How to improve your presentation skills

Whether you’re about to give your first presentation in college or you’re a budding entrepreneur pitching your idea to possible investors, having the ability to present your project or idea with enthusiasm, passion and clarity is a great skill.

Many people feel nervous about presentations, even if it’s only in front of a small group, and the stress and anxiety can sometimes take over. Being prepared is the best way to combat these feelings.

How to give a great presentation

Preparing for your presentation is essential.

Do your homework

It is important to ensure that you understand exactly what you are talking about. You will likely feel far more comfortable standing in front of a crowd of people if you are knowledgable on the subject you are presenting on. Having a thorough understanding of the topic will also allow you to sound more natural. it will allow you to present using some key points as a guide, rather than memorising exactly what you are going to say.

You generally won’t be expected to be an expert for a school or college presentation. However, it is important to know enough to be able to answer general questions, or direct people to where they can find the answers.

Try and stick to a few key points

Although you may have a lot you want to say, it’s best if you try and condense everything down to one to three main points. Any more than this and people may find it difficult to follow, and you might also end up speaking for too long. Think about the top three things you want everyone to take away from your presentation and focus on those. Make sure to return to these three points in your summary at the end.

Practice in advance and know your slides

If you are using Powerpoint or another presentation tool, it is best to be very familiar with your slides. Practice reading your content out loud at least five times. If you are using notes with your presentation, make sure that you have noted the exact points where you need to change the slide.

Sometimes, you might be asked to give a presentation virtually. If this is the case, it is a good idea to practice with a friend or colleague in advance to be confident that you know how to share your slides with the audience.

Find your presenting style

Some people like to memorise everything they’re going to say before their presentation. Others like to list their key points on their slides or in their notes to remind them of what they want to talk about.

Think about which style would best suit you and the presentation and try it out. If you can, do a few practice runs to try different ways of presenting and go with the one that feels most comfortable to you. You can also try a different style with each presentation you give until you find what works.

Use images and visual aids

The images, graphs, and videos that you choose to use in your presentation are important. Visual aids can help retain your audience’s attention. They can also add colour and hopefully help to emphasise your points.

It is important to choose visuals that illustrate the points you are making effectively. If you are trying to explain a concept, statistics or a product to a room full of people it is best to explain your point verbally and then show a visual to accompany what you are saying.

People take in information differently. Some will remember visuals better than writing or vice versa. Using different mediums in your presentations can help make your content easier to digest.

Avoid too much text

It’s generally a good idea to avoid having too much text on your slides. If the slide seems overcrowded or the font is too small, people may struggle to read it and could become distracted by trying to work it out instead of listening to you. It can also be hard to keep a group engaged if the slides are too text-heavy, so try to keep text to a minimum and keep extra information in your own notes instead.

Engage your audience

If it is appropriate, try engaging your audience. This could include asking them questions about the topic during the presentation, getting them to try an activity, and finding ways to make them relate to your presentation on a personal level. This will not only make the presentation more enjoyable for them, but it will be more fun for you too.

Know your audience

Not every presentation will be the same, and the people you’re presenting to will probably be different each time. Think about the situation and decide if it’s more formal or informal. This can help to determine the approach you take. An informal presentation might be more relaxed, have more engagement, and use more humour, while a formal presentation might involve simply presenting the facts. However, formal doesn’t have to mean boring, so don’t be afraid to bring some of your own personality into it.

Use humour wisely

Humour can be a great tool in a presentation. It keeps your audience engaged and makes the whole process more fun for everyone. This comes back to knowing your audience. Jokes can be great in presentations to a small group of peers like a college tutorial group, but a major formal presentation for work might not be the best place for them. Don’t be afraid to use humour, but make sure you only use it when it’s appropriate.

Include a summary

Make sure to include a summary when you wrap-up at the end, covering the key points you made throughout the presentation and how they all link together. People can lose track even during short presentations, so it’s important to add this in as your conclusion so that everyone finishes on the same page. 

If you want people to do something after your presentation such as sign up for something, include a strong call to action at the end. Let them know exactly what you want them to do and why they should to it. 

Divide up sections in group projects

If you are asked to present as a group, it is a good idea to to meet up before your presentation day. This will allow you to discuss points, organise your presentation’s layout and to practice.

You may find that when you meet up to practice your presentation together for the first time that some parts do not flow properly, that there is a bit of repetition, or that it doesn’t make much sense. Performing your piece in front of the group can also provide you with valuable feedback, so it’s important to turn up to the meetings.

Arrive early to set up

If you are presenting at college or in a specific venue, make sure that you get there early to take a look at the room beforehand. Figuring out simple things like where the plugs are located and how the projector works may save yourself a lot of unnecessary stress.

Try to find out in advance if you’ll need a USB or if you can download the presentation from your email. Knowing how the set-up will go allows you to focus on other things when you prepare. If possible, try and have both a USB and a copy of the presentation online so that you have a back-up if anything goes wrong.

How to handle anxiety when making a presentation

It’s natural to feel anxious when having to present in front of people, but this doesn’t have to get in the way of a good performance. 

Breathing exercises

It’s a good idea to try some breathing exercises before you make your presentation. You could even work on this throughout the day if you wake up feeling anxious.

In the moment, try and stay grounded by feeling your feet on the ground or your body in the chair, and pay attention to your breathing every time your mind begins to wander.

Practice in advance

Practising your presentation is another great way to avoid anxiety getting in your way. Spending time making your points out loud will make it easier to say it in front of everyone else when the time comes. 

If you keep working on it and try something new every time, your presentation skills will improve and you’ll be confident in your ability to perform well.

Need more information?

We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.

• Chat now to a trained Youth Information Officer
• Or leave us a message and we will email you back