How to Become a Better Presenter

Chillibreeze Writer - Vivek Singh

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The following article details out 5 steps to become a better presenter.

1. Learn Enough About PowerPoint or Your Communication Tool

You need not become the master of PowerPoint or other communication tools. But you need to know and understand enough of the tool to make an effective presentation.

Here are some easy ways to know PowerPoint better

a. Read PowerPoint tips online. Do this as a regular weekly exercise on a set day of the week.
b. Follow a presentation / PowerPoint blog
c. Try out random features of PowerPoint
d. Learn from solving PowerPoint problems and issues of colleagues

2. Know the limitations of PowerPoint or your communication tool

There are certain things that a communication tool can and cannot do since a tool is designed for a specific purpose. PowerPoint too has a certain usage.

PowerPoint is a ‘visual tool’ to help you deliver a talk. It is a support tool and not a word document where you type in a report. So a report would require a tool like MS Word and presentation of the report with visuals and speech would require PowerPoint.

So do not paste the entire content of your report on the PowerPoint. Use it only to support your speech.

3. Take your presentation seriously

Most managers find making a presentation a boring chore. A presentation is not just another corporate task but an opportunity to become a better communicator and build your personal brand in the process.

Plan well for the presentation and do not put it off for the last minute. This alone will make you a much better presenter and issues like wrong flow and poor content quality will be reduced.

4. Practise Making Presentations

Repeated use of a particular tool would help you in becoming better at using it. Managers are expected to be great communicators with the ability to give many presentations. But nowhere are managers taught to become better presenters. It is a necessary skill that has to be learnt on the job.

So take the initiative to make presentations as often as possible. This would give you all the practice you need.

5. Get Feedback on Your Presentations

Set up a regular feedback mechanism on your presentations through your colleagues. Get feedback on specific aspects of your presentation rather than an overall ‘good’ or ‘bad’. When the opportunity presents itself, get feedback from your clients too.

Get more PowerPoint Tips and Advice from www.24point0.com

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in April, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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How to Become a Better Presenter

Chillibreeze Writer - Vivek Singh

PowerPoint Production Services

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