So let\u2019s take it from the top, and start with a simple explanation of why we need presentations.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/How-to-prepare-for-a-presentation-cover.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe role of presentations in the business world and why are they important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The business world deals with facts, numbers, and statistics on the daily basis. When you spend your days with your eyes glued to the infinite spreadsheets and never-ending blocks of text, it can be very useful to break out of the mold with a fun and informative presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, why are presentations so important in business? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We use presentations as a tool in business<\/a> to educate, inform or persuade our audience. Presentations can help you showcase your: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some examples of good business presentations can be seen by big companies such as Apple when they are introducing a new product or new features to their software. In their presentations or events, Apple showcases glimpses of their new products, focusing on new features and designs that will interest their consumers in buying the product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, they completely envelop their in-house and online audience in a spectacular show, along with their main presentation. This gives their consumers a sense of importance and value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, delivering presentations is no easy task, because a lot of people suffer from stage fright or public speaking anxiety, or simply, they don\u2019t know how to prepare for a presentation in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s first examine what stage fright is and what can you do to ease your anxiety before presenting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Improve collaboration and cut down on emails by moving your team communication to Pumble.<\/p>\n\n A presentation is a tool that we use to deliver an idea or information in a compelling and persuasive manner. But to deliver a great presentation, and to be a good presenter yourself, you need to have a few skills that are linked to presenting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s take a look at some of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first presentation skill that you need to have and work on is the ability to connect with your audience. What we mean by that is that you need to take into consideration not only the material you will be presenting but also the demographic you are adhering to. Ask yourself what generations<\/a> will be attending your presentation and what you want your audience to take from your presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have answered those questions, you can try some of these simple and generic ways to connect with any audience: <\/p>\n\n\n\n When we get overly excited about a topic or we have a lot to say on the subject, sometimes we tend to overexplain \u2014 which causes our audience to lose focus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, when you catch yourself giving your audience an information overdose, a smart thing to do is to take a breather and slow down<\/strong>. Not everything needs explaining. To make sure that you don\u2019t get carried away, we suggest that you structure your presentation to a T<\/strong>, so you know exactly what you want to convey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, be aware that the human attention span has decreased in the last decade. According to psychologist Neil A. Bradburry and his research paper \u2018Attention span during lectures: 8 seconds, 10 minutes or more?\u2019<\/a>, lecturers have similar problems as presenters, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n His research showed that students were engaged in the first 10-15 minutes of the lecture, but their interest after the initial 15 minutes decreased. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bradburry states that \u201ceven the most interesting topic can seem uninteresting if presented in a dull manner<\/em><\/strong>\u201d<\/strong>. Therefore, avoiding overexplaining is a great first step to making sure you are not boring your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to avoid leaving a dull impression, storytelling is a skill that can be a meaningful asset to your presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To incorporate storytelling into your presentation you need to tell a compelling story out of your material<\/strong>, while still sticking to your facts, ideas and goals. It captures audience members\u2019 attention and helps them have an easier time following your presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you can use personal stories or anecdotes that support your material. And to make a story compelling, remember to be specific and to make the story as vivid as you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is what, Amanda Nell Edgar<\/a>, a Ph.D. in communication, had to add on this topic: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf the tip, trick, idea, or story doesn’t help your audience to understand and implement that main idea, cut it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Replace those cut pieces with things that will help your audience understand and implement. Examples are always appreciated. So are stories, particularly if they’re funny or inspiring. Words of caution also help \u2014 share the top mistakes they’re likely to make as they try out your advice for the first time. But no matter what, everything you include should help reinforce that one thing you want to share.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It seems overly simplistic. But when you’re an expert, it’s easy to forget that others are beginners. Your audience needs you to simplify, so choose one thing and lean into it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Remember Eliza Doolittle? She is a fictional character in the play \u2018Pygmalion\u2019. If you remember the plot, Ms. Doolittle had a problem with her accent and the way she pronounced her words, which people gave her a lot of trouble for. But luckily for her, she had help, and with training and practicing, her accent and her pronunciation became proper and polished in no time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What can you take from this story? Well, diction and pronunciation are everything. While we do suggest that you use everyday English<\/a> when you are presenting rather than formal English, you should also work on how you say words<\/strong> and not just which words you say. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One way to improve your diction and pronunciation is to practice, practice, practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Strengthen your business presentation skills with Pumble by CAKE.com.<\/p>\n\n Body language and non-verbal cues can help you a lot in delivering a great presentation. While you should still focus a larger part of your energy on your words and your speech, don\u2019t forget about your body language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you step on that stage or in that meeting room, your audience will expect someone who looks confident and knows what they are talking about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can use some of these body language<\/a> tips to demonstrate confidence: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you don\u2019t feel like that person at the moment, working on your body language can help you get there in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We live in the new-tech age, and while technology can be scary and overwhelming, it can be of great help when used right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, putting up a summary of every point you make on a bigger screen behind you is a wonderful way to help your audience keep up with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, technology nowadays can be used in many more ways in presentations than just using a big screen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To