It's all in the Presentation

Public speaking may not be your strong suit, but the proper training can change that for you. The anxiety, fears, doubts—all can be tackled with great preparation. And what about the information being presented? You may fear your audience may find your presentation boring and drawn out. Training will be able to dissolve that fear too. Giving a presentation at work doesn't have to be scary. Read further to learn more.

Where to Start

There are tons of helpful tips in Business Presentation Training that will teach even the shiest individual to speak up. Skills can be learned online or in the classroom. The classroom setting is the most popular and most successful learning platform. In this setting, you would be face-to-face with a trainer. You would be able to learn techniques through collaboration with other students in group sessions and, on occasion, trainer-led workshops. 

In the classroom sessions, your individual learning needs would be addressed. This is especially true in a classroom led by T.J. Walker, a public speaker and CEO of Media Training Worldwide. T.J. trains people through private and public sessions, focusing on these important topics:

• Learning ways to look good, feel confident, be relaxed and sound authoritative

• Speaking in ways that are clear and easy to understand

• Presenting material that would be simple to remember later and

• Recognizing if recommendations are being accepted and practiced.

Public workshops through Media Training Worldwide offer helpful tips on public speaking skills and how to reduce jitters that go along with speaking. 

Highlights of T.J.'s Workshops   

The psychology of fear: how to overcome it and become comfortable with speaking in front of an audience.

The technique: how to apply proper strategies that help to polish your presentation skills and attract the audience's attention.

Support provided by T.J. Walker via private online sessions, which offers a safe environment for learning.

An opportunity to practice your learned speaking skills and to prepare current and future presentations.

T.J.'s training workshops will improve your speaking skills in a short period of time. He will also make you understand how to draw your audience into your presentation through interaction or participation.

Online Training   

Online business presentation training is offered in the form of eLearning. The same basic information is presented without the process of personal interaction. This is where the private online sessions would come in handy. B2B learning portals are a form of online courses that teach communication skills through the use of videos and exercises. They can even be accessed on mobile devices.

Training or Coaching Skills

There are other ways to prepare for your presentation. Practice at home and in the conference area.

• Practice on someone else and have them evaluate you. Ask them to highlight your best skills. This will boost your self-confidence.

• Determine your type of audience and your desired content and presenting style.

• Go into your presentation area prior to the event and practice your skills. Focus on the moves, gestures, body language or any other techniques you plan to use.

• Rehearse from beginning to end but don't overdo it. Trust your own speaking skills.

• Check the equipment you plan to use for your presentation. Become familiar with the operation of it.

• Visual aids will be essential as they help to create the "the big picture". Graphs, charts, slides, and photos are just a few examples.

Presenting Behaviors

Standing in front of an audience can be nerve-racking but there are things you can do during your presentation to help reduce some of the stress involved. For example, take hold of something while you stand, such as a pole, railing or anything sturdy. This can help with your sense of security. Another thing you can do is fidgeting. Hold a pen or marker and fidget while you talk. Wave at your audience when you arrive. Watch your body language. Be enthusiastic about the topic. Put a lot of energy into it but slow down if you begin to ramble. The audience will adapt to your presentation. Just be yourself.

Compelling Your Audience

Take a deep breath in and out slowly before you begin. Introduce yourself. Be genuine and create a unique approach to presenting your information. Now that you have prepared, get the audience's attention: 1. Speak to the audience in a conversational way. 2. Interact with your current audience by asking questions. 3. Be observant of any reactions from the audience and respond accordingly. 4. Make it interesting by using tactics that will engage, such as visual aids, as mentioned above, or a Q & A session throughout the presentation. Other tips for a successful presentation include:

• The use of metaphors- paints a picture for the audience. Puts the audience in the scenario.

• The use of examples- provides clarity of information.

• Getting to the point- maximum 3 to 4 ideas to get to the point in about 20 minutes. Use handouts or brochures.

Summing It Up!

Remember, a part of your business presentation training is to practice all of your skills in private or in front of someone else before you do it for real. Make sure you know what to expect in advance.

End it as if it was a success. You are your worst judge and no matter how it all comes out, you will probably receive an applause at the end. As long as you be yourself, you will succeed. It's ok to be little nervous. Use that as a self-motivator to do your best. Now you are ready to get up and speak.