The Perfect presentation: dos and don'ts of presenting - Essay Example

It involves careful consideration of a variety of other factors. And these can influence the extent to which an audience is able to benefit from it. It is essential that the presenter is aware of the logistics prior to beginning his presentation. This includes an understanding of crucial factors such as the length of time one is allowed to speak. Additionally the nature of equipment, attributes of the audience such as age, education, economic status must be considered. Experts propound that the importance of the human element in effective presentation delivery.

Factors such as content, structure and preparation must be given considerable thought as one prepares to present. A careful analysis should be made of the information embedded in the presentation. And the extent to which it fulfills the needs of the audience. It is also essential to ensure that the quantity of material included does not lead to an over load. In terms of content presentation slides should be engaging but also easy to understand. A good presentation must be organized in a way that it is reasonably balances the beginning, middle and end.

An effective use of analogies, metaphors and stories helps in clarifying and simplifying complex issues and engages the audience. A crisp beginning, an anecdote or a question is likely to invoke the interest of the audience. However only an effectively structured format is capable of maintain that interest. Similarly a conclusion that is unique and well-articulated is likely to have a long lasting impact. Whereas a summary at the end which merely repeats the information presented earlier is less likely to be effective.

The availability of high tech equipment makes a presentation interactive and interesting to the audience. However it must not be ignored that ultimately the listeners are at the mercy of the presenter. Body language, eye contact, speech and tone are all factors under the presenter’s own control. And these are crucial towards developing or eliminating the interest of the audience. The voice is considered the strongest tool at the hands of the presenter. It carries a large crux of the message that the audience takes home.

According to some researchers, vocal qualities are defined in terms of volume, tone, pitch, pace and color. Employing the wrong combination of these can considerably lower the audience’s interest and prevent them from being responsive.. Presentations are as much about seeing as they are about speaking. The body language of the presenter is another crucial element that must be considered. Eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, proximity and posture are important aspects of body language and help in communication .

By maintaining eye contact with audience, the presenter is able to establish a degree of comfort with the listeners. Gestures are important in establishing an impression of the presenter. Standing stiff with little movement can have the audience perceive the speaker as boring. However a speaker who uses hand movements and points to the relevant material on the slides can facilitate understanding. Sometimes in an attempt to ensure that listeners are able to grasp information, the presenter ends up repeating information.

This serves the negative effect of boredom and leads to listeners losing interest in what is being presented. Poor time management and lack of preparation often leads to a presenter narrating the information directly from the