Presenting

From here on in presenting will become just as important as designing. For every idea and concept it will need to be presented to a client, employer or fellow co-worker. For my in class presentation tomorrow I want to make sure that it is captivating while retaining the needed information and comes across clear.

To do this I have found a helpful list:

Top Ten Delivery Tips 1. Show your passion   If I had only one tip to give, it would be to be passionate about your topic and let that enthusiasm come out. Yes, you need great content. Yes, you need professional, well designed visuals. But it is all for naught if you do not have a deep, heartfelt belief in your topic. The biggest item that separates mediocre presenters from world class ones is the ability to connect with an audience in an honest and exciting way. Don't hold back. Be confident. And let your passion for your topic come out for all to see. 2. Start strong   You've heard it before: First impressions are powerful. Believe it. The first 2-3 minutes of the presentation are the most important. The audience wants to like you and  they will give you a few minutes at the beginning to engage  -- don't miss the opportunity. Most presenters fail here  because they ramble on too long about superfluous  background information or their personal/professional etc. 3. Keep it short   Humans have short attention spans when it comes  to passively sitting and listening to a speaker.  Audience attention is greatest at the opening and then  againwhen you say something like "In conclusion...."  This is just the human condition, especially so for  the busy (often tired) knowledge worker of today.  So, if you have 30 minutes for your talk, finish in  25 minutes. It is better to have the audience wanting  more (of you) than to feel that they have had more than   enough. Professional entertainers know this very well. 4. Move away from the podium   Get closer to your audience by moving away from or in  front of the podium. The podium is a barrier between you  and the audience, but the goal of our presentation is to  connect with the audience. Removing physical barriers  between you and the audience will help you build rapport  and make a connection. 5. Use a remote-control device   To advance your slides and builds, use a small, handheld  remote. A handheld remote will allow you to move away from the podium. This is an absolute must. Keyspan has  two good ones. I highly recommend the  Keyspan Presentation Remote. Many people like the  Interlink remote as well. 6. Remember the “B” key   If you press the “B” key while your PowerPoint or Keynote  slide is showing, the screen will go blank. This is useful if  you need to digress or move off the topic presented on the  slide. By having the slide blank, all the attention can now  be placed back on you. When you are ready to move on,  just press the “B” key again and the image reappears. 7. Make good eye contact   Try looking at individuals rather than scanning the group.  Since you are using a computer, you never need to look  at the screen behind you — just glance down at the  computer screen briefly. One sure way to lose an  audience is to turn your back on them. And while you're  maintaining great eye contact, don't forget to smile as  well. Unless your topic is very grim, a smile can be  a very powerful thing. 8. Keep the lights on   If you are speaking in a meeting room or a classroom,  the temptation is to turn the lights off so that the slides  look better. But go for a compromise between a bright  screen image and ambient room lighting. Turning the  lights off — besides inducing sleep — puts all the focus  on the screen. The audience should be looking at you  more than the screen. Today’s projectors are bright  enough to allow you to keep many of the lights on. 9. Use a TV for small groups   If you are presenting to a small group, then you can  connect your computer to a large TV (via the s-video line -in). With a TV screen, you can keep all or most of the lights on. Make sure your text and graphics are large enough to be seen on the small the screen. You will probably have to increase the type size significantly 10. At all times: courteous, gracious, & professional   When audience members ask questions or give comments, you should be gracious and thank them for their input.  Even if someone is being difficult, you must keep to the high ground and at all times be a gentleman or lady and courteously deal with such individuals. The true professional can always remain cool and in control. Remember, it is your  reputation, so always remain gracious even with the most  challenging of audiences.

For more helpful tips visit:http://www.garrreynolds.com/Presentation/delivery.html