break down monotone blocks of text and make sure you keep your audience engaged and focused, you can use different visuals such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With technology, you can bring your presentation to life. But the trick is to use it in doses<\/strong> and not let glamour overpower your ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hence, in the next paragraph, we will be discussing whether visuals are truly helpful or are they distracting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using visuals in your presentation is a no-brainer, correct? But maybe you should slow down and think about what kind of visuals you are adding to your presentation. While we do agree that visuals can be very helpful to your audience and to you when you are trying to illustrate your point, sometimes we can get carried away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything is good in small doses, and visuals are no different. So, to avoid your visuals taking over and stealing the show, you should: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some say that even the text you display is a visual, but since the text on slides is essential to every work presentation, we excluded it from the list above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the day, visuals are aids and are here to push your idea closer to your audience, and here, less is more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Pumble Pro Tip <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We have an article that will deepen your knowledge of visuals, check it out here: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Using templates is easier than making your own slides from scratch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you are using, for example, PowerPoint layouts and templates for your presentation, the important thing to remember is to not go crazy with it. The advice here to remember is to stick to one theme<\/strong> and not change the layout of your slides with every slide. Doing this can be confusing to your audience, and in the end, they might pay attention more to the screen behind you than to you or your words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Technology helped us evolve in a lot of different ways, and when it comes to presentations, we can now utilize virtual meetings<\/a> or presentations in our work and cut out the physical reality completely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This can be done via e-conferencing tools. We can make a presentation, and instead of physically going into a meeting, we can share our screen during a video meeting<\/a> and present, for example, from our home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The great thing about e-conferencing is that we can also share important files immediately with our audience or teams. Team communication apps like Pumble<\/a> by CAKE.com<\/a> can also have a great feature for video conferencing<\/a> and for any file sharing that is needed during those conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Share screen and visuals and host engaging virtual presentations over Pumble<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have ever stepped on a stage and been blinded by the lights or frightened by the many pairs of eyes in the audience, you might have experienced stage fright. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stage fright is, by definition, a feeling of nervousness before or during an appearance before an audience. However, knowing what stage fright is not the main problem here \u2014 it\u2019s overcoming it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, what can help you overcome stage fright before a big presentation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, there are quite a few things you can do to help you overcome your stage fright: <\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, the key is changing your mindset and looking at the situation from a different angle. Next time you have a big presentation coming up, try out some of these tips and see if your anxiety levels drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes when we feel overwhelmed, scared, and nervous before a meeting<\/a> or a presentation, we research how to calm down or how not to appear nervous on stage. The answers that we find are usually very helpful, but overindulging in some of them can be more hurtful than helpful to our performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this paragraph, we want to talk about how not to over-correct our behavior on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, what do we mean by that? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Over-correction means fixing a mistake or an error too much, and it usually happens when a certain way of our behavior is deemed inappropriate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if we are worried that our material is dull or not engaging enough, we might try to be overly entertaining by putting on a show to keep the audience engaged. And that over-correction usually leads to our performance overshadowing the material, instead of the two working together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When we realize we approached a topic or a problem wrong, we naturally overcorrect. So if you think that your body language is too stiff, you shouldn\u2019t become too aloof or relaxed to fix that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Being aware of your behavior or body language on stage, for example, is helpful. But overthinking is where you should pull the breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feeling nervous or worried about your presentation is a natural and normal human response. You shouldn\u2019t feel guilty or feel less worthy as a presenter if you get stage jitters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One way to ease your anxiety is to accept your feelings and do some calming exercises or rituals, such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, be kind to yourself, and remember that it is human to make mistakes. There is nothing wrong with you making an honest mistake such as stuttering for a moment or forgetting which point comes next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The best thing to do is to forgive yourself and move on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Strengthen your business communication and collaboration skills with Pumble by CAKE.com.<\/p>\n\n Now that we have covered why we should use presentations in the workplace and what are some of the best skills to have when presenting, it\u2019s time to look at our 9-step guide on how to turn yourself into a confident presenter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing you do when you need to make a presentation is to think of a topic, a subject, an idea, or a problem to discuss or solve. Usually, that first step, \u2018think of a topic\u2019, is done by our superiors who gave us the topic. So, if you already have that all figured out, feel free to skip the first part of this step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next logical step is research. Whether you are or you are not informed on your subject, research is crucial<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While you are doing your research and organizing your opinions and main points, take notes of what you want to say. In other words, make outlines and drafts<\/strong>. You should also dive into your research with the assumption that your audience knows nothing about your subject. This assumption will help you to not overlook important details or omit information only because you deem it as \u2018common sense\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of people have trouble reflecting their knowledge onto others, and that is because they tend to learn their material by heart, which can be tricky. When we learn by heart, we memorize everything word for word instead of understanding the gist of it and saying it in our own words. