How to Deliver an Expert Presentation

We have all sat through painful presentations. Perhaps the speaker was incoherent or boring. We wanted to walk out and maybe we did but, more likely, we had no choice and had to sit through the whole spiel. We sat there, hated it, and hated the person who made us endure each and every minute of it. Maybe we even started to hate the person who gave the presentation. Whatever happened, we all can agree that we don't want to give a dull presentation. But that's not always an easy feat to accomplish.

Here's how to deliver a memorably professional presentation that will educate and perhaps even entertain your audience:

Dress the part: Proper presentation dress ranges from khaki casual to business formal. Use your best judgment but if you're unsure about appropriateness, never be afraid to ask somebody in your class or department (preferably someone with experience in the matter!) Major don'ts include ultra-mini skirts, short-shorts, tiny dresses, low-cut blouses, exposed panties or boxers, or anything that the general population would consider distasteful in a conservative situation.

Look well-groomed: Simply put, you should look clean. Brush or comb your hair. If you have bad acne, try to clear it out or at least tame it. Wear concealer if necessary. Take a breath mint if necessary; put on deodorant; perhaps even try wearing light perfume or cologne. Make sure that you smell good but that the scent of your toiletries isn't overwhelming. You don't want your perfume to offend your audience---and God forbid that your teacher or boss is allergic to your odor!

Speak with confidence: Always speak up loudly enough for your audience; depending on the natural volume of your voice, this may require you to raise your voice more than you would in normal conversation. Also speak a little more slowly than you would in normal conversation. Many speakers get nervous and make the mistake of racing through the topic. Articulate your words so that your audience clearly understands what you are saying, especially if they're expected to take notes. If you have time, record yourself practicing your presentation so you can critique your speaking patterns and pronunciation. That way you can correct yourself and speak well the day of your presentation.

Introduce your topic: Never jump right in discussing the details of your topic without introducing it first. Say what it is, introduce each person speaking in your presentation, and define your topic. Sometimes, pulling a direct definition from a dictionary or textbook is appropriate; other times, it's better to provide your own interpretation of what the word or phrase means. Perhaps you'd rather start out with some kind of novelty; depending on the atmosphere of where you're giving your presentation, it might not be a bad idea to tell a relevant joke or read a fun fact.

Divide your topic into sub-topics: Once you've planned a presentation introduction, think about what exactly you want to say. What's the best way to organize your topic into smaller sections? If you're presenting a history topic, for example, should you order your sub-topics chronologically? Does it make more sense to discuss notable historical figures rather than events? Imagine that your presentation is an essay and that each sub-topic is a paragraph. Provide any other important background information and then go into depth.

Plan transitions: Choppy presentations will confuse or even irritate the audience. Consider how you're going to move from one sub-topic to another. The best way is generally to do so with a transition sentence. When you proceed from one sub-topic to another, think about how the previous one relates to the next one and connect the two. Sometimes it's best to clearly state, "Now I'm going to talk about __."

Engage the audience: Visuals can quickly stimulate the audience and help them better understand your topic. Posters, hand-outs, and Powerpoints are pretty standard choices but feel free to get creative (within reason.) Depending on the topic and the class or office where you are presenting, it may be appropriate to don a costume, bring in food, pop in a video, or play music---just as examples. Directly address your audience if you can, too---ask them questions or look them in the eye. Try to appeal them emotionally; make them laugh or make them cry. As long as you stay on topic and consider what's right for the nature of your presentation and the environment, it's fine to tell an anecdote.

Conclude gracefully: Never end a presentation with, "Um...and, that's it." It's a common habit that you should avoid at all costs. Come up with at least one sentence (generally two to five is a good range) that sums up what you said and leaves your audience with a little "gold coin" to remember. You can end the topic with a kicker, perhaps a pun to make them smile, or close up more seriously with a direct summary.

Miscellaneous no-nos: NEVER chew gum during your presentation; it will distract many, if not most, members of your audience. In fact, do not put anything in your mouth, period. Don't eat or drink. Also remember not to fidget; don't play with or chew on your hair, or bite your nails. It's fine to gesture with your hands for emphasis but don't over gesticulate. Also, never read directly from your note cards during the entire presentation; try to memorize as much of your presentation as possible but never rely solely on your memory, either---don't go to your presentation without some kind of notes in case you suffer from a momentary lapse!