Hints for Effective Presentations

1.  DO NOT READ your notes or your paper.  This is by far the most common mistake students make when presenting a topic.  If you are reading, it is a signal that you do not adequately know your topic.  It is also very painful to listen to a presentation that is being read word-for-word from a source.

2.  Make eye contact.  This establishes a rapport with the audience.  It is impossible to establish eye contact when you are reading.

3.  Project your voice.  It may sound like you are yelling, but many classrooms require the presenter to speak in a tone louder than that used in a normal conversation. 

4.  Use a slow pace of speech.  Remember that your audience does not have your notes in front of them, and they may be absorbing information you have placed on a screen in front of them.  Speaking more slowly allows the audience to assimilate the information, especially if the information is new to them.

5.  Don't crowd your power point.  Only main topics or subtopics and primary points about those should appear on the slides.  Too much information placed on a slide overwhelms the audience and makes it difficult for them to listen to you at the same time.

6.  Engage the audience.  Display your own enthusiasm for the topic. Ask them questions.  Show web pages.  Use illustrations to which they can relate.

7.  Do not be afraid of pausing during your presentation.  A five second pause feels like a 50 second pause to the presenter, but it is not noticed by the audience. 

8.  Provide an introduction/overview and a summary to your presentation.  The audience likes to know where you are going and where you have been.

9.  Introduce yourself and/or the team members at some point in the presentation.

10.  Feel free to leave the podium, but beware that you may be blocking the audience's view of the slides.

11.  Rehearse so that your slides are in synch with the presenter.

12.  Watch your allocated time.  Again, rehearsing will go a long way in doing this.

13.  Provide handouts or supplemental information to the audience, if applicable.

14.  If you write on the white board, use large letters at least 4" in height.  It will seem overly large to you, but students in the back of the room can't read writing on the board that is smaller than that.

15.  Expect to be nervous.  Even accomplished and experienced speakers often find themselves nervous when in front of their peers.  Knowing your topic and taking your time will help calm your nerves.

16.  Avoid space-filling words (um, ah).  Most presenters do not know when they do this as it is an automatic response to fill silence or points where the presenter is thinking.  Practice and having someone critique your practice will help you identify when you do this.

17.  Dress appropriately.  Even if the dress does not call for professional attire, wearing caps and t-shirts is not appropriate. 

18.  Do not chew gum.