enthusiastic energy.

Before getting up on stage, listen to your favorite hype music, maybe have a coffee (if it won’t make you jittery) or get a pep talk from a friend.

By being confident and using your enthusiasm to your advantage, you’ll have your crowd on the edge of their seats, completely engaged, following every word you say.

Enthusiastic presentations will much better received by listeners, rather than monotone informational presentations. So, as important as your presentation design is, the way you present it will determine a big part of the outcome.

According to Allan Pease , an Honorary Professor of Psychology at ULIM International University, you can convince almost anyone to do anything for you if you use proper body language.

He has an entire Ted Talk dedicated to the subject, which you can watch below.

The proper use of hand gestures, a power stance, a confident smile and an authoritative yet kind voice are all techniques that you can leverage to get your crowd listening to and agreeing with what you’re saying.

According to Allan Pease, when using hand gestures, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using open palm gestures. This makes you look like a great leader that is right there with the team, ready to lead and take charge.

By using open palm gestures, people will automatically be inclined to listen to you.

The moment you turn your hand over and start using your pointer finger, you will lose your audience. They won’t accept any information from you and they will believe you have an authoritative and hostile attitude.

Body language is everything, so make sure to use open hand gestures, smile, take a deep breath and believe that you’re not nervous, even if you are.

As soon as you believe that you’re not nervous, your brain and body will follow suit and you’ll feel more confident on stage with your presentation, which will make your audience trust you more.

We’re convinced that with the right tone of voice and allowing your personality to shine through, you can take any boring presentation, and turn it into an entertaining and engaging one for your audience.

While it is good to meet your audience where they are, it’s never good to fake your personality for the sake of a presentation.

Everyone can tell when someone isn’t genuine, and if you’re trying to suppress your personality, you’re only hurting yourself and your presentation by doing so, as what you’re saying can then begin to sound disingenuous.

So, don’t be afraid to use your personality to your advantage. Let a joke out and entertain your audience. By making your audience laugh, you’ll have them more in tune with what you’re saying.

Chances are if you’re giving a business presentation, many of your peers will be there and they'd want you to let your personality show. So, be yourself and use that to your advantage!

Finally, our best tip that we can offer you in all areas of life is to never stop learning.

The only way to improve is to continue learning and practicing. That’s why we recommend you take presentation courses that will help improve your communication skills and presentation skills.

You can brush up on your presentation, communication and public speaking tips by taking online courses on Udemy or Coursera . Look for specific courses on storytelling, body language and more to focus on your problem areas.

Or, if you're looking for a free course that packs all the good stuff at zero cost, our team at Visme has put together an incredible presentation course that will help you smash your next presentation!

When it comes to creating and giving presentations, many times it seems like it’s just something that’s expected of us to do, without receiving any type of proper training or qualifications.

Here at Visme, we want to see everyone succeed.

That’s why we combined our years of knowledge and experience to create a free course to give everyone the tools and confidence they need in order to create effective and successful presentations.

There are dozens of benefits and skills you’ll gain in these training sessions. You'll learn how to:

• Effectively brainstorm and create audience personas and audience journey maps
• Use visual communication to inform, engage, inspire and persuade your audience
• Design your presentation as a professional designer would in minutes
• Use colors, fonts, pictures and videos to increase the impact of your speech
• Present your data through compelling charts and graphs that tell a story

You’ll also receive a Visme Versity certificate of completion once you complete the online course — you can add this to your LinkedIn profile to set yourself up for success.

If any of these benefits sound like something you want to add to your tool belt, then you can take our free presentation skills course for professional development right now.

This course is broken down into easily digestible sections, yet it’s jam-packed full of readily applicable information. The best part is you can take the course and complete it at your own pace.

There are engaging educational videos for you to watch and learn from, informational content for you to read and at the end of each session, there is a quiz for you to take to assess your progress.

By the end of this course, you’ll have an abundance of skills that will help you succeed in all types of presentations.

Sign up today and learn how to become a great presenter in no time!

Level Up Your Presentation Skills

You’ve now learned 11 amazing tips on how to improve your presentation skills, but there’s still so much more to uncover and learn in the realm of presentations skills.

If you want to overcome your fear of public speaking, improve on your business presentations, become a better communicator and transform good presentations into great presentations, then this free presentation course by Visme is for you.

Want to create stunning presentations of your own? Sign up for our presentation software and start using hundreds of pre-made slides, animated effects, free graphics, charts and more.

Create beautiful presentations faster with Visme.

Trusted by leading brands

Recommended content for you:

Create Stunning Content!

Design visual brand experiences for your business whether you are a seasoned designer or a total novice.

About the Author

I’m Heleana and I’m a content creator here at Visme. My passion is to help people find the information they’re looking for in the most fun and enjoyable way possible. Let’s make information beautiful.

We use essential cookies to make Venngage work. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Manage Cookies

Cookies and similar technologies collect certain information about how you’re using our website. Some of them are essential, and without them you wouldn’t be able to use Venngage. But others are optional, and you get to choose whether we use them or not.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are always on, as they’re essential for making Venngage work, and making it safe. Without these cookies, services you’ve asked for can’t be provided.

Show cookie providers

• Google Login

Functionality Cookies

These cookies help us provide enhanced functionality and personalisation, and remember your settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers.

Performance Cookies

These cookies help us analyze how many people are using Venngage, where they come from and how they're using it. If you opt out of these cookies, we can’t get feedback to make Venngage better for you and all our users.

• Google Analytics

Targeting Cookies

These cookies are set by our advertising partners to track your activity and show you relevant Venngage ads on other sites as you browse the internet.

• Google Tag Manager
• Infographics
• Daily Infographics
• Popular Templates
• Accessibility
• Graphic Design
• Graphs and Charts
• Data Visualization
• Human Resources
• Beginner Guides

Blog Beginner Guides 9 Tips for Improving Your Presentation Skills For Your Next Meeting

9 Tips for Improving Your Presentation Skills For Your Next Meeting

Written by: Hannah Tow Feb 03, 2020

Presenting to an audience is one thing, but presenting ideas in a persuasive manner to the key stakeholders of your business is a whole other ball game.

The fact of the matter is that successfully presenting to a room full of people is a skill that’s mastered by very few. It takes practice, practice, and even more practice to start feeling comfortable with everyone’s eyes focused on you so you can effectively get your point across. 

The reality of presenting is that you can’t escape it. Especially as you start to move up in your career. If you’re yearning to improve, this article will walk you through the top nine tips to use to enhance your presentation skills for your next big meeting as well as throughout your life. Let’s get started.

9 top tips for improving your presentation skills:

• Practice speaking in front of others
• Use less text and more visuals in your presentation
• Leverage your personality
• Welcome questions and comments during
• Be passionate and engaging
• Maintain eye contact with your audience
• Obsess over your listeners
• Focus on confident body language
• Keep it as short as possible

Constantly practicing, refining and improving upon your presentation skills will not only make you a more confident individual, but you will find that you rise quicker to success in your career. However, having great presentation skills does not just affect your work-life. Great presentation skills are truly life skills that you should integrate into more areas than just the conference room.

1. Practice speaking in front of others 

Practice always makes perfect. 

It doesn’t matter how well you know what you’re talking about, the moment you have to persuade, engage, or teach in front of an audience, you will probably stumble a bit. This is a natural reaction that affects pretty much everyone when all eyes are pointed in one direction and the anxiety sets in. 

It’s important to remember that the overwhelming feeling of stress you probably feel is the result of your unfamiliarity with the situation, not from your lack of preparedness. The more comfortable you are with taking the stage and having everyone’s attention on you, the less nervous you’ll get. 

The greater confidence you have in your presentation skills will allow you to focus on what actually matters–which is the material that you’re presenting. 

The best way to implement this practice is by starting off small. Prepare a presentation to give to your friends, family, or closest co-workers. This sounds easy, but you will learn that it’s not necessarily who is listening to you that causes nerves, but it’s the fact that all of the attention is on you. 

