25 Do’s and Don’ts of presenting in front of groups I have lost count of the number of company events, community awards, association dinners, and meetings that I have attended where the individual presenting has made classic errors in his/her delivery of material and keynote presentations. It is always so uncomfortable when I look around […]
25 Do’s and Don'ts of presenting in front of groups
I have lost count of the number of company events, community awards, association dinners, and meetings that I have attended where the individual presenting has made classic errors in his/her delivery of material and keynote presentations.
It is always so uncomfortable when I look around the room and see people twitching in their chairs, rolling their eyes, or focusing on their phones while someone is desperately attempting to speak in front of a crowd. The speaker may say it’s because the audience is rude, but the reality is that the speaker is unprepared. It is the speaker’s job to grab the audience’s attention and maintain it right up until the very last word.
When you are asked to speak in front of a group, be honored and review this list of do’s and don’ts to ensure you are successful and receive thunderous applause.
25 Do’s and Don’ts of presenting in front of groups:
1) Do not read to the audience from notes or a script. Make a few brief notes or outline, and master the main points.
2) Follow the 6 X 6 rule for PowerPoint presentations: Do not allow more than six words across and six lines down on one slide. Audiences do not come equipped with binoculars to read 1,000 words in an 11-point font on a slide deck.
3) Do not read your PowerPoint slides to the audience word-for-word.
4) Do use an appropriate number of slides. For example, do not use 60 slides for a 10-minute presentation.
5) Do not drink water, chew gum or candy, cough drops, or blow your nose while in front of the audience. Especially if you are wearing or using a microphone.
6) Use fitting facial expressions that align with your message. If you are talking about good news, act and look like it is good news.
7) Dress appropriately. Shirts and jackets are worn and tucked in correctly.
8) Do speak from the heart. Use real-life experiences and incidents to bridge information.
9) Know your audience. Deliver material that is congruent with the audience age, gender, etc.
10) Never, never, never start with or use jokes or movie clips that might in any way insult anyone in the audience. Err on the side of caution. If you offend even one person, you have offended too many.
11) Don’t overdo sounds, animation, or YouTube. Too much of a good thing is just that, too much.
12) Earn the right to give the presentation. This is the best way to ensure you will be successful.
13) Do be excited about the subject matter.
14) Be eager to share your information with the audience.
15) When possible, do not use a podium. Walk and engage with the audience.
16) Do have an effective opening and closing prepared. These segments are the most important part of any talk.
17) Use a question-and-answer session as an opportunity, not a death sentence.
18) Do prepare ahead of time for the three questions you hope you are not asked.
19) Do not stare at the person asking the question the entire time you are answering.
20) Do videotape yourself in front of a live audience and learn from that tape.
21) If you are as cool as a cucumber, you will probably be as interesting as one. Have fun with your talk and engage the audience.
22) Don’t count word whiskers while you are speaking (ahs and ums), it only makes them worse.
23) Movement is OK, but pacing, running, or standing in one place all the time are not.
24) Your presentation should fit the allotted time. No one likes a speaker who goes over time.
25) If you speak from the heart and rely on your knowledge and experiences, your talk will flow and you will be well-received by your audience.
Leslie English is an executive coach and president of Dale Carnegie Training of CNY, which offers professional training services including executive coaching, strategic planning, leadership development, and sales and presentation training. Contact English at (315) 457-1300 or visit: http://centralny.dalecarnegie.com