***** Positive Thinking, Happy Living

There is much advice out there for giving presentations, yet most of it focuses on new ideas and what you have to do if you're presenting. They very rarely tell you what NOT to do, not necessarily out of avoiding negativity but more to teach someone how to present if they've never done it before. In business and at work, the chances are that you've already presented, but you want to know what can detract, spoil or otherwise make your presentation go less smoothly. These are the presentation "sins", and here's what they are and how to avoid them:

1. Not practising or preparing enough

There are four essential elements that you need to master ifyou are ever going to be a successful public speaker andfully engage with your audience.

Eye Contact

Over 80% of your impact is going straight into your audiences eyes...so look at them...not the floor or the
walls or the ceiling or at your visual aids...look at the people.

Presentations are usually a one way process where the audience listens and you the speaker speaks. Therefore keeping the attention of the audience is much more difficult. To gain the attention of your audience, you must first understand your audience. A presentation is made FOR the audience. People will pay attention to your presentation when they are motivated and when your presentation is relevant to their needs.

Almost everyone feels a bit nervous about delivering a presentation before a group. Some people would rather undergo a root canal than experience the anxiety of giving a speech.

Follow some basic guidelines for preparation and delivery, and you can transform your nervousness into positive energy that achieves the results you desire.

The secrets to successful presentations are simple, based on common sense. Many people, however, fail to employ them.

Step One: Purpose

Your main job as a presenter is to ensure that throughout your presentation, you and everyone in the audience remain on the same page, even the same wavelength, every step of the way. If your slides contain more information that it takes the average listener more than 10 seconds to comprehend, you can’t possibly make this happen. People process information at different rates; faster processors will take a shorter time and the slower processors will take longer. Before you know it, you’ve got an audience working at three to five different wavelengths at the same time.

Most of us would agree that having humor in our lives increases rapport, strengthens our relationships and overcomes communication barriers. People who work in a positive, often playful environment are more likely to stay. Productivity and creativity increase while stress is reduced. We just feel better after a good laugh. Think funny!