Developing presentation skills: 12 tips to improve your skills

Does the thought of interviewing for a job or leading a meeting instantly fill you with dread? Many people have a fear of public speaking, but knowing how to overcome this fear can help you succeed in your job search and advance in your career. Becoming a good public speaker takes practice, but with the right tools, you can learn how to calm your nerves and deliver presentations with confidence.

In this article, we offer helpful strategies for improving your presentation skills. We’ll explore:

• Why presentation skills are important

• How to prepare and structure a presentation

• Other tips for delivering a great presentation

Why are presentation skills important?

Presentation skills affect your ability to communicate messages to others. These skills can impact both your personal and professional life. Whether you’re pitching yourself at a job interview, speaking at a conference, or giving a toast at a wedding, your presentation skills allow you to convey your thoughts and ideas.

Developing your presentation skills can also contribute to your success during a job search, in the workplace, and in your career development. For example, improving these skills can lead to:

• Better written and verbal communication skills

• Enhanced critical-thinking capabilities and leadership skills

• Improved negotiation skills

• Increased confidence and self-awareness

12 Tips for how to improve presentation skills

Improving your presentation skills will help you feel less stressed when you have a job interview, work presentation, or public speaking gig coming up. Follow these tips to overcome your fears and deliver a great presentation:

1. Know your audience

A good presentation starts with knowing your audience. When you know who you’re speaking to, you can customize the information to their interests or needs. You can also answer a key question: how does your presentation benefit them?

Before you start creating your presentation, decide what you want the audience to learn from it. For example, if you’re preparing an interview presentation, you may want the employer to learn how your skills can help the company overcome challenges facing the industry.

2. Structure your presentation

You don’t need to plan your presentation word-for-word, but you should have a structure to follow. A clear structure includes a beginning, middle, and end. This format keeps your presentation organized and makes it easier for your audience to follow.

3. Have a great opening

If you want to get the audience’s attention, start with your opening. In the first minute or two of your presentation, aim to communicate your core message in a way that captivates the audience.

Here are some ideas for a great presentation opening:

• An interesting statistic or fact

• A thoughtful question

• A personal story or anecdote

• An interactive element, such as a quiz

• A powerful quote

4. Tell a story

Think about a memorable presentation you’ve heard someone else give. What made it stick out most to you? Chances are, it’s the way the presenter told a story. Storytelling is one of the most effective methods of communication. Combining a story with facts or statistics can bring your topic to life and hold the audience’s attention.

Here are some tips for telling a story with your presentation:

• Keep it concise. Focus on the main points you want to convey. Make sure the story adds to the presentation without distracting the audience.

• Use examples. With your audience in mind, include some relevant examples to support your argument or thesis.

• Show emotion. When appropriate, show some emotion, like joy or frustration, to connect with the audience.

• Create a memorable close. Summarize your key points and end with a closing the audience will remember, such as a call to action or a good quote.

5. Create visual aids

A presentation without visual aids can quickly become boring and repetitive. Plus, having a slideshow, chart, or other props can take some of the focus away from you, making it a win-win.

Create some eye-catching visual aids that enhance your presentation, rather than detract from it. You want people to hear your message as they refer to your visual materials.

6. Practice, practice, practice

You can’t improve your presentation skills if you don’t practice. If you have a deep fear of public speaking, start by practicing in front of people you trust, like your friends and family. You can even practice alone by filming your performance or watching yourself in a mirror.

Here are some other ways you can practice your presentation skills:

• Toastmasters International: This organization helps members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.

• Professional organizations: Industry groups, trade associations, and similar organizations may offer opportunities for public speaking.

• Community organizations: Your local school, sports clubs, municipal groups, or volunteer organizations may have events in which you can practice speaking before an audience.

• Workplace opportunities: Ask your manager for opportunities to present to teams or clients. If your company has a lunch-and-learn program, volunteer to lead a session for your peers.

• Career coaches: You can work with a career coach to develop or improve your presentation skills. Career.io can match you with a Career Coach who can provide insights and tips on conquering your fear of public speaking.

7. Show confidence

Speaking confidently builds your authority as a speaker and makes an audience pay attention to what you say. Showing confidence can also help you overcome those presentation nerves you may experience.

If all this sounds easier said than done, follow these tips to portray confidence, even when you may not feel it:

• Wear your favorite outfit for the presentation.

• Make eye contact with the audience.

• Stand up straight and use hand gestures.

• Speak slowly and give yourself time to breathe.

• Don’t forget to smile!

8. Develop stress-reducing strategies

Feeling nervous about a presentation is completely natural, but there are strategies you can use to manage your nerves. Before the presentation, use some stress-reducing techniques. You may want to stretch, take deep breaths, or visualize something that calms you.

Also, don’t forget that the audience wants you to succeed. This can help you feel more relaxed and in control.

9. Build a connection

You can improve your presentation by connecting with the audience, rather than simply sharing information. The best way to build a connection is through interaction. Before the presentation, introduce yourself to some attendees personally and learn more about them.

During the presentation, you can continue interacting with your audience by asking questions and involving people in the discussion. For example, if you’re presenting a new tool or system to a team, you can ask for volunteers to help you demonstrate its features.

10. Learn from the experts

If you want to become a better public speaker, learn from people who are already good at it. Attend other speakers’ presentations and take notes about what they do well. Ask yourself how you could incorporate their approach or tactics into your own presentations. If you feel comfortable, compliment the speaker after their presentation and ask them for advice.

11. Take time to pause

Don’t be afraid to pause at various points throughout your presentation. If you’re nervous, a quick pause can give you time to breathe and collect your thoughts. Pauses can also be an effective way to emphasize a point or transition to a new topic.

If you forget what you’ve planned to say next, pause to glance at your notecards or an outline. In this scenario, you can also ask for questions or summarize your last point to give yourself time to think.

12. Invite questions and feedback

Depending on the length of your presentation, you may invite questions throughout your speech or address them at the end. Either way, leave some time for the audience to ask questions.

When taking questions, listen carefully and paraphrase the question if you need clarity. If you don’t know the answer, it’s fine to say, “I don’t have that information right now, but I can look into it and follow up with you after this meeting.” It’s better to be honest, rather than making up an answer.

It’s also useful to evaluate how you performed during the presentation so you can continue to improve. Think of this like constructive criticism; it might feel hard to take sometimes, but it will make you a better presenter. Ask an accountability partner, manager, or team members to provide feedback. You can hand out a survey to collect or email a link for people to fill out afterward.

A job interview is one situation where developing your presentation skills can provide huge benefits. If you’re looking to make your next career move, check out Career.io’s Interview Prep tool and get ready to impress!

Key takeaways

1. Improving your presentation skills can have a positive impact on your job search and your career.

2. Knowing your audience, creating a presentation structure, and using storytelling techniques are all helpful ways to deliver a stellar presentation.

3. Preparation and practice are essential to becoming a great public speaker. It’s normal to feel nervous, but with the right strategies and mindset, you can impress an audience with your message.