How comfortable are you speaking in front of a crowd? Public speaking is an extremely common fear; however, most jobs involve at least occasional presentations in front of colleagues, clients, or the general public. Not only are these events necessary, but they can be an excellent opportunity to showcase your professional expertise and ability to command a room. Learning to give a presentation that leaves an impression can help advance your career. Take a look at these three tips for better presentation skills, and let your public speaking become one of your most powerful professional tools.
- Don’t be afraid to make eye contact. During a presentation, a lot of people look at the ceiling or inanimate objects. Making eye contact with the audience can help you to establish a connection. Make eye contact for a short period of time (3-5 seconds) with individual members of the audience, moving your gaze to different parts of the room to keep everyone engaged.
- Take time to relax in advance. A tense speaker will make an audience tense and uncomfortable. Take five to ten minutes before your presentation to relax in a quiet space. Take deep breaths and concentrate on your breathing. Doing physical relaxation exercises, such as neck or shoulder rolls or stretches can help to physically relax you and result in a more natural posture while presenting.
- Maintain a strong, clear voice. It doesn’t matter how strong your presentation is if the voice you are presenting it in is weak or unpleasant. Remember: your breath is the power behind your voice. Take deep breaths from your abdomen, not your chest, as you speak. Pause at appropriate moments in your presentation to take additional breaths. Having a bottle of water at hand is also crucial for staying hydrated and keeping your voice strong and clear.
For information on the New York Based Speech and Accent Reduction services offered by Corporate Speech Solutions please give us a call at 212-308-7725 or visit us on the web at www.corporatespeechsolutions.com. Not in NYC? No problem! We also provide Skype and video conferencing services.
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