PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT - Personal Presentation

Personal presentation is all about marketing YOU, the brand that is you.  What others see you do and hear you say will influence their opinion of you – so personal presentation is about painting yourself in as positive a light as possible – always.

Organisations spend a lot of time and money working on their image, developing their brand and producing as many positive signals as possible.  Staff in organisations should know that everything they do is marketing for the organisation, every email they send, every phone call they take, every time they interact with a client or customer.  Organisations also spend a lot of time and money recruiting and training the right kind of people to project the right kind of image.

This section of SkillsYouNeed is designed to help you gain more confidence and expertise in presenting yourself positively.  Although personal presentation is key in one-to-one situations such as a conversation, in a group situation such as a meeting, or when giving a presentation such as a talk or speech it is also important in less formal situations, when socialising with friends, for example.  How people perceive you is important to communication and you should always aim to be viewed as positively and confidently as possible.

People who present themselves as confident will be perceived as such by others.

Your appearance and understanding of personal presentation techniques such as effective speaking and positive body language will enhance your communication skills and raise your confidence.

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Effective Communication

Personal presentation is about you and how you present yourself in everyday situations.  However, personal presentation always involves at least two people - the person presenting themselves (you) and the person receiving the presentation. It can therefore be described as an interaction. 

Personal presentation is concerned with conveying appropriate signals for the situation and for the other individuals involved.  People who lack self-esteem and confidence may fail to convey their message effectively or fully utilise their skills and abilities because of the way they present themselves.  By improving your personal presentation you improve your communication skills and reduce barriers to understanding.  Everybody presents themselves differently and most can improve their personal presentation.

Personal presentation is about learning about yourself, being inner-directed and accepting of who you are, your positives and your negatives, and being comfortable with yourself.  Personal presentation is not about being self-conscious or overly concerned with what others think about you. These concepts are closely related to Personal Empowerment.

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Areas of Personal Presentation

Self-Esteem and Confidence

Self-esteem is not a static thing; it varies based on numerous factors, different situations and the presence of different people, personal stress levels and change.  Think about how you value yourself and learn to manage the highs and lows of self-esteem, find ways of appearing more confident even when you are not and learn some powerful techniques to boost your self-esteem and learn about your personality.

Confidence is a measure of how well we think we may perform certain roles or tasks. Linked to self-esteem, confidence is how we feel about our ability.

Effective Speaking

Your voice says a lot about you and learning how to use it more effectively has many benefits.  Our Effective Speaking page examines aspects of your voice, accent, tone, pitch, volume and encourages you to learn more about your voice and how you use it to its full potential.  Learn to communicate more dynamically, fluently and with passion and enthusiasm.

Visit: Effective Speaking to learn more.

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Personal Appearance

The way you dress and take care of your general appearance are important factors in personal presentation, what messages does the way you dress send to others?  Your personal appearance also includes the body language, gestures and other non-verbal messages that you use.  By being aware of positive and negative non-verbal signals you can improve your image and the way people perceive you.

More on our: Personal Appearance page.

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Time Management:

If you don't manage your time wisely you are less likely to be able to get everything done effectively. You are also more likely to be disorganised and run late for meetings or other appointments. Poor time management has an effect on how you are perceived by others. Learn some simple techniques to help you improve your time management skills, get more done and avoid being late.

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Aspects of self-confidence in personal presentation can be learned and developed. Through practice, good preparation and an understanding of the control of the voice along with the personal visual images you send through body language.

By utilising simple techniques such as controlled breathing and the use of positive body language, nerves and tension can be reduced. This in turn leads to feelings of increased self-esteem and greater confidence.

This is especially true in more formal situations, culminating in improved communication and therefore better understanding.

Source: SkillsYouNeed.com

PRESENTATION SKILL - Dealing With Questions

At the start of your presentation, you should make it clear whether and when you would prefer to deal with questions - as you go along or at the end of the presentation.

