Idea 87: How best to deliver your presentation on the day

Overall you should ensure that your presentation has the following characteristics:

• The beginning introduces you properly, captures the audience and gives the background, objectives and outline of your talk.
• The middle is kept moving along (indicating whether questions are to be asked as you go or at the end), with eye contact over the whole audience, at a reasonable pace, with varying voice and obvious enjoyment on your part.
• The end is signalled clearly and then goes off with a memorized flourish.
• Questions are audible to all (or repeated if not), answered with conciseness, stimulated by you asking some questions, dealt with courteously and with the lights on.
• The conclusion is a strong summary of the talk, there are questions or discussions and the presentation closes with words of thanks.

If you find that you are nervous – and experiencing fear and its physical manifestations is normal – remember to:

• Breathe deeply.
• Manage your hands.
• Look at your audience.
• Move well.
• Talk slowly.
• Compose and relax yourself.
• Remember that the audience is invariably on your side.
• Project forward to the end of the presentation and picture the audience applauding at the end.