You’ll become more comfortable with the attention when you begin practicing in front of others more often, which will allow you to effectively present your ideas next time it’s your turn to speak in the conference room.

RELATED: Learn the top ten public speaking tips to better prepare you for your practice sessions. 

2. Use less text and more visuals in your presentation

We’ve all been there before: sitting at the conference table trying our very best to stay interested and engaged with the presentation before us. The presentation lacks color, images, and all sense of creativity while containing an over-abundance of text and long-form paragraphs. 

These types of presentations are horrible for two reasons: 

The first reason being that the minute you have words on the screen, your audience will direct their attention away from you to begin reading and completely tune you out. 

The second reason is if your presentation skills are poor, not only will your presentation be dull to listen to, but it will be unbelievably boring to look at as well. You’ll quickly find out how easy it is to lose most of the room’s attention when you create a lackluster presentation. 

If you feel lost attempting to design your slides into an exciting work of art, try using creative presentation templates . PowerPoint templates make it simple to produce something beautiful, and they can also make you feel like an accomplished designer after seeing the outcome, such as this business presentation example . 

In addition to nicely designed slides, you should always try to use infographics and charts to help you better summarize the complex information you’re relaying to your audience. It will be much easier for your listeners to understand what you’re explaining when they have something to visualize it with. Plus, there are plenty of resources out there to help you craft these visuals.

Learn how to make an infographic in five easy steps or produce an impressive graph .

If you feel worried that your presentation doesn’t hold enough content, you must remember the main reason for visual aids: 

They are to enhance what you’re speaking about, not lead it! 

If you’ve done enough practicing, you should feel confident in your presentation skills to thoroughly explain your main ideas and you won’t need to rely on the screen anyhow.

TIP: If you’re looking for even more ways to engage your audience with your visuals, check out 120+ presentation ideas that are sure to wow and delight! 

3. Leverage your personality

As cliche as it sounds, you should always be true to who you are, especially if when you’re presenting. 

It’s incredibly easy to tell if someone is faking it for the sake of their audience, so you should never pretend to act in a way that you don’t typically do. Not only will you feel unnatural and uncomfortable doing it, but you can also risk embarrassment when you try to tell a forced joke and no one laughs or your new-found trait of sarcasm doesn’t sit well with your boss. 

It should bring you comfort knowing that most everyone in your meeting knows who you are. Use this to your advantage and start the presentation by playing up your best personality traits. Use your humor if you’re known to crack jokes or throw in your typical mannerisms.

These little additions will make your presentation feel much more relaxed for everyone involved. In addition to your own unique quirks, you should also bring a level of personability to your meeting.

Be empathetic, smile more, and look around the room.  Doing so will improve your presentation skills, make you more likable, and allow your audience to be more receptive to you. 

In many cases, you may be presenting virtually, rather than in person. You can still allow your personality to shine through and energize your virtual presentation. Lisa Schneider, Chief Growth Officer at Merriam-Webster, wrote for Venngage on how to adapt an in-person presentation into a virtual presentation . Check it out.

4. Welcome questions and comments during your presentation

Be flexible throughout your presentation. Answer questions and respond to any comments your audience may have either through hand raising or an audience response tool . Don’t worry if it veers you off your script. Chances are if one person has a question or comment, the others in the room are thinking it too. 

Use this as an opportunity to prove how well you understand the material you’re presenting–your audience will take notice.

Also, take some time out at the start or your presentation to ask your audience some icebreaker questions and slowly transition into the more important stuff. 

Taking this minute to talk through anything that your audience is thinking of is a good thing because it means they are engaged with you and really paying attention to the words coming out of your mouth. Doing so will also relax the format of your presentation, allowing you to feel more confident and relaxed as well.

5. Be passionate and engaging 

When creating your presentation, craft it in such a way that makes your audience curious and makes them have questions for you. A persuasive presentation is the best way to get the positive reactions you are looking for, so be as passionate as you can be about your subject matter to seal the deal. 

Remember that questions and comments during your presentation are a good thing, especially if you’re the one prompting them! 

The more excited you are to present your ideas and show off your expertise, the more excited and engaged your audience will be. Own your subject matter and know what you’re talking about, it’s one of the most important presentation skills to have.

6. Maintain eye contact with your audience

This is a very obvious tip that will go a long way with your audience. 

When the people you’re speaking to feel like you’re taking notice of them, they are much more likely to take notice of you and pay better attention to everything that you’re saying. 

It’s important to remember that losing eye contact and looking everywhere but at the people that you’re presenting to is a common nervous behavior. Pay extra close attention to whether or not you’re guilty of that, and work to ensure you have your eyes on at least one person.

7. Obsess over your listeners 

Be receptive to your listeners. You can’t forget that what you’re presenting is for the audience, and it has nothing to do about you! 

Focus on the value you can provide to the people in the room. The more serving you are to them, the greater chance you have at driving your point home and nailing your presentation. 

It’s also important not to forget about those listening to you remotely over video conferencing . Make sure they know you’re aware of them and engage them as well! 

8. Focus on confident body language 

Smiling, hand gestures, eye contact, and a powerful stance all exude confidence. 

If you don’t have strong body language and are showing physical signs of nervousness (ie. tapping, bouncing, shaking, darting eyes, and more) your audience will have a hard time focusing on the material you’re presenting and hone in on the fact that you’re nervous and probably don’t know what you’re talking about as much as you say you do.

No matter how nervous you are, take a deep breath and pretend otherwise. You might actually start to believe it!

9. Keep it as short as possible

Every single person’s time is valuable ( especially at work), so don’t waste precious meeting time. If you can say everything you need to in half of the time that is allotted, you should do so. 

Ensure that you’re only sharing the most important information. All of the extra fluff will bore your audience and you will lose their attention very quickly.

It’s a great idea to wrap up your presentation with key takeaways and action items. Doing so will ensure that no matter how quickly your meeting ended, your team understands their next steps. You can send out a quick, summarizing slide deck or an easy to read one-pager for their reference later. These visuals will make sure all of your bases are covered and that everyone is on the same page upon leaving the meeting.

A good presentation makes all the difference. Check out the top qualities of awesome presentations and learn all about how to make a good presentation to help you nail that captivating delivery.

Never stop refining your presentation skills 

Possessing great presentation skills doesn’t come naturally to most people–it’s something that’s learned and practiced over time. As with most things in life, you must continuously work on refining your skills to get better and better. 

Use these nine proven presentation tips that we covered in this article to improve your presentation skills and ace different presentation styles . By doing so, you will find that presenting at your key meetings becomes easier and easier and you’ll begin to nail it every single time.

More presentation guides:

How to Make a Persuasive Presentation

120+ Best Presentation Ideas, Design Tips & Examples

33 Presentation Templates and Design Tips to Hold Your Audience’s Attention

Presentation Design Guide: How to Summarize Information for Presentations

Discover popular designs

Infographic maker

Brochure maker

White paper online

Newsletter creator

Flyer maker

Timeline maker

Letterhead maker

Mind map maker

Ebook maker

PUBLIC SPEAKING COACH SCOTLAND

• Jun 16, 2023

20 Ways to Improve your Presentation Skills

Effective presentation skills are essential in various aspects of life, from professional settings to academic environments and even social gatherings. Being able to communicate your ideas, engage an audience, and deliver a memorable message can greatly influence your success and impact. Whether you're giving a business pitch, presenting research findings, or speaking at a conference, honing your presentation skills can make a significant difference in how well your message is received.

In this list, we will explore 20 ways to improve your presentation skills. These practical tips and techniques are designed to help you deliver compelling presentations that captivate your audience, convey your message effectively, and leave a lasting impression. From thorough preparation and audience analysis to mastering delivery techniques and leveraging technology, each point in this list offers valuable insights and actionable strategies to enhance your presentation prowess.