Some speakers prefer questions to be raised as they arise during the presentation. The advantage of this approach is that any misunderstandings can be dealt with as they immediately. However, there is also a danger that the question will disrupt or distract the speaker, or that questions are raised that would have been covered next within the presentation.

Other speakers prefer to deal with questions at the end of the presentation. If you prefer this approach, ensure that you set aside sufficient time for questions but also limit the amount of time available. The amount of time will depend on the type of presentation you are giving but usually 10 minutes of question time should be sufficient.

You should not close the presentation with the question and answer session. When you have finished answering questions, make sure that you have the last word with a strong assertion of your main message(s). In other words, you can thank the audience for their questions and then summarise once again the main point or points that your presentation was designed to communicate.

Answering Questions

Treat your audience with the respect you would like to have shown to you. Answer their questions directly and honestly.

Listen carefully to any question and, if the audience is large, repeat it to ensure everyone in the audience has heard.  Answer briefly and to the point.

If you do not know an answer then say so and offer to find out and ensure that you do so.  “I don’t know” is a very acceptable answer to some difficult questions and it is much more acceptable than stumbling through an answer or making something up.

Relax and do not feel as if you do have to know everything.

If you are asked a question and you feel you should know the answer, consider saying: “Thank you. That’s a very interesting question. Can I get back to you on that, after I’ve spoken to (whomever)?”

Questions can be neutral, friendly or hostile.  If a question is provocative, answer it directly.  Never be rude to the questioner or show you are upset.  Do not compromise yourself but maintain your point of view and never lose your temper. This tactic can be difficult to maintain but the key is being assertive.

Source: SkillsYouNeed.com

PRESENTATION SKILL - Coping with Presentation Nerves

It is entirely natural to feel nervous before making a presentation.

Many seasoned teachers, lecturers and other presenters feel nervous beforehand despite having given hundreds of presentations. The same is true of actors and actresses, celebrities, politicians, preachers and other people working in the media or in the public eye.

Being nervous is not a problem or a weakness, you just need to channel your nervous energy wisely. On the other hand, being over-confident and not nervous could be a weakness!

The symptoms of nerves can include "butterflies" or a queasy feeling in your stomach, sweaty palms, a dry throat and the panic that your mind has gone blank about your opening lines.

Fortunately, there are some tried and tested strategies and techniques to manage your nerves so that you can concentrate on delivering an effective and engaging presentation.

These techniques will not get rid of your nerves; instead they will help you to use your nervous to your advantage. When you are in a heightened state from the adrenaline that is being pumped around your body, you can use that energy to communicate enthusiastically, convincingly, and passionately. The key is to decrease your level of nervousness so you can focus your energy on these positive activities, not on trying to control your nerves.

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Coping with Nerves

It is essential to always be well prepared and well rehearsed in order to feel confident.

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Do no fixate on the presentation delivery at the expense of good preparation. Spend time preparing, good preparation, knowing your subject well and knowing what you are going to say and how you are going to say it will boost your confidence and help reduce your nerves. Think of a presentation like an iceberg what your audience sees - the delivery - is a small percentage of the whole.  What goes on, out of sight, the planning and preparation should make up the bulk of the work.

Follow our Presentation Skills pages for tips and advice on how to best prepare for your presentation, start with: What is a Presentation?

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When you feel nervous before a presentation, the following strategies and exercises should help you:

Practice Deep Breathing

Adrenalin causes your breathing to shallow. By deliberately breathing deeply your brain will get the oxygen it needs and the slower pace will trick your body into believing you are calmer. This also helps with voice quivers, which can occur when your breathing is shallow and irregular.

Drink Water

Adrenalin can cause a dry mouth, which in turn leads to getting tongue-tied. Have a glass or bottle of water handy and take sips occasionally, especially when you wish to pause or emphasize a point. Take care not to take large gulps of water.

Smile

Smiling is a natural relaxant that sends positive chemical messages through your body. Smiling and maintaining eye contact also help you build rapport with your audience.