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you fill up your mind with every little detail from your presentation, there is a chance that you will get confused or, plain and simple, suffer from your memory blanking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, you can structure your speech as a story. Or, in other words, make sure you have:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That way, it will be easier to follow your own train of thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are having trouble with how long your presentation should be or how to structure your slides, there are rules that you can follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 5-5-5 rule states that you shouldn\u2019t use: <\/p>\n\n\n\n With this rule, you make sure that your audience isn\u2019t overwhelmed or spending too much time reading the screen behind you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 10-20-30 rule was introduced by Guy Kawasaki, and it states that your presentation shouldn\u2019t:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This rule will help you find your margins, so you don\u2019t let yourself ramble on and waste time, but rather get straight to the point. It also makes sure that your presentation is accommodating to everyone in your audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But before you adjust your point size, check to see if your text is readable even from the back rows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what an author and speaker, Barry Maher,<\/a> had to say about these rules: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUse few slides and fewer lines of text per slide. Anything you write there (on the slides) will be read before you get to it and if people are reading PowerPoint, they\u2019re not focusing on you or listening to what you say.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n NEVER simply read dense PowerPoint slides to your audience. Almost all of them can read, quicker than you can read out loud. If you\u2019ve put your entire presentation \u2014 everything \u2014 onto your PowerPoint slides, give people a break: send them the slides and skip the presentation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n With every topic comes great responsibility \u2014 and that is to relay your knowledge to your audience. But, how can you make sure that your presentation is giving each of the audience members enough information? <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can start by asking yourself, why should your audience care about your topic<\/strong>? Your approach to the subject should be in line with the level of knowledge of your audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, consider what type of audience is attending, so you can adjust your choice of words according to their knowledge. Keeping it simple and coherent will do your audience a favor, and they won\u2019t struggle to keep up with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, when you are adjusting the language in your presentation, also see if any of the information you put down needs further explanation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you have this advice in mind, your whole point of view shifts, from being a performer on stage to being one of the audience members.<\/p>\n\n\n If you assume this is the first time your audience is coming into contact with this information and you dive into your presentation with this attitude, it will help you to make sure that none of the \u2018basic\u2019 information isn\u2019t left unsaid or unexplained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the day, you are trying to convey your message to your audience, and your main goal should be for them to leave the auditorium with a new piece of knowledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, to ensure you reach your goals, start with the assumption that your audience knows nothing<\/strong> about your subject.<\/p>\n\n\n Getting excited or nervous during a presentation can affect our speech. So try to remember to pace yourself<\/strong>, and take a moment to breathe. If you go slower, you won\u2019t skip any points that you wish to make, and you will seem more calm are collected.<\/p>\n\n\n It is easy to write everything down on your slides, so you can take a look from time to time during your work presentation as a reminder of what you wanted to say. But overwhelming your audience with too much text will make them shift their focus from you to the slides so that they can read them in time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that the main act of your presentation is you, because you hold all the knowledge<\/strong>, and you are the one delivering it.<\/strong> So if you do need a few reminders on some complicated points, you can make flashcards and notes that will keep you on track. To remind you, the 5-5-5 and 10-20-30 rules we mentioned earlier can be of great help here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/default@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\nHelpful skills that will take your presentation to a new level<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Skill #1: The ability to connect with the audience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Skill #2: Maintaining audience\u2019s attention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Skill #3: Storytelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Amanda](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AmandaNellEdgar.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSkill #4: Diction and pronunciation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/features@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\nSkill #5: Body language<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
How to use technology to your advantage when making a presentation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Tip #1: Use visuals in moderation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
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Tip #2: Utilize templates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tip #3: Share screen during virtual meetings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to overcome stage fright<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tip #1: Change your mindset<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Tip #2: Don\u2019t over-correct your behavior on stage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tip #3: Remember it is okay to be nervous<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n9-step guide to help you deliver a great presentation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step #1: Do your research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Skill](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Skill-1-Approaching-your-subject-1.png\")
Step #2: Create a structure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The 5-5-5 rule <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Step-2-Structure-1-1024x571.png\")
The 10-20-30 rule <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Step2-Structure-102030-rule-1.png\")
![\"Barry-Maher\"](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Barry-Maher.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nStep #3: Ask yourself \u201cWhy should they care?\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Step-3-Who-cares-1-1.png\")
Step #4: Assume your audience knows nothing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Step-4-Scio-me-nihil-scire-1-1.png\")
Step #5: Go slow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Step-5-Go-slow-1-1.png\")
Step #6: Don\u2019t let the slides overpower what you have to say<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"LBAdams\"](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/LBAdams.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Step](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Step-6-Dont-let-the-slides-overpower-what-you-have-to-say-1-1.png\")
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Step-7-Practice-makes-perfect-1.png\")
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Step-8-Grab-the-audiences-attention-for-suspension-1.png\")
![\"Ashira](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Ashira-Prossack-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Step](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Step-9-Set-yourself-up-for-success-positive-thinking-1.png\")