By implementing these tips, you'll be able to build confidence, engage your audience, and communicate your ideas with clarity and impact. Whether you're a seasoned presenter looking to refine your skills or a novice seeking to develop a strong foundation, these 20 ways to improve your presentation skills will serve as a valuable guide on your journey to becoming a more persuasive and influential speaker. So, let's dive in and discover how you can take your presentations to the next level!

ONE: Prepare thoroughly: Dedicate a significant amount of time to thoroughly research your topic. Explore a wide range of reputable sources, including books, articles, and academic papers. Collect comprehensive data, statistics, and examples that support your key points. Organize your thoughts and create a clear and logical structure for your presentation. This level of preparation will not only provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge but also allow you to anticipate potential questions or objections and address them effectively.

TWO: Know your audience: Conduct extensive research on your audience to gain a deep understanding of their demographics, interests, knowledge level, and any specific challenges they may be facing. Analyze their needs, expectations, and cultural nuances to tailor your content and delivery effectively. Consider conducting surveys or interviews, consulting industry reports, or leveraging existing data to gather valuable insights. This in-depth understanding will enable you to connect with your audience on a personal level and deliver a presentation that resonates with them.

THREE: Start with a strong opening: Capture your audience's attention right from the beginning with a compelling and impactful opening. Craft a powerful story or personal anecdote that relates to your topic and evokes emotions. Alternatively, start with a surprising or intriguing fact that immediately grabs their attention. You can also pose a thought-provoking question or share a relevant quote that stimulates their curiosity. Engaging your audience from the outset will create an immediate connection and set a positive tone for the rest of your presentation.

FOUR: Use visual aids: Enhance your presentation by incorporating visually appealing and informative visual aids. Create well-designed slides that complement and reinforce your key points. Use a consistent visual theme throughout your presentation to maintain coherence and professionalism. Consider utilizing charts, graphs, and diagrams to present data in a visually understandable format. Additionally, leverage technology to integrate multimedia elements such as videos, animations, or interactive tools that help reinforce your message and engage your audience.

FIVE: Dedicate ample time to practice your presentation to build confidence and refine your delivery. Rehearse in front of a mirror to observe your body language, facial expressions, and overall presence. Record yourself delivering the presentation and review the footage to identify areas for improvement. Consider seeking feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors who can provide constructive criticism. Additionally, practice in front of a small audience or join a public speaking group to gain experience and receive valuable input.

SIX: Speak clearly and confidently: Focus on projecting your voice effectively, ensuring that everyone in the room can hear you clearly. Pay attention to your pronunciation and diction to articulate your words distinctly. Practice speaking at a moderate pace to allow your audience to process the information without feeling overwhelmed. Develop a strong and confident speaking style that exudes professionalism and authority, while also conveying warmth and approachability.

SEVEN: Use body language effectively: Harness the power of body language to enhance your message and connect with your audience. Maintain an upright posture that conveys confidence and openness. Utilize purposeful gestures to emphasize key points, illustrate concepts, or add emphasis to your speech. Use facial expressions to convey enthusiasm, sincerity, or empathy, depending on the content and tone of your presentation. Strategic movement on stage can also help maintain engagement and shift focus when transitioning between different topics or sections.

EIGHT: Maintain eye contact: Establish and maintain eye contact with different individuals throughout your presentation. Direct your gaze to different sections of the audience, making sure to connect with individuals in various parts of the room. This approach creates a sense of inclusiveness and engagement, as well as fosters a connection between you and your audience. However, avoid fixating on a single person or constantly looking at your notes or slides, as this can detract from the overall impact of your presentation.

NINE: Pace yourself: Pay attention to your speaking pace and aim for a moderate tempo that allows your audience to follow along comfortably. Avoid rushing through your content, as this can make it difficult for listeners to absorb and process the information. Similarly, speaking too slowly can lead to disengagement or boredom. Practice timing your delivery to ensure that you allocate sufficient time to each section of your presentation, while still maintaining a steady and engaging pace.

TEN: Use storytelling techniques: Harness the power of storytelling to make your presentation more engaging and memorable. Introduce relevant anecdotes, personal experiences, or case studies that connect with your audience on an emotional level. Craft narratives that highlight the real-world impact of your message or demonstrate how your ideas have solved problems or achieved success. By weaving compelling stories throughout your presentation, you create a more relatable and captivating experience for your audience.

ELEVEN: Be concise: Respect your audience's time by delivering your message succinctly and avoiding unnecessary tangents. Clearly outline your main points and use concise language to communicate them effectively. Eliminate any filler words or repetitive phrases that might dilute the impact of your message. Stay focused on your core message and provide supporting evidence or examples concisely, ensuring that your content remains clear and digestible.

TWELVE: Engage your audience: Actively involve your audience throughout your presentation to maintain their interest and increase participation. Encourage interaction through questions, prompts, or discussions. Foster a collaborative environment where attendees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts or asking questions. Incorporate group activities or exercises that allow participants to apply the information you're presenting. By actively engaging your audience, you create a dynamic and interactive experience that enhances their learning and retention.

THIRTEEN: Be aware of time: Respect the allocated time for your presentation and manage it effectively. Practice your presentation with a timer to ensure that you can comfortably cover all essential points within the given timeframe. Structure your content in a way that allows for a smooth and logical flow, while also leaving room for potential questions or discussions. Prepare contingency plans or prioritize your content, ensuring that you can adapt and adjust if unexpected circumstances arise during your presentation.

FOURTEEN: Handle questions gracefully: Anticipate potential questions and be prepared to answer them confidently and concisely. Actively listen to each question, giving the questioner your full attention. Repeat or paraphrase the question to ensure that you've understood it correctly, and then provide a thoughtful and relevant response. When faced with challenging or unexpected questions, remain composed and maintain a positive demeanor. If you don't know the answer to a question, be honest about it, and offer to follow up with more information later. Handling questions gracefully demonstrates your expertise and fosters trust with your audience.

FIFTEEN: Use humour strategically: Incorporating appropriate humor into your presentation can create a positive and enjoyable atmosphere. Well-timed and relevant jokes, anecdotes, or light-hearted remarks can help ease tension, build rapport, and capture your audience's attention. However, it's important to use humor judiciously and ensure it aligns with the overall tone and purpose of your presentation. Be mindful of cultural sensitivities, and avoid offensive or divisive humor. A carefully placed and well-executed humorous moment can make your presentation more memorable and engaging.

SIXTEEN: Be authentic: Embrace your unique personality and let it shine through in your presentation. Authenticity is key to building trust and rapport with your audience. Share personal stories or experiences that are relevant to your topic and allow your passion and enthusiasm to come through naturally. Avoid trying to imitate someone else's style or mannerisms. By being true to yourself, you establish a genuine connection with your audience, making your presentation more relatable and impactful.

SEVENTEEN: Seek feedback: Actively seek feedback after your presentation to gain valuable insights and identify areas for improvement. Reach out to colleagues, mentors, or attendees and ask for their constructive criticism and suggestions. Inquire about specific aspects of your presentation, such as content, delivery, or visual aids. Consider conducting surveys or feedback forms to gather anonymous input. Reflect on the feedback received and use it as a guide for refining your presentation skills and enhancing future presentations.

EIGHTEEN: Continuously learn and improve: Commit to lifelong learning and improvement in your presentation skills. Stay updated on the latest trends and techniques in public speaking and effective communication. Attend workshops, seminars, or webinars on presentation skills to gain new insights and perspectives. Read books, articles, or blogs written by experts in the field. Watch presentations by skilled speakers to observe their techniques and gain inspiration. Embrace every opportunity for growth and refinement, allowing your presentation skills to evolve and flourish.

NINETEEN: Embrace technology: Explore various presentation tools, software, or multimedia options to enhance the visual impact and interactivity of your presentations. Experiment with features like animations, transitions, or interactive polls to engage your audience. Utilize presentation software that allows for seamless integration of multimedia elements such as videos, audio clips, or live demonstrations. However, ensure that the technology you use enhances your message rather than becoming a distraction or hindrance. Familiarize yourself with the tools and practice using them before your presentation to ensure a smooth and seamless delivery.

