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The Basics of Presenting
Pitch, poise and passion
I had to audition to be part of a play when I was 10. Everyone had to do it, whether they liked it or not. I did my best, trying to remember my lines but also shaking slightly. At the end of it, I started sobbing to my teacher that I only wanted a small part because I’d be too nervous otherwise. She told me not to worry, and gave me a good sized part with a few scenes.
Fast forward through to secondary school. A few more plays, speeches and presentations, all back in the day when you didn’t have a PowerPoint, pdf or Prezi to support you, just an OHT if you were lucky.
Then came university and the world of work today, where almost everyone has resorted to having a screen. Just like the internet, something that should be everyone’s friend and encourages growth, has turned into a crutch.
Look at the audience, not the screen behind you
The number one mistake we see the presenters make is that they stare at the screen. The presentation they’re meant to be sharing, because the one they are watching. Instead of being active in delivery, they become passive and look at something they’ve made, almost becoming part of the audience.
Don’t make your visual presentation first, make it last. It’s almost like your…