Use Visualization Techniques

Imagine that you are delivering your presentation to an audience that is interested, enthused, smiling, and reacting positively. Cement this positive image in your mind and recall it just before you are ready to start.

Self-Massage

Press and massage your forehead to energize the front of the brain and speech centre.

Pause

Just before you start talking, pause, make eye contact, and smile. This last moment of peace is very relaxing and gives you time to adjust to being the centre of attention.

Slow Down

Speak more slowly than you would in a conversation, and leave longer pauses between sentences. This slower pace will calm you down, and it will also make you easier to hear, especially at the back of a large room.

Move Around

Move around a little during your presentation as this will expend some of your nervous energy. However, try not to pace backwards and forwards or rock on your heels as these activities can be distracting to your audience.

Stop Thinking About Yourself

Remember that the audience is there to get some information and that it is your job to put that information across to them. try to put your nerves aside and think about communicating your message as effectively as possible.

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Relaxation Exercises

Although you may not feel relaxed before you give your presentation relaxation exercises can help.  Try the following relaxation exercises, but do not continue with them if they cause pain or discomfort although remember that you may use some muscles you have not exercised for a while and so feel a little stiff afterwards.

Quick Relaxation Exercises

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• Stand in an easy position with your feet one pace apart, knees 'unlocked' and not rigidly pushed back, spine straight, shoulders not tense and head balanced.  Try to keep your face muscles relaxed by not clenching your jaw or clamping your teeth together.
• Now stretch SLOWLY upwards, aim to touch the ceiling but keep your feet flat on the floor.  Then flop forward from the waist bending your knees slightly as you go.  You are now hanging forward like a rag doll - your arms and head totally unsupported and relaxed.
• Straighten up SLOWLY - almost vertebrae by vertebrae, as if you were puppet and a giant puppet master was pulling you up by the strings keeping your head until last, when you are standing in your original easy position.

Repeat this exercise three times.

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Alternatively you can relax in a chair:

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• Sit comfortably with your lower spine pressed into the back of the chair.
• Raise your arms above your head and stretch as high as possible.
• Release your arms to your sides and bend forwards with your legs stretched out and reach as far as possible.
• Return to your starting position.

Repeat this exercise three times.

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Source: SkillsYouNeed.com

PRESENTATION SKILL - Managing A Presentation Event

The practicalities of how you manage your presentation event can make a significant difference to its success, and to your nerves!

This page is part of our step-by-step guide to Presentation Skills, if you have not already done so then we recommend that you start by reading 'What is a Presentation' and follow the articles through to provide you with essential information on planning and preparing your presentation.

This page highlights some ways that you can manage the actual event when you give your presentation.

Seating

If the chairs are free standing, the seating can be arranged according to the size of the room and number of people expected.

It is important to arrange seating so that everyone can see and hear you and there are no obstacles to the visual aids you are using. If you're using PowerPoint or a projector, generally, then try to make sure that even the seats towards the back can see the full screen. Often, towards the back of an audience, the bottom third of a screen can be obstructed by the people in front.

Ask for seating to be arranged as you would like.  Sometimes there will be no control of the seating layout of the space where you will speak.

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Final Preparation

Arrive in plenty of time since being late will increase your stress levels.  If the room or hall is available before the audience arrives, check:

• The seating is suitable.
• The supply and location of electric sockets and light switches.
• Equipment and visual aids are working.
• The microphone, if one is being used. 
• The lectern or a table is suitable for your notes.
• If following a previous speaker, be prepared to set up any visuals before you begin your presentation.

If possible, plan a spare five minutes before the presentation starts to quickly review your notes and calm your nerves.

Coping with Nerves

It is essential to always be well prepared and well rehearsed in order to feel more confident. 

Feeling nervous before a presentation is entirely natural, see our page Dealing With Presentation Nerves for some tips and reassurance.