TWENTY: Reflect and evaluate: Take time after each presentation to reflect on your performance. Evaluate what went well and what could be improved. Consider your strengths, such as effective storytelling or engaging body language, and areas for improvement, such as time management or slide design. Reflect on the overall effectiveness of your message and how well it resonated with your audience. Use this self-reflection as a basis for setting goals and making adjustments in future presentations, continuously striving for growth and excellence in your presentation skills.

Mastering the art of effective presentations is a valuable skill that can open doors to numerous opportunities and propel your success in various areas of life. Throughout this list, we have explored 20 practical ways to improve your presentation skills, covering aspects such as preparation, audience analysis, delivery techniques, and embracing technology.

By dedicating time to thorough preparation, knowing your audience, and starting with a strong opening, you can immediately capture your audience's attention and set a positive tone. Utilizing visual aids, practicing your delivery, and incorporating storytelling techniques will help you engage and connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Moreover, by being aware of your body language, maintaining eye contact, and handling questions gracefully, you can enhance your credibility and build rapport with your audience. Embracing your authentic self, seeking feedback, and continuously learning and improving will ensure your growth as a presenter.

In a technology-driven world, exploring multimedia options and using technology strategically can elevate the impact of your presentations. Finally, taking the time to reflect and evaluate your performance after each presentation will enable you to identify areas of strength and areas that need improvement, allowing you to refine your skills and deliver even more compelling presentations in the future.

Remember, effective presentation skills are not developed overnight. It takes practice, dedication, and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. Embrace these 20 ways to improve your presentation skills as a roadmap to your success, and let your newfound abilities captivate, inspire, and leave a lasting impression on your audience. With each presentation, you will gain confidence and refine your skills, bringing you one step closer to becoming a truly outstanding presenter. So, go forth, embrace the power of effective presentations, and make your mark on the world!

Looking for help with your presentations? Get in touch with Mark!

Recent Posts

Unveiling Archetypes for Captivating Public Speaking in Scotland

Team Presentation Skills in Scotland

Speak with Confidence in Scotland: 10 Public Speaking Tips for Conquering the Stage

• Newsletters
• Best Industries
• Business Plans
• Home-Based Business
• The UPS Store
• Customer Service
• Black in Business
• Your Next Move
• Female Founders
• Best Workplaces
• Company Culture
• Public Speaking
• HR/Benefits
• Productivity
• All the Hats
• Digital Transformation
• Artificial Intelligence
• Bringing Innovation to Market
• Cloud Computing
• Social Media
• Data Detectives
• Exit Interview
• Bootstrapping
• Crowdfunding
• Venture Capital
• Business Models
• Personal Finance
• Founder-Friendly Investors
• Upcoming Events
• Inc. 5000 Vision Conference
• Become a Sponsor
• Cox Business
• Verizon Business
• Branded Content
• Apply Inc. 5000 US

Inc. Premium

16 Ways to Dramatically Improve Your Presentation Skills From 16 Powerful TED Talks

Want to deliver better presentations learning by example -- especially from outstanding ted talks -- can sometimes be the best way to learn..

You may not be delivering a TED Talk , but still. You want to captivate your audience. You need to captivate your audience. (Here's looking at you, Colonel Jessup .)

But you're worried that you don't have the skills.

That's okay. There are a number of ways to instantly improve your speaking skills . It's all about preparation and practice --and using some of the following tips.

And as a bonus, each tip is accompanied by an awesome TED Talk, so not only do you get to use some awesome speakers as role models, you can broaden your knowledge while you're at it:

1. Harness the power of genuine emotion.

Now let's look at unusual ways to instantly improve your presentations. Many speakers tell self-deprecating stories, but simply admitting a mistake is a waste if you only use it to highlight how far you've come. Instead, tell a story and let your emotions show. If you were sad, say so. If you cried, say so. If you felt remorse, let it show.

When you share genuine feelings, you create an immediate and lasting connection with the audience. Emotion trumps speaking skills every time.

2. Always have a secondary goal.

Say you're speaking to a civic group on behalf of a charity and you realize your presentation is falling flat. In response, people usually either try too hard or basically give up. If your primary goal is to land a contract and you can tell you won't succeed, shift to planting the seeds for another attempt down the road.

If you see you won't get what you really want, ask what can you accomplish? Then, when the room doesn't go your way, you can stay positive, focused, and on top of your speaking game.

3. Always give the audience something to take home.

Always provide something specific the audience can do almost immediately. No matter how inspiring your message, every audience appreciates learning a tangible way they can actually apply what they've learned to their own lives.

Inspiration is great, but application is everything: Never be afraid to say, "Tonight, think of an employee who is really struggling... and then tomorrow, do (this) and (this) to try to rescue them."

4. Don't wait to answer questions.

If a question pops up in the middle of your presentation, that's awesome: Someone is listening! So seize the opportunity. If you would have addressed the point in a later slide, skip ahead. (If you've practiced skipping around, it won't throw you.)

The best presentations feel like conversations, even if one-sided...so never ignore the opportunity to foster that sense of interaction. Never do anything to disengage your audience.

5. Fuel up wisely.

Let's start with some preparation tips. Dopamine and epinephrine help regulate mental alertness. Both come from tyrosine, an amino acid found in proteins. So make sure to include protein in the meal you eat before you need to be at your best.

And don't wait until the last minute. When you're really nervous, the last thing you may want to do is eat.

6. Burn off some cortisol.

Cortisol is secreted by your adrenal glands when you're anxious or stressed. High levels of cortisol limit your creativity and your ability to process complex information; when you're buzzed on cortisol, it's almost impossible to read and react to the room.

The easiest way to burn off cortisol is to exercise. Work out before you leave for work, take a walk at lunch, or hit the gym before a speaking engagement. (If you've ever felt more grounded after slogging through a solid workout, you now know why.)

7. Develop two contingency plans.

If you're like me, "what if?" is your biggest source of anxiety: What if your PowerPoint presentation fails, someone constantly interrupts, or your opening falls flat? Pick two of your biggest fears and create contingency plans. What will you do if the projector fails? What will you do if the meeting runs long and you only have a few minutes to speak?

The effort won't be wasted, because the more you think through different scenarios, the better you can think on your feet if something truly unexpected occurs.

8. Create a pre-presentation ritual.

Superstitions are an attempt to "control" something we're afraid of. (Lucky socks don't make an athlete perform better.) Instead of creating a superstition, create a routine that helps center you emotionally. Walk the room ahead of time to check sight lines. Check microphone levels. Run through your presentation at the site to ensure it's ready to go.

Pick things to do that are actually beneficial and do them every time. You'll find comfort in the familiar--and confidence, too.

9. Find something the audience doesn't know.

I've never heard someone say, "I was at this presentation the other day, and the guy's Gantt chart was amazing!" I have heard someone say, "Did you know when you blush the lining of your stomach also turns red?"

Find a surprising fact or an unusual analogy that relates to your topic. Audiences love to cock their heads and think, "Really? Wow...."

10. Always benefit; never sell.

Most business people assume they should capitalize on a speaking engagement to promote a product or service, win new clients, and build a wider network. Don't. Thinking in terms of sales only adds additional pressure to what is already a stressful situation. Put all your focus on ensuring the audience will benefit from what you say; never try to accomplish more than one thing.

When you help people make their professional or personal lives better, you've done all the selling you'll need to do.

11. Never make excuses.

Due to insecurity, many speakers open with an excuse: "I didn't get much time to prepare..." or "I'm not very good at this...." Excuses won't make your audience cut you any slack, but they will make people think, "Then why are you wasting my time?"

Do what you need to do to ensure you don't need to make excuses.

