Presentations are always nerve-wracking for most people. Moreover, when you are presenting in a work-from-home situation, the pressure may multiply. You may have to ensure that you use all your resources for everyone to pay attention to you.
Whether your presentation is on some new product launch or pitch for investors, it has to be interesting enough for the audience to make it to the end. If you wish to work on your presentation skills, follow these tips and present like a pro. With these tips, you will minimize any risk of fumbles and nervousness before presenting.
1. Use Simpler Slides
One way to make your slides distinctive and comprehensible is to use easy design and language. Make sure your sides are easy to read and do not look too cluttered. About 91% of people feel more confident presenting with a well-designed slide deck. This implies your slide design should be effective and simple.
Place your text in the middle of the slide for better visibility. Avoid placing it on the sides as it may appear distorted on some screens. Most online listeners are usually multitasking, so make sure you keep the key message in the slides.
You may do this by adding a catchy headline with the main point to each slide. Moreover, include examples to make the presentation more relevant.
2. Make Technology Your Friend
News apps and technological features are great tools to make your presentation impressive. However, they require some time and practice to get used to them. Moreover, when you do not know everything about new technology, you may feel less confident using and controlling it.
It is essential to know all the controls and get the hang of all the features so you may quickly navigate with them. Master technology, ensure you have a high-speed Wi-Fi connection, and have an emergency laptop. Have a backed-up PDF file of your presentation in case there is a technical mishap. Also, delete any hidden slides and additional data from slides.
Make sure your slides are more visually appealing and use subtle colors. With some screen-sharing tips for online presentations, you will eliminate any unnecessary data from appearing on the slides. Close applications that may interfere in the presentation or consume memory. Finally, practice and get familiar with the medium you are using to present.
3. Declutter and Set Better Visuals
Get rid of any visual clutter such as plants, books, food, toys, boxes, pets, and laundry from the background. Besides, you may create a virtual background to look more professional. If you wish to be more creative, learn the secret to successful video meetings.
4. Dress for the Professional Presentation
While presenting in a formal setting, dress like you would go for your regular workday. Pick out a formal outfit to look presentable and well put up on the camera. Do not wear bright-colored clothes that may look distracting to the audience. Wear solid colors and avoid wearing anything too flashy such as shiny, bright, and patterned fabrics.
5. Use Appropriate Lighting
If the lighting isn’t right in your room, you may appear dark on the camera. To prevent this, avoid sitting in behind a bright window as you will appear foreboding in this setup. Create ideal lighting in the room using a table lamp behind your laptop so that there is a central light over your face.
Also, minimize other light sources in your room to prevent any shades from falling over you. You may sit in front of a window if it is daytime outside.
6. Make sure You’re Audible to Everyone
Working from home comes with challenges of background noises from television, kids, pets, and other family members. Invest in a good headset with a built-in microphone that can neutralize any outside sounds. Also, turn off any sound sources that may cause a distraction while presenting. Keep your phone and other gadgets on silent to avoid unnecessary notifications.
7. Make Eye Contact and Look Confident
Keep your laptop at eye level so that you can have eye contact with the audience. You may use a stack of books or a box underneath your laptop to get to an ideal height. Practice looking into the camera while speaking instead of the screen. Keep your laptop at arm’s length to appear at a flattering angle. Always sit up straight and smile while giving a presentation.
8. Engage with the Audience Regularly
Several conferencing applications have a feature to track the attention of the audience. The audience’s attention is a parameter that predicts how successful your presentation will be. The attention tracking tools indicate the attendee’s names and information if they have any other app open on their desktop.
You may encounter this by making your presentation highly visually focused. About 84.3% of presenters rely on this to ensure the audience stays focused on the presentation. This is ideal for an extended presentation to keep everyone interested.
We hope these tips will help you be more engaging while presenting. Keep in mind to present as you do at the office even while working from home. Dress well and regulate your thoughts to feel more confident.
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