Creating Rapport

If the presentation is a formal or semi-formal occasion, someone may introduce you.  Take your time to get into position, make eye contact with the audience and remember to smile.  If introduced, always acknowledge the introduction with thanks. 

Unless it is a very small group or very informal occasion, always stand to give a presentation or talk.  Remember to keep your head up and maintain eye contact with the audience throughout. Be alert to the audience mood and reaction. 

Maintaining interest throughout depends not only on the content but how the talk is delivered vocally.

Remember that the following aspects of voice control are important:

• Volume  -  to be heard
• Clarity  -  to be understood
• Variety  -  to add interest

Do not speak too fast and remember to pause occasionally to let the audience assimilate the information. 

Use easily comprehensible language and try to avoid clichés and jargon.  If you are sincere and enthusiastic you will quickly develop a rapport with the audience.

You may also find our page: Building Rapport useful for some general tips on how to build rapport with other people.

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Body Language

Beware of the following bad habits that may let you down when you are nervous:

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• Whilst speaking, try to keep a tall, relaxed, open stance without hanging onto a table or lectern or trying to hide behind it.  If using cue cards, do not wave them around but keep them in one hand while gesturing with the other.
• Avoid putting your hands in your pockets as usually you will start to fiddle with the contents, and this will be distracting to the audience.
• Try not to hop from one foot to the other or rock backwards and forwards on the balls of your feet. Try not to pace up and down although some movement may be useful to keep audience attention.
• Do not stare fixedly at one person in the room or pretend the audience is not there and talk to the ceiling or the floor.
• Do not fiddle with pens, buttons, jewellery, a tie or your hair.

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Source: SkillsYouNeed.com

PRESENTATION SKILL - Working with Visual Aids

You should only use visual aids if they are necessary to maintain interest and assist comprehension in your presentation. Do not use visual aids just to demonstrate your technological competence - doing so may compromise the main point of your presentation - getting your messages across clearly and concisely.

If visual aids are used well they will enhance a presentation by adding impact and strengthening audience involvement, yet if they are managed badly they can ruin a presentation. 

Most visual aids will need advance preparation and should be operated with efficiency. If you wish to use such aids in an unfamiliar room or location, check what facilities are available in advance so that you can plan your presentation accordingly.

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Before you start, ask yourself:
What is the purpose of the visual aid?

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• To clarify a key point?
• To provide an illustrative example?
• To clarify or simplify a model?
• To summarise?
• To entertain?

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This page gives details of the following common visual aids:

• Whiteboards and Interactive Whiteboards
• Flip chart
• Over-head projector (OHP)
• Slides
• Video
• PowerPoint or other presentation software
• Handouts

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Whiteboards and Interactive Whiteboards

If available, whiteboards are good for developing an explanation, diagrams and simple headings, and for recording interaction with, and comments from, the audience during brainstorming sessions.

Remember that writing on a whiteboard takes time and that you will have to turn your back to the audience to do so. If using a whiteboard, you should ensure that your handwriting is legible, aligned horizontally, and is sufficiently large to be seen by all the audience. Also ensure that you use non-permanent pens (sometimes referred to as dry-wipe pens) rather than permanent markers so that your writing can be erased later.

Bear in mind that white background of a whiteboard can cause contrast problems for people with vision impairment.

If you have access to an interactive whiteboard, you should make sure you know how this works, and practice using it, before your presentation.

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Flip Charts

A flip chart is a popular, low cost, low tech solution to recording interactive meetings and brainstorming sessions.

A flip chart can be prepared in advance and is portable, it requires no power source and no technical expertise.  Flip charts are ideal for collecting ideas and responses from the audience and are good for spontaneous summaries.  However, if the audience is large, a flip chart will be too small to be seen by everyone.

