Own the Room: How to Present Like a Boss

Whether you’re new to giving presentations or want to become a seasoned presenter, you can learn to radiate confidence and poise, overcome your fears, and transform anxiety into enthusiasm. Get quick and easy tips for how to prepare and present, so you can improve your ability to communicate and increase your confidence to own the room and master the presentation.

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Transcript

1. Own The Room H O W T O P R E S E N T L I K E A B O S S B Y : B E S S D E N N E Y w w w . l i n k e d i n . c o m / i n / b e s s d e n n e y
2. 2 ü VP Account Director ü 18 years in marketing ü Ad agencies large & small ü Media, Client Services, Business Development
3. 3 So you want to give a killer presentation.
4. 4 Where do you start?
5. 5 The DOs
6. 6 Now, before you start…
7. 7 Some rehearse with the team. Some rehearse in front of the mirror. Practice. Practice. Practice.
8. 8 Know your stuff. If you know what you’re talking about, you’ve got nothing to fear.
9. 9 Know everyone else’s stuff. That’s why it’s called “working together.”
10. 10 Do you have an hour? If so, can you FILL an hour? Oh, and leave time for questions. Know your timing.
11. 11 Rehearse the handoffs. Know when to handoff. Be ready when it’s passed to you.
12. 12 Know your strengths. And your team members. Play to your strengths. We don’t all play the same role in a presentation. Different roles for different people.
13. 13 Prepare for questions. Anticipate possible questions by rehearsing with colleagues or friends.
14. 14 Know the room and the audience. The size. The setting. The attendees.
15. 15 Know your setup and equipment. Laptops. Screens. HDMI cords. USB converters. Projectors. Clickers. Microphones. Podiums. Video cameras. Be prepared for anything.
16. 16 Then, when you actually start…
17. 17 Start with introductions. Who are you? Why are you here? What are your qualifications?
18. 18 Say hello. It’s polite. Hello! !! !! Hell o! Hello!
19. 19 Project. Project. Project. In other words, channel your inner Bess.
20. 20 Use examples. Real ones. Past experiences. Anecdotes. Inspiration.
21. 21 Respect the “pause” Give your point some time to resonate with the audience.
22. 22 Repetition is your friend. Use it when trying to emphasize a point or drive home an important take-away.
23. 23 Incorporate intentional movement. Use signposting to navigate. Transitional movement can support your content. Dissipate nervous energy.
24. 24 Ask the audience. Allow them to participate in the presentation and relate to the information.
25. 25 Watch the crowd. You shouldn’t watch your own team. Read the room and watch for context clues about how the information is being received.
26. 26 Look. At. Everyone. But don’t look at that one dreamy guy too much.
27. 27 Back up your teammates. Use ”we,” not “I.”
28. 28 Bring notes. Even if you think you don’t need them.
29. 29 Bring a water bottle. It can seriously rescue a presentation.
30. 30 Dress the part. A killer presentation starts with killer shoes.
31. 31 Consider having handouts. And make sure you print enough for everyone.
32. 32 Get excited. Be excited about your topic. T ap into what you think makes it interesting. Then share that excitement with your audience.
33. What about a virtual presentation?
34. 34 You still need to prepare. So no pillow creases on your face. No presenting without presentable attire. You can’t forget to step your game up because you aren’t in person.
35. 35 Be careful when you screen share Think twice before you show your screen. Log out of email. Check your webcam and what’s in your surroundings. Are texts visible on your computer? Turn that off!
36. 36 Are there different rules for virtual presentations? YES! Project even more to create personality. Don’t abuse the mute button. Treat it as if you were in person...don’t phone it in because it’s virtual
37. 37 THE DON’Ts
38. 38 Don’t talk to the screen. It isn’t listening. It doesn’t care. And you’re turning your back on your audience.
39. 39 Don’t read the screen. The presentation is there to support you, not replace you.
40. 40 When it comes to copy on the slide, it’s always better to err on the side of brevity and not include every single thought or idea you have about the subject or topic. Because your audience will want to read the screen instead of paying attention to you. And you want them focused on you and not the words on the slide behind you. A slide should help emphasize a point, not dominate your presentation. So please don’t overfill your screen. Less is more.
41. Don’t let steal the show. Acknowledge them. Then move on. 41 distractions
42. 42 Don’t fill silence with useless words. It’s a hard habit to break. But they make you sound unprofessional.   
    
    
    
    
             
    
43. 43 Don’t talk too fast. Give your ideas time to sink in.
44. 44 Don’t fuss. With your hair, with your pen, or with that water bottle you brought because I told you to.
45. 45 If you don’t know, don’t worry. Not knowing the answer is totally fine. T ake a note and follow up later.
46. 46 If you miss a beat, don’t stress. Breathe. That’s why you brought notes.
47. 47 Disarm and divide. Disarm loaded questions based on false premises. Divide complicated questions into parts before answering.
48. 48 That doesn’t sound too hard, right?
49. 49 Good.
50. 50 Because now it’s time for homework.
51. 51 Find local organizations to learn and practice your skills. Toastmasters. Dale Carnegie. Local organizations and schools. Training and classes are out there and a great resource.
52. 52 Watch the experts. TED T alks. Conferences. Study those who do this well and see what makes them a great speaker.
53. 53 Remember, it takes time and effort. The more you present, the more confident and comfortable you will feel.
54. 54 THANKS! F e e l f r e e t o r e a c h o u t t o m e w i t h q u e s t i o n s ! w w w . l i n k e d i n . c o m / i n / b e s s d e n n e y