It happens to all of us. As soon as we get up to present, the nervous ticks we forgot we had come right back up to the surface! The best way to combat nerves? Deliberate movement.
When you finish an idea, pause, take a few steps, plant your feet, inhale, then start your next idea. Your audience will be better able to connect, your pace will automatically slow down, and you have time to remember your next point. Practice deliberate movement to get comfortable with the pause.
Best Attention Getting Tactic: Add Hooks
A cheesy joke, short story, scary statistic, or eye-catching image. All of these act as attention getting devices, or Hooks for your presentation. Audiences today are busy and distracted. If we want them to focus on us, we need to grab their attention with an interesting Hook.
What can you add to your presentation to get our attention?
Be Sure to Tell Your Audience What's in it for Them
Here’s a radio station we’re all tuned into- WIIFM: What’s In It For Me?
Give your audience the value statement early and often in your presentation. Make it clear, specific, and all about the audience. What can they take away from what you have to say?
Tips for Using Your Hands during Your Presentation
What should you do with your hands? Use them.
When we use deliberate, open hand gestures during a presentation, our tone and pace actually change to sound more engaging to the audience. So add some! Start your presentation with an open welcoming gesture to get you started with the right energy. Then look for the most important words or phrases in your presentation, and punch them up with some purposeful gestures.
Practice in front of a mirror until the gestures don’t feel awkward, then go rock them on stage.
You got this!