Ten tips for the effective use of a flip chart:

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1. Arrive early and be sure that the flip chart is positioned so that you can get to it easily when you need it.
2. Ensure that the flip chart is positioned so that you can stand next to it and write while still facing your audience. Do not turn your back on your audience.
3. Make sure you have to hand several markers pens that work.  Throw away any pens that don't work.
4. Only use blue or black marker pens: it will be difficult for those at the back of the room to see any other colours. You can however use the colour red to accentuate things already written in blue or black.
5. When writing on the flip chart, make your letters at least 2-3 inches tall so that everybody can clearly see what you have written.
6. Draw lines in pencil on blank pages before your presentation - to help you keep your writing legible and straight.
7. Plan out your pages as you are writing the outline for your presentation. They will be the support for your public speaking presentation.
8. Write notes to yourself, in pencil, on the flip chart to help remind yourself of all the important points to be included. Your audience will not see the pencil notes.
9. If you have something that you want to present and then accentuate during the presentation or discussion, write out the flip chart page beforehand so that you can just flip the page to it.
10. If you need to refer to something that you wrote on a page at a later point in your presentation, rip off the page and affix it to the wall.

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Video

Videos are excellent for training purposes, but can be difficult to fit into a presentation structure.

If a computer connected to a projector is available then videos can be played as files, from a DVD or with an Internet connection via YouTube or other online sources.

Videos can also be built into a presentation using PowerPoint or other presentation software.

PowerPoint

Use of PowerPoint and other presentation software is very common when presenting today. 

Care should be taken, however, that visual effects do not detract from the presentation itself.  If you do choose to use PowerPoint try to have a practice run well in advance of a presentation so that you are confident when giving the presentation itself.

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Older Visual Aids That May Still Be Effective:

Over-Head Projector (OHP)

Displays can be prepared on acetates, both in written and graphic form.

They command attention but, as with other visual aids, care must be taken to talk to the audience and not the screen.  OHPs are suitable for both large and small groups although the machines can be noisy and unreliable and the projector can obscure the screen. OHPs as a method of presenting have now largely been replaced by presentations projected from a computer onto a whiteboard or other screen.

Slides

Slides of excellent visual quality can have great impact on any size of group. 

However, a good blackout is required for the images to be seen clearly and this causes eye contact with the audience to be lost. Unlike with other methods of presentation, you will not be able to add any spontaneous notes or records to the slides. If you are using slides, ensure that they are prepared in the correct order, ideally numbering the slides so that if the carousel is dropped the slides can quickly be reordered.

Like OHPs, the use of slides has largely been replaced by digital photography projected using PowerPoint or other presentation software in professional situations.

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Handouts

Handouts summarising or including the main points of a presentation are an excellent addition but must be relevant. Presentation software packages such as PowerPoint can automatically generate handouts from your presentation slides.

However, think carefully about when to distribute your handouts. Giving out handouts at the start of a talk will take time and the audience may start to read these rather than listen to what the speaker is saying. However, if your presentation contains complex graphs or charts, the audience will appreciate receiving the handout before the presentation starts since they may find it easier to view these on paper than on the projection screen. The audience may also appreciate being able to make their own notes on the printed handout during the presentation.

Consider the best time and method to distribute any handouts, including either placing them on seats prior to the start or giving them out at the end of your presentation. You may also consider emailing copies of handouts to participants after the event. If your talk includes questions or discussion this will give to time to summarise this and communicate it back to the attendees.

Source: SkillsYouNeed.com

PRESENTATION SKILL - Deciding Your Presentation Method

Few people are able to give a presentation without notes. Even the most experienced speakers will usually have to hand at least some form of notes to jog their memory and aid their presentation.

You will need to know your own abilities and decide how best to make the presentation.  When you first start giving presentations you may feel more confident with more detailed notes. As you become more experienced you may find that you can deliver effectively with less.

This page covers the examples of how you might best manage your talk choosing a method that is right for you. These methods are: Full Text Notes, Notes on Cue Cards, Keywords on Cue Cards and Mind Maps.

Full Text

The main advantage of this method is that the entire text is in front of you so you cannot forget what you want to say.