12. Keep your slides simple...

Here's a simple rule of thumb: Make your font size double the average age of your audience. Roughly speaking, that means your fonts will be between 60 and 80 points. If you need to fit more words on a slide, that means you haven't tightened your message.

13. ...And never read your slides.

Your audience should be able to almost instantly scan your slides--if they have to actually read, you might lose them. And you'll definitely lose them if you read to them. Your slides should accentuate your points; they should never be the point.

14. Focus on earning the audience's attention.

Now let's look at a few things to immediately start doing. Instead of playing the "turn off your mobile devices" game, because no one will (and you just look stodgy), focus on earning their complete attention. Make your presentation so interesting, so entertaining, and so inspiring that people can't help but pay attention.

It's not the audience's job to listen; it's your job to make them want to listen.

15. Use the power of repetition.

Your audience probably hears about half of what you say...and then they filter that through their own perspectives. So create a structure that allows you to repeat and reinforce key points. First explain a point, then give examples of how that point can be applied, and at the end provide audience action steps they can take based on that point.

Since no one can remember everything you say, what you repeat has a much greater chance of being remembered--and being acted upon. So repeat away!

16. But don't ever run long.

If you have 30 minutes, take 25. If you have an hour, take 50. Always respect your audience's time and end early. As a bonus, that forces you to hone your presentation--and to prepare to shift gears if your presentation takes an unexpected turn.

Finish early and ask if anyone has questions. Or invite them to see you after the presentation.

But never run long...because all the good will you built up could be lost.

A refreshed look at leadership from the desk of CEO and chief content officer Stephanie Mehta

Privacy Policy

Presentation Training Institute

A division of bold new directions training, 8 ways to improve your presentation skills.

Whether you are a student, an educator, a business professional, or a small business owner, presenting to an audience is something you will have to do many times throughout your life. Knowing how to deliver an idea is a beneficial skill, no matter what line of work you are in. That said, speaking in front of an audience is oftentimes one of the most feared tasks. For those not born with a natural eloquence, public speaking and presenting can be remarkably nerve-racking. The good news is that like any other skill, presenting is something that can be improved with practice. Here are just a few of the best tips to help you improve your presentation skills. 

1. Practice!

Just as you would any other sport or skill, if you want to be a better presenter you have to make time to practice. Rehearse your presentation multiple times in order to improve. Practice in front of a mirror, in front of a mock audience, and even record yourself. Ask for genuine feedback from friends and family. Also, review the recording and be mindful of your pace, tone, body language, and delivery. Make note of any improvements that need to be made and keep practicing until you feel confident about your performance. 

2. Attend Other Presentations

It can be very helpful to see other presenters and make note of what they did and did not do well. Pay attention to things like their tone, body language, eye contact, movement, audience reaction, and visual tools. Was the presentation successful and engaging? Did the presenter connect with the audience? This can be an effective method for improving your own presentation skills. 

3. Know Your Audience

Before you begin preparing the content of your presentation, consider who the message is intended for. Learn as much as you can about the audience and their needs or challenges. This will help you align your message with their specific needs and determine your choice of words, level of information, and motivation. 

4. Know Your Stuff

Research and prepare until you become an expert on your topic. The more knowledge you have on your topic, the more confident you will appear when presenting about it. You want your audience to see you as an authority in your field so be sure you know your information backwards and forward.

5. Be Mindful of Body Language

Practicing confident body language is just as important as practicing the words you speak. When your body language is demonstrating confidence, your audience will see you as credible. Pay attention to things like eye contact, posture, hand gestures, voice inflection, and tone. Body language is a powerful tool that can help you communicate emotion and connect with your audience. 

6. Attend Workshops or Training

Public speaking and presenting is not an easy skill to master so it can be helpful to attend professional workshops, training, or even social groups such as Toastmasters in order to learn more and practice your skills. This allows you to learn from more experienced presenters and also practice in a safe environment where you can receive the feedback you need to improve your skills and gain confidence. 

7. Engage the Audience

Oftentimes people dread attending presentations because they feel like a one-sided conversation. It can be boring to sit and listen passively for an hour as someone throws information at you. Presentations, however, don’t have to be a one-dimensional experience. Welcome and encourage audience participation by asking questions, taking a poll or survey, telling a story, or playing an icebreaker. This will boost engagement and make attendees feel part of the conversation. 

8. Take Deep Breaths

When we are nervous, our muscles tighten, our hearts pound, and we may even hold our breath. Before stepping on stage, take several minutes to practice deep breathing exercises. This will help relax your muscles and deliver oxygen to the brain. This helps to calm your nerves and reduce anxiety. 

• Entertainment
• Rex Reed Reviews
• Awards Shows
• Climate Change
• Nightlife & Dining
• Gift Guides
• Business of Art
• About Observer
• Advertise With Us

20 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills

We can’t all deliver the next gettysburg address, but there are lots of small things you can do prior to your presentation that will help calm your nerves and set you up for a better presentation..

I’ve been doing a lot of presenting recently, and I have no problem admitting that it’s tough. For those not born with natural eloquence, public speaking can be remarkably nerve-racking. But I’m getting a lot better!

Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our <a href="http://observermedia.com/terms">terms of service</a> and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the last few years is that to be a  great public speaker , it’s key to develop a personal speaking style. Since I’m not the most eloquent speaker, I make up for it by packing my presentations with enthusiasm, unique/proprietary data, and tons of useful content as well as plenty of dumb jokes.

We can’t all deliver the next Gettysburg Address, but there are lots of small things you can do prior to your presentation that will help calm your nerves and set you up for a better presentation . Here are my  20 best tips to improve your presentation skills .

1. Practice!

Naturally, you’ll want to rehearse your presentation multiple times. While it can be difficult for those with packed schedules to spare time to practice, it’s essential if you want to deliver a rousing presentation. I’m famous around the office for staying up late the night before a big presentation, practicing over and over. If you really want to sound great, write out your speech rather than taking chances winging it — if you get nervous about speaking, a script is your best friend.

Try to practice where you’ll be delivering your talk. Some acting strategists suggest rehearsing lines in various positions — standing up, sitting down, with arms open wide, on one leg, while sitting on the toilet, etc. (OK, that last one may be optional.) The more you mix up your position and setting, the more comfortable you’ll feel with your speech. Do a practice run for a friend or colleague, or try recording your presentation and playing it back to evaluate which areas need work. Listening to recordings of your past talks can clue you in to bad habits you may be unaware of, as well as inspiring the age-old question: “Is that what I really sound like?”

2. Transform Nervous Energy Into Enthusiasm.

It may sound strange, but I’ll often down an energy drink and blast hip-hop music in my earphones before presenting. Why? It pumps me up and helps me turn jitters into focused enthusiasm. Studies have shown that an enthusiastic speech can win out over an eloquent one, and since I’m not exactly the Winston Churchill of presenters, I make sure that I’m as enthusiastic and energetic as possible before going on stage. Of course, individuals respond differently to caffeine overload, so know your own body before guzzling those monster energy drinks.

3. Attend Other Presentations.

If you’re giving a talk as part of a conference, try to attend some of the earlier talks by other presenters to scope out their presentation skills and get some context. This shows respect for your fellow presenters while also giving you a chance to feel out the audience. What’s the mood of the crowd? Are folks in the mood to laugh or are they a bit more stiff? Are the presentations more strategic or tactical in nature? Another speaker may also say something that you can play off of later in your own presentation.

4. Arrive Early.

It’s always best to allow yourself plenty of time to settle in before your talk. Extra time ensures you won’t be late (even if Google Maps shuts down) and gives you plenty of time to get adapted to your presentation space.

5. Adjust to Your Surroundings.

The more adjusted to your environment you are, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Make sure to spend some in the room where you will be delivering your presentation. If possible, practice with the microphone and lighting, make sure you understand the seating, and be aware of any distractions potentially posed by the venue (e.g., a noisy road outside).

