Presentation Training Skills

Presentations skills training workshops are provided across the country via public open enrollment workshops in all major metropolitan areas and can also be delivered on-site via private training workshops. Our presentation training workshops can be provided as off-the-shelf workshops or training sessions which are ready to be delivered to a diverse audience or can be customized to provide a tailored training and personalized approach workshop based on client needs. All presentations training workshops are limited to a maximum of twelve participants so as to increase workshop effectiveness and provide the individual level of presentation coaching and interaction that is associated with the Presentations Training Skills Workshop Center.

For more information on our presentations skills training workshops please contact us.

Don't Put Them to Sleep! 10 Presentation Workshop Do's & Don'ts

In the last article, we learned that reading from slides, speaking in a monotone voice, and cramming slides with information are just a few of the Presentation Killers committed my millions every day in corporate America. Here's the second half of the Top 10 WORST Things Presenter Do:

6. Keep their back to the audience. Well this is an easy one to fix...QUIT READING FROM YOUR SLIDES and just talk to your audience. Put away the crazy laser pointers too. I don't know who thought it would be a good idea to give a nervous and shaky person a tiny light that they have to turn around to point with, but they obviously didn't teach presentation skills! If you must point something out, move to the side of the screen and use your hand or a pointer. I found a great extender fork that I often use for a pointer and it keeps people's attention. (I think they're afraid that I might poke them with it.)

7. Fidget with pens, jewelry or other items in hand. At times I believe people are having an out of body experience while they stand and give a presentation. I have watched a man jingle change in his pocket for 45 minutes as he spoke and I have seen people practically molest a podium while standing behind it, all because their brain was so focused on what they were saying, they didn't realize what their body was doing. Minimize the risk of fidgeting by removing objects from your pockets, bungee badges from your waist, and clicking pens within a 5 mile radius. I love using a presentation remote to change my slides, which frees me to walk around as well as gives me something to hold in my hand--and if you fidget with the remote...well, your slides will turn faster and your audience will be grateful for your brevity.

8. Speak too softly--especially when presenting to virtual audience. I don't know why people squint their eyes when they are trying to hear someone who is speaking softly, but that is great visual feedback for the person speaking like a librarian during their presentation. Over the phone, you have a whole different challenge. You can't see their eyes squinting. The audience has already pushed their volume button up as far as it goes and they are laying their ears directly on the speaker. The challenge is most people use their "inside voice" all day at work and they were taught in school to save their "outside voice" for recess. Well it's time to reawaken those vocal muscles and learn to project your voice to be heard loud and strong during presentations! Practice in your car (with your windows rolled up if you are shy), by projecting with volume and through your diaphragm (belly)--go ahead try it. Yell, "I AM A LOUD TALKER. EVERYONE CAN HEAR MY VOICE!"

9. Stand in one spot. Keep in mind, if people don't have to move their heads from side to side, they will move them up and down (as in a big head bob as they fall asleep). Movement is the animation for your voice. The room is your presentation stage. Look around and find spots to move into your audience and make a connection. If you are using a presentation remote, you won't have to worry about being anchored to your laptop either.

10. Look at the floor, ceiling or one person instead of the entire audience. Eye contact is a very critical component to audience engagement. Nervous people either lock their eyes on one person or the floor. Poor presenters keep their eyes on the screen as they read their slides. Great presenters make a connection with each of the people in their audience--or at least each person thinks the presenter has connected with them. Try and stay 2-3 seconds with each person, or use the rule of thumb of finishing a sentence or thought on each person before moving to the next. Don't leave out the poor people on the sides. Before you begin your presentation, look around the room and see where people will be sitting. Tell yourself to be sure and connect with each person to keep them engaged.

Source: Gina Schreck link

Related: Presentation Workshop