The main disadvantage, to this method, is that you will pay less attention to the group or audience whilst reading the text.  If you are speaking to a small group, this method might be overly-formal as written text sounds very formal when spoken out loud.  If you read a prepared text, you should know what you are going to say very well so that you can maintain eye contact with your listeners whilst not losing your place.

Reading the text is not always an easy option as it can sound stilted and rather unnatural. Remember to engage with your audience as much as you can.

Cue Cards

To use cue cards, write your main points on separate index cards and, underneath each point, write the supporting material in a concise way. 

Use only one side of the card and number the cards so that you can easily reorder them if you drop them.  On the bottom of each cue card, write a link statement to lead you into the next point. 

The advantage of using cue cards is that you are speaking directly to the audience which increases your rapport with them.  Small index cards also look more professional than large sheets of paper which may prove difficult to handle. 

Ensure that you are familiar with the main points of your argument and the links between one idea and the next so that you become less reliant on the cards.

Keywords on Cue Cards

Further simplify the information on the cue cards by drawing out keywords that will remind you of the key points that you wish to convey.

The advantages of using keywords on cue cards are the same as above but their use increases spontaneity and rapport with the audience even further.

However a disadvantage is that, if you become side-tracked, it is easy to lose the thread and possibly miss key points. Using key words is a useful method if you are very familiar with your subject and feel confident in making the presentation.

Mind Maps

Mind maps are diagrams used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and can be used as notes to aid a presentation.

The advantages of using a mind map are similar to those of using keywords on cue words but it is easier to illustrate complex relationships than with keywords.

However, again, using mind maps as a presentation aid requires you to be familiar with the subject material and a confident speaker. When presenting it can be difficult to keep track of your progress through a mind map.

Source: SkillsYouNeed.com

PRESENTATION SKILL - Writing Your Presentation

This page provides advice on how to write an effective presentation. 

Before you write your presentation, you should already have started to prepare by developing your ideas and selecting the main points to include.

You should structure your presentation with an introduction, the main message or content, and a conclusion.

You should also aim to write a story that has maximum impact and one which conveys your message in a way that is easily understood by the target audience.

The structure and content of your presentation will be unique to you and only you can decide on the best way to present your messages.  However, you might like to consider some standard presentation structures for inspiration.

Harnessing the Power of Three

In public speaking and rhetorical debate, as well as in much communication, three is the magic number.  The brain finds it relatively easy to grasp three points at a time: people find three points, ideas or numbers, easier to understand and remember than four or more.  You could therefore structure your presentation about the magic number of three.

For example, your presentation should have three main elements: the introduction, middle and conclusions. Within the main body of your presentation, divide your key message into three elements and then expand each of these points into three sub-points.  If you are using a visual aid such as PowerPoint, limit the number of bullet points to three on each slide and expand on each of these as you go along.

What, Why, How?

You could try structuring your presentation by addressing the questions “What?”, “Why?” and “How?” to communicate your message to the audience.

“What?” identifies the key message you wish to communicate.  From the perspective of the audience, think about what is the benefit of your message.  What will they gain, what can they do with the information, and what will the benefit be?

“Why?” addresses the next obvious question that arises in the audience.  Having been told “what”, the audience will naturally then start to think “why should I do that?”, “why should I think that?” or “why should that be the case?”  Directly addressing the “why?” question in the next stage of your presentation means that you are answering these questions and your talk is following what the audience perceives as a natural route through the material. The result is that you have the audience on your side immediately.

“How?” is also the next question that naturally arises in the audience’s mind: how are they going to achieve what you have just suggested.  Try not to be too prescriptive here so, instead of telling people exactly how they should act on your message, offer suggestions as to how they can act. 

You should also finish by proving what you have just said: providing evidence that what you have just said is beyond dispute using either case studies, personal examples or statistics.