6. Meet and Greet.

Do your best to chat with people before your presentation. Talking with audiences makes you seem more likeable and approachable. Ask event attendees questions and take in their responses. They may even give you some inspiration to weave into your talk.

7. Use Positive Visualization.

Whether or not you’re a Zen master, know that plenty of studies have proven the effectiveness of positive visualization. When we imagine a positive outcome to a scenario in our mind, it’s more likely to play out the way we envision.

Instead of thinking “I’m going to be terrible out there” and visualizing yourself throwing up mid-presentation, imagine yourself getting tons of laughs while presenting with the enthusiasm of Jimmy Fallon and the poise of Audrey Hepburn (the charm of George Clooney wouldn’t hurt either). Positive thoughts can be incredibly effective — give them a shot.

8. Remember That Most Audiences Are Sympathetic.

One of the hardest fears to shake when speaking in public is that the audience is secretly waiting to laugh at your missteps or mistakes. Fortunately, this isn’t the case in the vast majority of presentations.

The audience wants to see you succeed. In fact, many people have a fear of public speaking, so even if the audience seems indifferent, the chances are pretty good that most people listening to your presentation can relate to how nerve-racking it can be. If you start to feel nervous, remind yourself that the audience gets it, and actually wants to see you nail it.

9. Take Deep Breaths.

The go-to advice for jitters has truth to it. When we’re nervous, our muscles tighten — you may even catch yourself holding your breath. Instead, go ahead and take those deep breaths to get oxygen to your brain and relax your body.

Smiling increases endorphins, replacing anxiety with calm and making you feel good about your presentation. Smiling also exhibits confidence and enthusiasm to the crowd. And this tip works even if you’re doing a webinar and people can’t see you.

Just don’t overdo it — no one enjoys the maniacal clown look.

11. Exercise.

Exercise earlier in the day prior to your presentation to boost endorphins, which will help alleviate anxiety. Better pre-register for that Zumba class!

12. Work on Your Pauses.

When you’re nervous, it’s easy to speed up your presentation and end up talking too fast, which in turn causes you to run out of breath, get more nervous, and panic! Ahh!

Don’t be afraid to slow down and use pauses in your speech. Pausing can be used to emphasize certain points and to help your talk feel more conversational. If you feel yourself losing control of your pacing, just take a nice pause and keep cool.

13. Don’t Try to Cover Too Much Material.

Yes, your presentations should be full of useful, insightful, and actionable information, but that doesn’t mean you should try to condense a vast and complex topic into a 10-minute presentation.

Knowing what to include, and what to leave out, is crucial to the success of a good presentation. I’m not suggesting you skimp when it comes to data or including useful slides (some of my webinars have featured 80+ slides), but I am advocating for a rigorous editing process. If it feels too off-topic, or is only marginally relevant to your main points, leave it out.

14. Actively Engage the Audience.

People love to talk and make their opinions heard, but the nature of presentations can often seem like a one-sided proposition. It doesn’t have to be, though.

Asking the audience what they think, inviting questions, and other means of welcoming audience participation can boost engagement and make attendees feel like a part of a conversation. It also makes you, the presenter, seem much more relatable. Consider starting with a poll or survey . Don’t be put off by unexpected questions — instead, see them as an opportunity to give your audience what they want.

15. Be Entertaining.

Even if your presentation is packed with useful information, if your delivery bombs, so will your session.

I find that including some jokes and light-hearted slides is a great way to help the audience (and myself) feel more comfortable, especially when presenting them with a great deal of information. However, it’s important to maintain a balance — after all, you’re not performing a stand-up routine, and people didn’t come to your presentation with the sole intention of being entertained. That said, don’t be afraid to inject a little humor into your talk. If you’re not sure about whether a presentation is “too much,” run through it for a couple of friends and ask them to tell it to you straight.

16. Admit You Don’t Have All the Answers.

Very few presenters are willing to publicly concede that they don’t actually know everything because they feel it undermines their authority. However, since we all know that nobody can ever know everything about a given topic, admitting so in a presentation can actually improve your credibility.

If someone asks a question that stumps you, it’s okay to admit it. This can also increase your credibility with the audience, as it demonstrates that, no matter how knowledgeable a person might be, we’re all learning, all the time. Nobody expects you to be an omniscient oracle of forbidden knowledge — they just want to learn from you.

17. Use a Power Stance.

Practicing confident body language is another way to boost your pre-presentation jitters. When your body is physically demonstrating confidence, your mind will follow suit. While you don’t want to be jutting out your chest in an alpha gorilla pose all afternoon (somebody enjoyed Dawn of the Planet of the Apes a bit too much), studies have shown that using power stances a few minutes before giving a talk (or heading to a big interview) creates a lasting sense of confidence and assurance. Whatever you do, don’t sit — sitting is passive. Standing or walking a bit will help you harness those stomach bats (isn’t that more appropriate than butterflies?). Before you go on stage, strike your best Power Ranger stance and hold your head high!

18. Drink Water .

Dry mouth is a common result of anxiety. Prevent cottonmouth blues by staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water before your talk (just don’t forget to hit the bathroom before starting). Keep a bottle of water at arm’s reach while presenting in case you get dry mouth while chatting up a storm. It also provides a solid object to hurl at potential hecklers. (That’ll show ‘em.)

19. Join Toastmasters.

Toastmaster clubs are groups across the country (and the world) dedicated to helping members improve their presentation skills. Groups get together during lunch or after work to take turns delivering short talks on a chosen topic. The more you present, the better you’ll be, so consider joining a Toastmaster club to become a top-notch orator. Just don’t forget, it’s BYOB (Bring Your Own Bread).

20. Don’t Fight the Fear.

Accept your fear rather than trying to fight it. Getting yourself worked up by wondering if people will notice your nervousness will only intensify your anxiety. Remember, those jitters aren’t all bad — harness that nervous energy and transform it into positive enthusiasm and you’ll be golden. We salute you, O Captain! My Captain!

Larry Kim is the Founder of WordStream . You can connect with him on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn and Instagram . This post originally published on Wordstream.com .

• SEE ALSO : Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Has Caused a 25% Spike In United Airlines Demand

We noticed you're using an ad blocker.

We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. But advertising revenue helps support our journalism. To read our full stories, please turn off your ad blocker. We'd really appreciate it.

How Do I Whitelist Observer?

Below are steps you can take in order to whitelist Observer.com on your browser:

For Adblock:

Click the AdBlock button on your browser and select Don't run on pages on this domain .

For Adblock Plus on Google Chrome:

Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Enabled on this site.

For Adblock Plus on Firefox:

Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Disable on Observer.com.

More From Forbes

10 ways to improve your presentation skills.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Knowing how to deliver an idea is beneficial, no matter what line of business you're in.  But if you've tried everything in the books to improve your presentation skills and are still met with the kind of anxiety that causes you to break out in a cold sweat and stumble over your carefully planned words, it's time to try a different approach. 

Remember, speaking in front of people is a skill, not an innate ability. To help you nail your next presentation, 10  Forbes Coaches Council members offer their professional advice below:

From left to right: Tameka Williamson, Yvonne Brown, Debra Russell, Carmen Bolanos, Robyn Hatcher, Barbara Safani, Monica Davis, Jane Hundley, Nancy Buffington, Emily Kapit. All photos courtesy of the individual members.

