Business presentation-Analyzing the Presentation Environment

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Hi there,

Here is some info for you regarding presentations:

Challenge: Podium Panic
Everyone experiences stage fright, speech anxiety, or talking terror. Surveys show that fear of speaking in front of groups is one of the greatest fears people have. Some surveys find people actually claiming that the thought of giving a speech is more frightening than falling off a cliff, financial difficulties, snakes, and even death.
The following lists some techniques people use for coping with this fright:

* your audience understands your nervousness; they know what you are feeling and will forgive it; similarly they will forgive honest mistakes
* nervousness is usually invisible; most will not notice the small changes in your voice or occasional mistakes; most speakers who describe themselves as nervous appear confident and calm to the audience
* be yourself; let the real you come through; relax, practice some deep breathing techniques;
* begin in your comfort zone; practice with friends; share your fears with friends
* check out the room first; check out the space, the equipment, the lights
* concentrate on the message
* begin with a slow, well-prepared introduction; have a confident and clear conclusion
* most important: be prepared and practice

A successfull presentation will have the following four ingredients:

* formulate a strategy for the specific audience
* develop a flexible, flowing structure
* combined prepared material with an enhancing, not distracting, presentation style; it is important to remember that how you present is as important as what you present.
* supplement the presentation with confident, informed responses to questions and challenges

1. STRATEGY

* understand your purpose and role: It is critical to be clear about your purpose in the communication. This involves knowing your audience, the occasion, and the expectations of your audience. Knowing the audience will be a critical determinant in what information is presented and how it is presented.
* tailor your message to the audience - understand their needs, desires, knowledge level, attitude toward your topic
* be concrete, specific, practical, and relevant
* clarify your objectives - is it to motivate? ... inform? ... persuade? ... teach? - each calls for a different approach
* clarify what role you will be performing - coach? advocate? teach? be devil's advocate, watch dog, or messenger?
* develop ...