Q I just found out that I am going to be serving as internal spokesperson for a large project. As such, I will be presenting to groups ranging from staff to board levels. Some of the groups will be quite large. I'm confident of my content, but how do I make sure that my presentation skills and material are top-notch?
A Know your goals as a speaker, prepare, get feedback, and practice, practice, practice!
The inner game
Not everyone is cut out to be a brilliant orator. However, you can aspire to provide an engaging and compelling professional presentation. Start by envisioning what success would look like. If you were in the audience, what would you like to see? On the inside, how do you want to feel when you're up in front of the room?
Considering both the inner and outer perspectives, what skills are required? Here's a start. Effective presenters seem confident -- a nervous presenter can make the audience nervous, too. Organization is important, as are clear and effective visuals. Mastery of the information, interesting and concise explanations, good flow. No distracting habits. What else would you add?
Then take your list and assess your abilities on each. You won't be able to build on all at once, so decide which are most important and focus there first.
The outer game
Taking your top focal points, outline a plan for developing your skills. For example, if one area is dealing with nerves (a common concern for new public speakers), make a list of strategies. Practicing in a safe setting can make a big difference -- Toastmasters is a great option for that. Other nerve-beaters include visualizing successful performances (much as an athlete would) or doing breathing exercises and using relaxation techniques prior to your talks.
Just one word about content: Be sure that you're matching your audience's need, especially in level of detail.
Now, let's talk about building audience engagement. Presentation materials are part of that. First, use PowerPoint effectively. The best slide shows are light on words; if they outline your topic, then you get to share the details verbally. Advantage one: You can't just read your slides aloud (it makes for a deadly presentation). Advantage two: To get information, your audience has to listen to you.
Personal presence is also essential. Think about good speakers you've heard, especially their use of anecdotes and humor, how relaxed or formal they are, and their body language and tone. Outline the presence you'd like to have, and ask someone you trust to critique you in a practice setting. If you look stiff or tend to be monotone, practice -- a lot -- on changing these, getting more feedback until you achieve the presence you want.
Continue to seek feedback as you "go live" as spokesperson. If appropriate, ask audience members you know to observe the areas you're working on. And treat this as a continuous improvement opportunity; once you're confident in a skill, add an additional development area to your personal training program.
The last word
Being a good speaker is achievable once you put nerves behind you, learn the skills you need, and get plenty of practice.