1. Deconstruct What Great Speakers Do

The internet gives us access to countless videos of the greatest speakers of our time. Deconstruct their speech by highlighting their approach, tactics and execution. Then identify each speaking skill that was demonstrated, study it, and then model it based on video. Use the video to compare, contrast, critique and correct. Then repeat, track and speak until it's mastered.   –  Tameka Williamson ,  Celestial & Associates Consulting

2. Focus On Your Audience, Not Yourself

Remember that your audience is there to obtain and learn the information you are providing. They are vested in your success and excited about what you have to say or they wouldn't be there. By focusing on them, and what you plan to share, your focus becomes the content, not how you look or sound.   – Yvonne Brown ,  JAD COMMUNICATIONS, LLC

3. Know Your Stuff So You Can Let Go And Be Yourself

Practice your material so much that it becomes truly a part of you. Because the quality of a talk isn't the content; it's how well you connect with your audience. Most people stay stuck in their material rather than be truly present in the conversation with the audience. And rest assured, it is a two- way conversation. It is an energy exchange. So know your stuff, and then let go and connect.   –  Debra Russell ,  Artist's EDGE

4. Get Specific About What You Need To Improve

Get specific on what your weakness is by asking for targeted feedback. Do you stutter? Rely on slides? Appear nervous? Once you know what the problem is, video yourself making a presentation and focus on the issue at hand. Ideally, get a trusted partner or coach to review the video with you. You can then attack the problem without spending unneeded time shooting in the dark.   –  Carmen Bolanos ,  Carmen Bolanos Coaching

5. Create a Speaking Avatar

We create a strong mental image of ourselves that runs in a loop. In this case, that image might be "I'm a poor presenter." I get my clients to create an alter ego that is the type of presenter they dream of being. In other words, create a You 2.0. Fully imagine and visualize it — maybe give it a different name. When it's time to present, have your avatar take the stage.   –  Robyn Hatcher ,  SpeakEtc.

6. Join Toastmasters

I would recommend joining a Toastmasters group in order to practice presenting in a non-threatening and supportive environment. This would allow you to be in the company of others experiencing similar concerns, and the empathy and feedback from the group would help you gain the necessary confidence.   –  Barbara Safani ,  Career Solvers

7. Accept Constructive Criticism And Apply It

Practicing is the best way to improve your speaking skills. A surefire way to enhance  your presentations skills is to practice in front of people who are skilled at speaking and are willing to tell you what you need to know and do. To improve upon what you've read and learned, you must be willing to accept constructive criticism and apply it.   –  Monica Davis ,  Atela Productions, Inc.

8. Get Into Your Body More

A frequent experience in speaking in front of a group is to lose connection with your body. Good speakers are grounded and sense a strong connection to their core. Practicing some specific exercises, such as yoga, tai chi or dance, can help you gain body awareness and more control of your inner energy flow. Though always relevant in daily life, this technique is essential for speakers.   –  Jane Hundley , Impact Management Inc Coaching and Training

9. Explore Your Self-Talk

Presenting is an intensely personal experience. Start with what's inside, or you'll just be using Band-Aids to treat a deeper issue. First, explore  your self-talk, which for so many of us is profoundly negative. Gently pause those negative thoughts, and explore the positive ones. What do you have to offer? Why should people listen to you? Get comfortable inside first, and the rest will follow.   –  Nancy Buffington ,  Boise SpeakWell

10 . Try Improv To Improve

I would suggest the client step out of the box and onto a stage, specifically an improv class at a local theater or comedy club. These are phenomenal ways to force one's brain to expand its limits for handling the pressure of a speaking situation. The client will learn to be present in the moment, responsive based on the situation, and flexible in myriad circumstances.   –  Emily Kapit, MS, MRW, ACRW, CPRW ,  ReFresh Your Step, LLC

• Editorial Standards
• Forbes Accolades

• Accessibility Tools
• Current Students
• The University
• Student Services
• Centre for Academic Success
• The Academic Skills Lab
• Presentation Skills
• Delivering Presentations

How to improve your presentations

• Swansea University DSA Assessment Centre
• Student Support Services
• Digital Skills
• Dissertation skills
• Academic Writing
• Slide and Poster Design
• Confidence Tips for Speaking in Class
• Important Elements of a Presentation
• Study Skills
• Our Publications
• TurnItIn QuickMark Tool
• Welsh Provision
• Peer Assisted Study Sessions
• Peer Writing Advisors
• Academic Integrity Ambassadors
• Maths and Stats Advisors
• Inclusive Student Support Services
• Reaching Wider

Written by: Katherine Watson

1. Know your topic well and the criteria for the presentation

Like any academic assignment, it is integral you do the background reading or research to support your delivery. For a presentation, make sure you’ve checked how long you will have to present, where and when the presentation will take place, and whether you need to be prepared for questions too.

2. Know how you prepare best

If you have the option to carry a script or flash cards, definitely do if it will make you more comfortable! When preparing a script, check that you can deliver it within the allotted time without rushing. A general guideline is that 750 words can be delivered in 5 minutes.

For other people, the best delivery of a presentation is without a script. For example, if you know you will struggle to recover if you lose your place in the script or if reading aloud from a piece of paper feels more challenging than just speaking. In this case, perhaps try presenting without a script.

There are all kinds of variations between these options such as carrying notes which summarise in a single sentence the key point to be delivered per slide. This can help ensure you don’t steer completely off course but can also allow you to speak freely.

3. Keep it structured

Like an essay, a presentation will often have an introduction, main body and conclusion. Use your opening to provide an overview of the topic you will be discussing, and how the presentation will be divided. Make sure to allocate equal allotments of time to each of the main points you may, and don’t forget to conclude your thoughts towards the end!

4. Embrace new ways of delivery.

As opposed to an essay, presentations often have more space for informal language or anecdotes. Perhaps telling a story, showing a short video, or displaying a selection of images could help convey your argument whilst also engaging the audience.

5. Create clear, simple and engaging supporting materials

While not always necessary, visual support such as PowerPoint slides can aid in the delivery of your points and make a presentation more stimulating.

Remember, that slides are most valuable as a complementary illustration of what you are saying. It is best not to paste long paragraphs of text onto a PowerPoint as the audience will either switch off due to information overload or end up reading your slides rather than listening to what you are saying. What works well is using images or well-annotated and clear graphs, maps or charts. It is fine to include text but stick to bullet points which you can then elaborate on or, if relevant, short quotes which you will be reading out word-for-word.

6. Plenty of practice

The most effective way of improving your presentation is practicing. Speaking in front of a friend or family member can help you adjust to the experience of presenting and offer a chance for gentle feedback. Practicing alone is still very useful, and doing so in front of a mirror is a good opportunity to reflect on your body language and use of eye contact. Make sure you practice with a timer if you presentation will be timed.

Don't miss tomorrow's social media industry news

Let Social Media Today's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox.

20 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills

I've been doing a lot of presenting recently, and I have no problem admitting that it's tough. For those not born with natural eloquence, public speaking can be remarkably nerve-racking. But I'm getting a lot better! One of the biggest lessons I've learned over the last few years is that to be a great speaker, it's key to develop a personal speaking style. Since I know I'm not the most eloquent speaker in the world, I make up for it by packing my presentations with enthusiasm, unique/proprietary data, and tons of useful content as well as plenty of dumb jokes.

We can't all deliver the next Gettysburg Address, but there are lots of small things you can do prior to your presentation that will help calm your nerves and set you up for a better presentation. Here are my 20 best tips to improve your presentation skills.

1. Practice. Naturally, you'll want to rehearse your presentation multiple times. While it can be difficult for those with packed schedules to spare time to practice, it's essential if you want to deliver a rousing presentation. I'm famous around the office for staying up late the night before a big presentation, practicing over and over. If you really want to sound great, write out your speech rather than taking chances winging it - if you get nervous about speaking, a script is your best friend.

Try to practice where you'll be delivering your talk. Some acting strategists suggest rehearsing lines in various positions - standing up, sitting down, with arms open wide, on one leg, while sitting on the toilet, etc. (OK, that last one may be optional.) The more you mix up your position and setting, the more comfortable you'll feel with your speech. Do a practice run for a friend or colleague, or try recording your presentation and playing it back to evaluate which areas need work. Listening to recordings of your past talks can clue you in to bad habits you may be unaware of, as well as inspiring the age-old question: "Is that what I really sound like?"

