Creating and making presentations are a part of our academic and career path. You may have had the opportunity to create and make a presentation. Maybe during your degree project defence or as a part of your tasks during your first week of resumption at work. But, if you have not, you definitely will soon.

Here are a few tips to help you create and deliver unforgettable presentations.

Write everything as they come

At the start, you may be experiencing a rush of ideas and may be tempted to want to immediately develop a structure. Ignore being perfect, just put everything down anyhow you can.

Cut it down

Now that you have all your ideas captured (most probably randomly and unstructured) cut it down to the most important and relevant.

Use the act of storytelling in structuring your message.

Script a beginning with a hook. How you start is important. You want to get your audience hooked to you and wanting more.

Then carefully draft a middle that enables you to take your audience on a cruise.

And finally, script the end. Starting well is important, ending well is critical.

Convert to Presentation Slides

Hey! Pause for a minute. Now you have your story-like presentation properly scripted, but you can not present a story to your audience. You will definitely bore them out (something you don’t want to do).

Now is the time to convert your story into illustrations on slides. Ensure to use images, charts, and any other graphics needed to convey the message. Images can be distracting if overused. Please ensure to use modestly. There are a good number of applications you can use to create presentation slides. Here is a list of a few;

  • PowerPoint: This application is common, and it is part of the Microsoft office suite.
  • Canva: This is a cloud-based design software.
  • Visme: This is also a cloud-based design software
  • Google Slides: Google slide is a cloud-based design software specifically great for quick simple designs

Practice with a friend or colleague

If your friend(s) is going to be involved in the presentation event either as a spectator or also presenting, use this to better your presentation by simply practising with them. This is how I perfected my presentation skills. (Please ensure your friend or colleague understands components of a good presentation.

Get your friend(s) to become the audience and present to them. Pay attention to how your beginning gets them hooked (or not), if the middle takes them on a cruise or not, and if the end leaves a happy ending.

Ask your friends for feedback on your presentation. A more precise way to do this is to ask them to give you a quick summary of your presentation. Even if your friend(s) is not presenting or participating, still practice with them.

Practice in front of a Mirror

Now practice again. But this time, in front of a mirror.

This will help you be your audience and allow you to have a feel of your non-verbal cues and to also evaluate them.

 

We hope these tips help you prepare for your next (or first, if you just got started) presentation.