Basic Presentation Skills

Definition of a presentation
A structured, prepared and speech-based means of communicating information, ideas, or arguments to a group of interested people in order to inform or persuade them

No presentation will achieve its desired level of success unless the presenter gets the audience to:

HEAR what we have to say (or see what we have to show them)
UNDERSTAND what we mean
AGREE with what they have heard
TAKE ACTION in accordance with our over all objectives

It is important to make your presentation last in the audiences minds because people will forget: 38% in 2 days, 65% in 8 days, 75% in 30 days

These are the points to remember if you want people to remember your presentation:

• The first and last impressions made to your audience are both positive and favourable
• Points are made of special interest to them
• Giving an overview before moving onto the points of detail
• More than one sense is stimulated e.g. speech and visual aids
• You seek their feedback
• Talking about their problems and requirements

Unless someone hears what you have to say, there is no communication
You do not communicate with just words, the whole person that you are comes with them
Talk to people in terms of their own experience and they will listen to you
When you have difficulty in getting through to people, it is a sign that your own communication and thinking is confused, not theirs
When you fail to communicate it is not the words that need straightening out, it is the thoughts behind them
Know what your listener expects to see and hear before you start to talk
Your communication is always more valuable if you appeal to the values and aspirations of your audience
A good presentation has a clearly defined structure and, if followed can allow anyone to present in a relaxed, clear and interesting way. Excellent presentations will always follow this structure:

Beginning Tell then what your going to tell them

Getting attention
Building rapport
Statement of theme
Audience needs

Middle Tell them

Points to be made
How will they benefit the audience?
Support material, examples, third party references, visual aids
Possible audience objections

3. End "Tell them what you’ve told them" .

Reiterate the theme
Summary of points
Closing words and commitment
The deciding factor any presentation is the answer to the following question:

Online Sales Traing project Thinking of the last presentation I gave Were my aims and objectives achieved? Did I get the audience to do/think/feel what I wanted them to?"