2. Transform Nervous Energy Into Enthusiasm. It may sound strange, but I'll often down an energy drink and blast hip-hop music in my earphones before presenting. Why? It pumps me up and helps me turn jitters into focused enthusiasm. Studies have shown that an enthusiastic speech can win out over an eloquent one, and since I'm not exactly the Winston Churchill of presenters, I make sure that I'm as enthusiastic and energetic as possible before going on stage. Of course, individuals respond differently to caffeine overload, so know your own body before guzzling those monster energy drinks.

3. Attend Other Presentations. If you're giving a talk as part of a conference, try to attend some of the earlier talks by other presenters. This shows respect for your fellow presenters while also giving you a chance to feel out the audience. What's the mood of the crowd? Are folks in the mood to laugh or are they a bit more stiff? Are the presentations more strategic or tactical in nature? Another speaker may also say something that you can play off of later in your own presentation.

4. Arrive Early. It's always best to allow yourself plenty of time to settle in before your talk. Extra time ensures you won't be late (even if Google Maps shuts down) and gives you plenty of time to get adapted to your presentation space.

5. Adjust to Your Surroundings. The more adjusted to your environment you are, the more comfortable you'll feel. Make sure to spend some in the room where you will be delivering your presentation. If possible, practice with the microphone and lighting, make sure you understand the seating, and be aware of any distractions potentially posed by the venue (e.g., a noisy road outside).

5 minutes before my Inbound presentation ... gulp

6. Meet and Greet. Do your best to chat with people before your presentation. Talking with audiences makes you seem more likeable and approachable. Ask event attendees questions and take in their responses. They may even give you some inspiration to weave into your talk.

7. Use Positive Visualization. Whether or not you're a Zen master, know that plenty of studies have proven the effectiveness of positive visualization. When we imagine a positive outcome to a scenario in our mind, it's more likely to play out the way we envision.

Instead of thinking "I'm going to be terrible out there" and visualizing yourself throwing up mid-presentation, imagine yourself getting tons of laughs while presenting with the enthusiasm of Jimmy Fallon and the poise of Audrey Hepburn (the charm of George Clooney wouldn't hurt either). Positive thoughts can be incredibly effective - give them a shot.

8. Remember That Most Audiences are Sympathetic. One of the hardest fears to shake when speaking in public is that the audience is secretly waiting to laugh at your missteps or mistakes. Fortunately, this isn't the case in the vast majority of presentations.

The audience wants to see you succeed. In fact, many people have a fear of public speaking, so even if the audience seems indifferent, the chances are pretty good that most people listening to your presentation can relate to how nerve-racking it can be. If you start to feel nervous, remind yourself that the audience gets it, and actually wants to see you nail it.

9. Take Deep Breaths. The go-to advice for jitters has truth to it. When we're nervous, our muscles tighten--you may even catch yourself holding your breath. Instead, go ahead and take those deep breaths to get oxygen to your brain and relax your body.

10. Smile. Smiling increases endorphins, replacing anxiety with calm and making you feel good about your presentation. Smiling also exhibits confidence and enthusiasm to the crowd. And this tip works even if you're doing a webinar and people can't see you.

Just don't overdo it - no one enjoys the maniacal clown look.

Don't be like this guy .

11. Exercise . Exercise earlier in the day prior to your presentation to boost endorphins, which will help alleviate anxiety. Better pre-register for that Zumba class!

12. Work on Your Pauses. When you're nervous, it's easy to speed up your speech and end up talking too fast, which in turn causes you to run out of breath, get more nervous, and panic! Ahh!

Don't be afraid to slow down and use pauses in your speech. Pausing can be used to emphasize certain points and to help your talk feel more conversational. If you feel yourself losing control of your pacing, just take a nice pause and keep cool.

13. Don't Try to Cover Too Much Material. Yes, your presentations should be full of useful, insightful, and actionable information, but that doesn't mean you should try to condense a vast and complex topic into a 10-minute presentation.

90 slides in 30 minutes? Only from @larrykim #stateofsearch http://t.co/uttijruots - Kate Gwozdz (@KateGwozdz) November 17, 2014

Knowing what to include, and what to leave out, is crucial to the success of a good presentation. I'm not suggesting you skimp when it comes to data or including useful slides (some of my webinars have featured 80+ slides), but I am advocating for a rigorous editing process. If it feels too off-topic, or is only marginally relevant to your main points, leave it out. You can always use the excess material in another presentation.

14. Actively Engage the Audience. People love to talk and make their opinions heard, but the nature of presentations can often seem like a one-sided proposition. It doesn't have to be, though.

Asking the audience what they think, inviting questions, and other means of welcoming audience participation can boost engagement and make attendees feel like a part of a conversation. It also makes you, the presenter, seem much more relatable. Consider starting with a poll or survey . Don't be put off by unexpected questions - instead, see them as an opportunity to give your audience what they want.

Hopefully this man has a question, and doesn't just need to go to the bathroom.

15. Be Entertaining. Even if your presentation is packed with useful information, if your delivery bombs, so will your session.

I find that including some jokes and light-hearted slides is a great way to help the audience (and myself) feel more comfortable, especially when presenting them with a great deal of information. However, it's important to maintain a balance - after all, you're not performing a stand-up routine, and people didn't come to your presentation with the sole intention of being entertained. That said, don't be afraid to inject a little humor into your talk. If you're not sure about whether a presentation is "too much," run through it for a couple of friends and ask them to tell it to you straight.

16. Admit You Don't Have All the Answers. Very few presenters are willing to publicly concede that they don't actually know everything because they feel it undermines their authority. However, since we all know that nobody can ever know everything about a given topic, admitting so in a presentation can actually improve your credibility.

If someone asks a question that stumps you, it's okay to admit it. This can also increase your credibility with the audience, as it demonstrates that, no matter how knowledgeable a person might be, we're all learning, all the time. Nobody expects you to be an omniscient oracle of forbidden knowledge - they just want to learn from you.

17. Use a Power Stance. Practicing confident body language is another way to boost your pre-presentation jitters. When your body is physically demonstrating confidence, your mind will follow suit. While you don't want to be jutting out your chest in an alpha gorilla pose all afternoon (somebody enjoyed Dawn of the Planet of the Apes a bit too much), studies have shown that using power stances a few minutes before giving a talk (or heading to a big interview) creates a lasting sense of confidence and assurance. Whatever you do, don't sit--sitting is passive. Standing or walking a bit will help you harness those stomach bats (isn't that more appropriate than butterflies?). Before you go on stage, strike your best Power Ranger stance and hold your head high!

18. Drink Water. Dry mouth is a common result of anxiety. Prevent cottonmouth blues by staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water before your talk (just don't forget to hit the bathroom before starting). Keep a bottle of water at arm's reach while presenting in case you get dry mouth while chatting up a storm. It also provides a solid object to hurl at potential hecklers. (That'll show 'em.)

19. Join Toastmasters. Toastmaster clubs are groups across the country (and the world) dedicated to helping members improve their public speaking skills. Groups get together during lunch or after work to take turns delivering short talks on a chosen topic. The more you present, the better you'll be, so consider joining a Toastmaster club to become a top-notch orator. Just don't forget, it's BYOB (Bring Your Own Bread).

20. Don't Fight the Fear. Accept your fear rather than trying to fight it. Getting yourself worked up by wondering if people will notice your nervousness will only intensify your anxiety. Remember, those jitters aren't all bad - harness that nervous energy and transform it into positive enthusiasm and you'll be golden. We salute you, O Captain! My Captain!

Social Media Today news delivered to your inbox

Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts

• Select user consent: By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . You can unsubscribe at anytime.

Editors' picks

3 Steps for Establishing a Core Marketing Message

The key to maximizing a social media marketing strategy is to ground the approach in purpose.

The Complete Elon Musk–Twitter Saga

For months, we’ve been tracking Elon Musk’s $44 billion deal with Twitter. Now that the deal is done, we watch as the Musk-Twitter era begins.

Company Announcements

Want to share a company announcement with your peers?

Get started ➔