It’s easy to believe the key skill in a presentation is saying the right thing, but studies show 55% of your message comes from non-verbal cues – and people remember more if they see something than if they just hear it. Here are eight areas to focus on to make the most of that 55%.
Your natural style
Assess your natural style objectively. A tendency to be flippant won’t help your credibility, but genuine enthusiasm will help you sell your ideas.
Eye contact
Maintaining eye contact builds your relationship with the audience. Be inclusive, vary who you look at, and look at people when they ask questions – know your topic well enough that your notes are only a quick guide.
Fidgeting
Everyone fidgets when nervous. Keep your hands out of your pockets, remove noisy items, and hold something relevant (like your notes) if you need to keep your hands occupied.
Appearance and posture
Don’t wear anything distracting or uncomfortable, and think about the audience’s eyeline. The way you stand reveals a lot about your emotions – aim to appear confident and engaged rather than scared, aggressive or bored.
Gestures, position and location
Gestures can emphasise a point but also reveal your state of mind – if you’re prone to arm-waving, hold something. Standing gives you more authority and better eye contact; sitting suits smaller, informal groups. Either way, make sure the audience can see you clearly and don’t wander too much.
Improving the good, reducing the bad
Practising in front of a mirror helps you nurture good habits and eliminate bad ones, and builds the confidence to overcome nerves. Remember, your presentation starts the moment they see you.