Editing Your Content

Once you have a first draft of your presentation, it is important to review and edit this.  Ideally, you should take a break from the presentation before editing so that you can look at your writing with a fresh pair of eyes. 

When editing presentation content, you should consider the following:

1. Ensure that the language you use is appropriate for the audience.  Are there any terms they may not be familiar with?  If so use more familiar terms or explain the meaning.
2. Is your language presentation friendly?  Presentations are spoken and so choose to use accessible and easily-understood words (such as those you would use in a conversation) rather than technical or obscure words.
3. Eliminate long sentences.  Remember that you will be talking through your ideas and that the audience will be listening rather than reading.  Therefore keep sentences short, and their structure, simple to ease the audience’s understanding.
4. Use metaphors to aid understanding and retention.
5. Identify ways of grabbing the audience’s attention.  Are there additional visual materials that you could include to illustrate your key points? 
6. Check, and double check, that any presentation slides or illustrations, titles, captions, handouts or similar are free from spelling mistakes.

Source: SkillsYouNeed.com

PRESENTATION SKILL - Organise the Presentation Material

Regardless of whether your presentation is going to be delivered formally, such as at work or informally, for a club or perhaps a Best Man's speech. You should always aim to give a clear, well-structured delivery.  That is, you should know exactly what you want to say and the order in which you want to say it.  Having thought about and planned a good structure will also help to alleviate any nervousness you may be feeling in the build up to your talk.

Clarity of ideas and good organisation should help result in a lively, logical and compelling message, delivered in a confident and professional way

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Organising the presentation material may include:

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• Blue Sky Thinking (the ideas).
• Selecting the main points.
• Deciding whether to illustrate.
• Introduction and conclusion.

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Blue Sky Thinking (The Ideas)

Keeping your objectives in mind, write down all the points you wish to make, irrespective of order.

Select Your Main Points

The talk/presentation should be divided into three sections:

• Introduction (beginning)
• Main Content (middle)
• Conclusion (end)

A useful structure would be the following:

• Tell the audience in the introduction what your subject is and how you have organised the presentation (by stating the key elements).
• Then tell them the details of the key elements and/or messages (by expanding and qualifying the key points in more detail and providing supporting evidence).
• Then tell the audience what you have just told them (by summarising the key points, concluding with the main subject again).

Work on the main content first.

From your notes decide on the most important things that need to be said.  If you have too much material, be selective. 

As a guide:

• 3 key points are sufficient for a 10-15 minute presentation.
• 6 key points are sufficient for a 30 minute presentation.
• 8 key points are sufficient for a 45 minute presentation.

Arrange the key points in logical order and expand them with supporting material - discussion, argument, analysis and appeal.  If you are hoping to persuade people then it is advisable to address potential objections within the presentation so that you present a reasoned, well-balanced view.

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Decide Whether to Illustrate

Most talks benefit from personal anecdotes, real-life situations or hypothetical examples to bring them to life. 

If the presentation is short and informal it is probably not necessary to use any visual aids.  Use visual illustrations if anything requires expanding, clarifying or simplifying.  Illustrations of any type should be relevant and fully explained.  Bear in mind that a talk will last longer if visual aids are used.

PowerPoint or other presentation software is often used to support a presentation, although care needs to be taken to ensure that this technology aids the presentation and does not detract from the main essence of your talk. Do not use visual aids or PowerPoint just for the sake of it or to show off your technological prowess, there is nothing more distracting than whizzy and pointless PowerPoint animations in a presentation.

Introduction and Conclusion

The introduction should give a preview of what you are going to say and should gain the attention of the listeners with a statement of purpose.  Make it clear whether you wish to accept questions as they arise during the presentation, thereby breaking your flow and risk being side-tracked, or will invite questions at the end.

The conclusion should repeat the main points but this time try to use different words and summarise the main point and argument.  End decisively, so that no-one is in any doubt that your presentation is finished. This is also the time to ask the audience whether they have any questions.

Source: SkillsYouNeed.com