Top 10 tips for public speaking & delivering presentations

As we start to return to live events and face to face networking, you may be a little out of practice or lacking confidence in all sorts of areas. From getting out of those comfy clothes to coming away from the screen back to real audiences or even travelling to the event, you are in good company with many others.

If you have to speak at the event, you might be nervous yet confident or considering pretending you've contracted an illness and taking to your bed. If you hate speaking in public, you are in good company, and some studies suggest some people would rather die than get up on stage. Whatever your level of desire to impart your wisdom through the medium of PowerPoint, we have some realistic tips to help. 

1. Get back into business attire

When it's an event where eyes will be on you, it's key to feel comfortable and smart. One of our network members likes to wear massive chunky boots when presenting from her desk for a real sense of power! On stage, you might need something a little more corporate than that, but people can sense your comfort in how you stand and what you wear. While sweatpants are very 2020, find a happy medium between something with a waistband and something you are not pulling and tugging at is important. Wear something that feels empowering yet comfortable and very much you - whether that's a polka dot print or your power suit. If it doesn't fit, pick up something new, or borrow from a friend. It's nice to have marked the occasion with something you feel comfortable and powerful in. 

2. Remember you have the room in common 

In a great article by Susan RoAne, author of How To Work A Room, she reminds us that when we speak, we have to remember that "the roof is an introduction". Everyone has come to the same place for the same reasons - to learn, have fun, meet people - and no one wants to go home without having chatted, made connections or formed new ideas. Everyone is vested in you having interesting insights that you share, and as such, they are rooting for you. If you are very comfortable presenting, consider how you can ensure people approach you. Many people might like to approach you to discuss your ideas, so encourage this during your presentation, mentioning that you will be around to chat and discuss anything you cover.

3. Strike a power pose 

A power pose is a way of standing that brings power to you, and while it has been credited and discredited in serious science, there are many people who swear by it, including people who have done live TV. The power pose involves standing up straight with your feet apart, hands on your hips, chin pointed up, and puffing out your chest—a bit like Wonder Woman. 

Stay in this position for one to two minutes, and you may start to feel calmer, stronger and braver than you were before. It can even be done in a toilet cubicle, and if anything, it's free and easy to at least try!

4. Plan plan plan 

Proper planning prevents a PowerPoint breakdown. Spend time reviewing your slides and speaking them out loud, and making relevant notes as you do so. Just like learning a song, repetition makes it stick, and knowing your slides conformably takes a level of pressure off you. Try it with a real audience if you can. 

5. Borrow stories

If you think not much has happened to talk about on stage or when networking that's not about the dreaded C word; borrow other stories. Reference a story you read or heard about this. It helps to read some news and interesting articles before you attend an event so you have something in your back pocket for both the presentation, any questions you might get after, or the mingling following the event. 

6. How can you help?

 Think of your presentation in the sense that it's helping someone. If you remove the ‘sale’ or promotion element and think of it in a way that allows you to share your knowledge to help them, you make it less about 'what this person can do for me' and 'what will they think' and more about what you can give to them which can be liberating.

7. Refine and edit  

Edit the presentation ruthlessly. Whether it's done on PowerPoint or paper notes, we all fear freezing with no words to back us up. But what's worse is delivering a witty joke or comment, and no one laughing because they are examining what graphics and words are on your slides, so aim for just six words per slide. 

8. Ask questions and reference the audience.

'How many of you have wondered XYZ?' or 'We are in a beautiful venue. I bet many of you have never thought about how to co-ordinate an event like this, but that's what my company does." 

Inserting a relevant metaphor or comment as to why you are all here, a note on the great food or a nod to the traffic can make it feel genuine, up to date and 'live' - a breath of fresh air after nearly two years on web meetups. 

9. Be honest

Audiences usually make up their minds about someone in the first 7 seconds, so make those first moments count. If you can open with a great story, introduction or something that makes them sit up - that helps. But if you really hate the situation and want to fall apart - tackle it head-on. Address the fear but inspire confidence as to why they should listen. E.g.  'I'm not one for public speaking, but I think you are all worth it! If I mess up, I'll be in the bar afterwards - but I hope you get a lot of value from my presentation as today I want to help you learn about….". Being noticed and liked in the first 7 seconds isn't about being TED talk appropriate, but about being human, honest and approachable. No-one is there to judge you like it’s an X-Factor style competition; no big buzzer will be sounding if you stumble or stutter. All you have to do is share your wisdom, learnings, ideas or insights, and everyone is VERY interested to hear something new. 

5 quick tips

● Don’t just focus on a single point in the room, try and move your gaze to alternative people in the audience

● Move around if possible – people tend to stay focused on someone who is moving

● Keep presentations on a screen limited to a few words, and many images – the audience will pay more attention to what you are saying

● Try to keep your voice volume different – sometimes use a quieter voice, sometimes be louder!

 ● Pause and breathe. Sometimes you just need to take a breath between sections which helps to calm yourself!