You know the old saying. There’s even a television programme by that name. When it comes to buying property, there are three principles that must be followed. They are location, location, location.

When it comes to creating and delivering the best presentations, the three indispensable principles are preparation, preparation, preparation.

If you’re prepared – really prepared – then you’ll relax and you won’t be afraid. The thing is that most people think they’re ready when they’ve only scratched the surface.

Time

Preparation takes time – far more than you ever imagined; and those who make it look easy have put in the effort to make it look that way.

There are some who seemingly throw their slides together at the last minute, but they have put in the time in other ways. They know their material cold. The slides are for your benefit; not theirs. They don’t need them. They could give their presentation with their eyes shut.

Do you know your material that well?

Let’s try an experiment.

Ask yourself this? How many times have you given your presentation out loud to the wall in your dining room or in your office?

If the answer is none, then you’re not ready. See how easy that was?

In fact, you should probably go through it several times out loud before you confront an audience.

You can’t do this by just thinking through what you’ll say. Thinking it through and saying it are two different activities.

For the next presentation, you should do the same thing; and you have to keep on doing this until you break through. It’s a bit like learning to play the organ with your feet. If you don’t practice doing it, no matter how much of a struggle it is, then when you’re under pressure – i.e. others are listening – you won’t be able to play any of it right.

You need to build in pauses.

Your audience needs time to think about what you’ve said. In many presentations, the inexperienced talk too fast. Slow down. It will give both you and your audience a chance to think and relax.

In addition to knowing what you’re going to say, think about what you’re likely to be asked. What claims, for example, do you make that you think might be challenged? How will you respond?

How you handle questions will cause you to win over or lose the support of your audience. It’s the one place where you can really demonstrate your expertise.

Fear

Studies have shown that in general, people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of dying. That may be due in part to the knowledge of a specific date, time and place for their speaking event, such as a daughter’s wedding. Some men have joined speaking organizations or business networks in order to get the practice they knew they would need for the wedding reception.

Think about this. Why are you afraid to speak in public? Isn’t it because you don’t know what will happen?

Why is that? If you’re prepared . . . then you should know what will happen, right? So maybe you’re not as prepared as you thought you were.

Some nervousness is good. It tells you that there’s some added adrenaline in your system. This heightens your awareness and should help you to concentrate. Should is the operative word. You have to use your awareness as a reminder to discipline yourself to concentrate on what you’re doing. If you’re prepared, this will work. If you’re not, then you won’t know what to say next. Your mind will go blank, your throat will dry out, and you’ll take on the form of an exhibit at Madame Tussaud’s.

Tension

You can relieve tension through exercise. Many people believe that running errands constitutes exercise.

Prepare yourself for a shock. It doesn’t. Neither does walking the dog. Dogs don’t walk. They stop and sniff.

You need to get your heart rate up into the middle of the anaerobic range and sustain it for at least half an hour three or four times per week. That’s exercise.

There is a lot of information on the Web for how to determine this range. The best calculations take into consideration your resting pulse rate as well as your age. Age alone assumes everyone has the same beginning fitness levels, which clearly is incorrect.

Exercise will relieve the tension that builds up. You probably don’t even know that you have it; but you’ll certainly notice when you don’t.

Practicalities

Here are six more tips to help you give a terrific presentation.

·         Make sure you have some water beside you and don’t be afraid to drink it. Nowadays, it’s an accepted part of business meetings, presentations, and work in general to find water bottles and other beverages, food, etc in our work spaces.

·         Don’t lock your knees. If you do, you’ll cut off the blood to your head and pass out. This has been known to happen. Forewarned is forearmed.

·         Engage your audience. You’re having a conversation with them. It’s not a debate and it’s not theatre.

·         You could even build in an exercise. This will give them a chance to put what you’re talking about into practice. It will also give you the freedom to wander around and listen, and to connect with them on a personal level.

·         Smile. Be enthusiastic. If you’re not excited about your subject, your audience won’t be either.

·         The speaker is the one who’s leading the audience, so lead them. They will follow you if you give them a good reason to; and they want to. You just have to help them do it. 

So now you’re ready.

Put in the time to prepare your presentation and when you deliver it, then it will look easy.

If you want to improve the results from and impact that you make with your presentations –email here