I seem to be doing more and more virtual presentations. And, I’ve been attending a number of live presentations, such as . As attendees of live and virtual presentations, we have been bored by the snoozers and entertained by the catchy openings, but have we really taken a look at our own presentations within the Microsoft Dynamics Community? Here are some tips that I've learned over the seven years I've worked at Rockton Software:
Do:
- Arrive early, test the equipment—be sure everything is functioning as planned
- Think about what your audience wants to gain from the presentation
- Practice . . . I can’t emphasize this enough!
- Be the expert—deliver with confidence
- NAIL the opening: Use the STAR Method (Startle, tell a story, ask a question, or recite a quote) Example:
- Have a creative title (ex. Think up a new password? Most would rather clean the toilet)
- Outline your objective or purpose
- Tell them what you’re going to tell them, and then tell them.
- Engage your audience—ask leading questions or ask for feedback
- Use graphics when possible—a picture is worth a thousand words
- Keep it simple—one key idea per slide
- Practice . . . oops, did I already mention that?
- Make eye contact
- Practice . . . it’s important!
- Ask for feedback—it is how we improve
Don't:
- Present on a topic you don’t like, understand, or believe because if you aren’t passionate about it—your audience can tell
- Distribute handouts during the presentation—dispense at the beginning or end
- Mumble, shout, or rush your cadence—speak clearly
- Use acronyms without explaining them
- Read your PowerPoint
- Create an eye test on your screen—use large enough fonts
- Save all the good information for the end
- Overdo bullets
- Get distracted
- Be boring
- Lock in on an hour—if you need an hour that is fine, but if you don’t then be respectful of your audience’s time
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