• by Barry Lowenthal , Op-Ed Contributor, February 21, 2012

Every year, we have a presentation skills workshop as part of TMK University. Over the years, we’ve refined this class based on my experience taking acting lessons, attending Margo Krasne’s Speak Up program, and working with Cindy Gallop when she ran BBH’s NY office and I was her media director. 

Learning how to present ideas effectively is very important in every profession and particularly important when you work in the communications business. Most people have fears standing in front of an audience and learning what it feels like to be nervous. Coping with nerves is as important as constructing interesting slides. Our class is designed to make people feel better in front of an audience, as well as build exciting presentations. 

The class involves standing and delivering a three-minute presentation on any media-related topic. After three minutes a bell goes off, whether they’re finished or not. After each person presents we clap and ask them how they think they did. Clapping is important as it breaks the awkward post-presentation silence and makes people feel good.

Then the audience critiques, and then I critique. We clap again. We evaluate the quality of their slides, whether the material was logical, how they stood and projected and their overall presentation style. We talk about what it feels like to be nervous and the best way to hold your hands. We talk about ways to get comfortable.

Following, in no particular order, are some of the things we learned. We hope you find these pointers useful. 

1. Practice, practice, practice. Don’t get up in front an audience unless you’ve practiced out loud. Listen to yourself present and get comfortable with your material.

2. Time yourself so you don’t go over. It’s better to be brief and succinct. An audience will never get angry if you use less time. But they’ll hate you when they see you’re running over.

3. Make sure you know what room you’ll be presenting in, and what A/V equipment is available. You may need to bring your own laptop, projector and screen. Bring whatever aids will make your presentation better. 

4.  The fewer words the better. Fun colorful graphics are best. If someone puts too many words on a page, it’s probably because they want the crutch. If that’s the case, practice more.

5. Make sure people in the back of the room will be able to read the slides.

6. Talk slowly. If English is a second language and you have an accent, talk even slower.

7. If you’re one of the many people that turn red when you’re nervous, find out if it happens when you present. If it does, accept the fact that it will never go away. It’s involuntary. Try and cover it up so your audience doesn’t think you’re nervous. They may even find it distracting.

8. Don’t hide behind your hair. Pull it back and stand up straight.

9. If you’re not confident, fake it. Your audience will assume you confident, since you have the courage to take the stage.

10. Everyone feels nervous. Instead of trying to avoid the nerves, feel what they feel like and notice when you start to feel comfortable. Trust that when you start talking, you’ll get less nervous.

11. Don’t ever cover your crotch. This applies equally to men and woman. Your audience will wonder what you’re trying to hide.  It also makes you round-shouldered and you seem less confident and turned in.

12. Use your hands for emphasis. When you’re not using your hands hold them together in front of you – one fist in one palm. It may seem awkward at first but at least you know you’re not keeping them in your pocket or covering your privates.

13. Walk the room. It shows confidence.

14. Never talk to the screen. If you do, practice more.

15. Using notes is fine. But make sure you practice using them.

16. Never ask a question you don’t know the answer to.

17. Passion counts. Don’t be afraid to be excited. Your audience loves passion. They hate flat and boring.

18. Make sure you know your audience. If they’re technical be technical. If they’re not keep it simple.

19. Don’t lean. Stand up straight.

20.  Don’t wear distracting clothes. Applies to both men and woman.  You’re clothes should not detract from your material.

21. Make sure your slides don’t detract from what you’re saying. Your slides should make it easy for the audience to understand your presentation -- and make it easier to remember what you’re saying.

22. Tell me what I’m about to see, tell me what I’m seeing, tell me what I just saw.

23. Introduce yourself. Don't assume everyone knows you unless you know they do.

24. Make eye contact with everyone in the room. Make everyone feel part of the audience. If you do, they’ll listen more.

25. Size often conveys confidence, assuming you're not too big. If you are too big, you may need to stand in front of a lectern (like Gov. Christie) so your audience isn’t distracted. Use your size to your advantage. If you’re small, stand up taller and project your voice. If you’re shorter, you may need to walk the room a bit more.

26. Stretch your tongue. Stick it out far. Retract repeat. Stretch your jaw. Don’t let your words get caught in your mouth. Make it easy for your words to fly out of your mouth.

27. Write out a script so you know what you want to say. Learn it, and then forget it.

28. If you say ‘um’, speak slowly so you can hear what you’re saying. Practice.

29. If you’re not charismatic, then make sure your slides are compelling and strong. If you’re very charismatic, then use fewer slides. You’re audience will enjoy listening to you more than reading your slides.

30. Accept your strengths and weaknesses and play to them.  

31. Practice. Practice. Practice.

32. And most importantly, forgive yourself for a bad presentation, learn from it and move on. Next time will be better.