Giving Better Presentations at Work

Giving presentations is part of running a small business. You'll have to speak to investors, clients and staff on a regular basis. No matter what topic you present on, you want it to be engaging so your audience walks away inspired and educated. Of course, that's easier said than done, especially given that most people are scared of public speaking. With that in mind, here are some tips for giving more engaging and impactful presentations at work:

Make it Matter to Your Audience
Your audience is like your clients; they don't care unless it impacts them. Make sure your presentation focuses on your audience and has clear takeaways. Otherwise, they'll stop paying attention. When planning, determine your goals for the speech, then see how you can relate it back to your viewers. For instance, if you're pitching to investors, your clear goal is to talk up your product. However, don't just say why it's a worthwhile investment, but also how that product will provide ROI for your audience. 

To effectively appeal to your audience, you have to know who it's made up of – know your target demographic especially when speaking with clients.

Tell a Story
You don't have to provide a fun anecdote in your presentation, but you should infuse it with narrative qualities. This means saying what the audience's life is like now and how your product or proposal will change it. Basically, share your vision. 

Your presentation should also have a beginning, middle and an end. You might also follow the rising action, climax and falling action structure of a narrative by setting up your most important point as the "climax" of the speech.

Keep it Simple
The content of your presentation and the tools you use should both be simple and to the point. You don't need a detailed slide deck; instead, make your actual words the most important part of the conversation. In fact, if your audience can learn just as much with just the slide show, then you don't need to have the meeting. Use slides only if they add to your speech, and don't overload them with text.

Additionally, pare down your speech before you present. Cut out anything that doesn't relate back to the core of the presentation – that means avoiding tangents and getting right to the point. This keeps your speech short, providing less time for your audience to zone out.

Reiterate Your Main Points
Conclude your presentation by reiterating the key takeaways for your audience. This summarizes information they might have missed and re-engages them. If you are using a slideshow, list the bullet points on the screen so viewers can see them.

Stay Organized
Whether you're planning or presenting, make sure you are organized. Disorder can make your speech feel rocky or unclear. Get whatever tools you need to stay on top of the many important pieces of your speech, from presentation folders to note cards to slideshows.