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What are Some Good Business Presentation Skills?
Good presentation skills are essential in today's workplace. Even those workers who aren't required to make presentations regularly as part of their job may be expected to present information occasionally at meetings. Public speaking, even in a business setting among coworkers you see every day, can be stressful for many people. The three skills listed below can help you present well during any type of business presentation:
COMMUNICATING WITH THE AUDIENCE
The first step in your business presentation should be to form your message to meet the needs and expectations of your audience. Ask yourself what the purpose of your presentation is and what your audience is supposed to gain from it. Write this into a timed script and ask yourself if it's something that you would find appropriate if you were an audience member hearing it from someone else. Check to make sure the information you need to convey is logical and complete, yet also interesting to hear.
Tone is one of the most important presentation skills. Make sure your prepared script is natural-sounding and isn't pompous or insulting to anyone in any way. Practice your script a few times a day and then make simple bullet points of key words from the script on an index card. You can then begin practicing your presentation using the bullet points to prompt you if you get stuck. Having the card beside you on the actual presentation day can be a real confidence booster.
USING PRESENTATION TOOLS EFFECTIVELY
Whether you'll be using something like PowerPoint or just large charts, these visual tools can enhance your presentation skills in several ways. They can help take some of the visual focus off of you and this can make you feel more relaxed. Visual tools can also make the contents of your presentation easier for your audience to understand. Even a handout with bullets outlining your main points can help your audience gain clarity on what you're saying. Taking cues from respected higher ups at your company about which types of presentation tools to use can also enhance your corporate professionalism.
ANTICIPATING AUDIENCE QUESTIONS
Thinking like your audience can really improve your presentation skills. Anticipate the questions the audience could ask at the end of your presentation and have good answers ready. It's also very important to prepare yourself for how you'll answer any unexpected questions by practicing how you'll respond to questions you may feel are irrelevant or impossible to answer. Again, when you attend presentations by respected higher ups in your company, take cues from them. Notice how they deal with difficult questions and apply their techniques to suit your own position and style.
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![Visual tools, like slideshows, may help enhance presentation skills.]()
By: gewitterkindVisual tools, like slideshows, may help enhance presentation skills. -
![Knowing how to use presentation technology, such as digital projectors, is helpful.]()
By: eillen1981Knowing how to use presentation technology, such as digital projectors, is helpful. -
![Positive body language is important when giving a business presentation.]()
By: Africa StudioPositive body language is important when giving a business presentation. -
![Public speaking, even in front of small groups, is an important skill for giving business presentations.]()
By: JennerPublic speaking, even in front of small groups, is an important skill for giving business presentations. -
![Someone giving a good business presentation should be able to think like their audience.]()
By: Andres RodriguezSomeone giving a good business presentation should be able to think like their audience.
Discussion Comments
Subway11-I think that all executives should attend a presentation skills workshop or some type of presentation skills course.
These presentation skills workshops can teach you how to take brief pauses in your speech to give the audience time to absorb the information.
They can also tell you how to handle questions and possibly shorten your presentation to a shorter timeframe that will be more impactful and memorable.
A great organization that helps with presentation skills coaching is Toastmasters International. They are a public speaking organization that offers its members training on public speaking and also gives them presentation skills training by allowing them to practice at the meetings.
Public speaking is something that people are terrified of and Toastmasters helps its members overcome this fear and develop effect presentation skills. They have chapters all over the country.
Comfyshoes-I think that effective presentation skills require a person to maintain eye contact with the audience and project their voice confidently.
It is important when you are developing presentation skills to always engage your audience. People like to see visuals as well as ice breakers.
It is important to get your audience’s attention early on in your presentation. Demonstrating excellent PowerPoint presentation skills is a must, because most pie charts and statistical data are usually best displayed in that format.
A sense of humor is also important because if the subject matter is serious after a while, the audience will tune you out because it might be boring for them.
BrickBack-I think that testimonials are very effective when conducting a sales presentation. It is critical that the sales person also read the customers cues and uncover objections to buying the product or service by directly asking for the sale.
This could be an assumptive question like, “How would you like to pay for that?” Demonstrating a friendly and confident demeanor allows the customer to feel more comfortable too.
The book the Silva Mind Method by Jose Silva shows how sales people can improve their presentation skills and close more sales.
I also know that a company by the name of Presentation Training offers a variety of presentation skills seminars that develop presentation skills.
They even provide information on how to gauge the audience’s attitudes towards certain topics and how to tailor your presentation to attract the most attention.
Sales presentation skills are critical in order to be successful in the field. People in sales need to not only demonstrate excellent product knowledge, but they also must make eye contact and speak in a tone of voice that projects enthusiasm with the proper cadence and inflection.
A customer will not listen to a sales presentation if the salesperson has a monotone voice. The sales person has to demonstrate passion for the product or service and may include personal or other customer testimonials to illustrate their point.
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