Did you know that good communication skills are gradually becoming one of the most sought-after skills in the business world? Exemplary presentation skills are essential for standing apart from the crowd and increasing awareness of your brand at the global level. However, having a splendid PowerPoint design is as crucial as effectively communicating the message to your audience.
There is a reciprocal relationship between presentation design and delivery. The efforts you put into designing impeccable presentations go in vain if you fail to deliver them impactfully. And if your design is not up to the mark, you can’t deliver engaging presentations. In a nutshell, design and delivery go hand in hand, and you can’t even imagine the success of your presentation if any of these is missing.
Only a few individuals have excellent inherent presentation skills. As for the rest, the mere thought of standing in front of colleagues and supervisors and explaining complex topics can be pretty daunting. Regardless of your area of expertise and communication skills, here are a few simple steps to help you ace your presentation game. Do give it a read!
Tips for Balancing Presentation Design and Delivery
1. Plan in Advance
We can all agree that surprises or last-minute preparation are never a good idea, especially when you have to represent your company/brand and address a mass audience. Therefore, gathering thorough information regarding various aspects relevant to the day of the presentation is advisable. Inquiry regarding the audience size, expectations, time allotted, etc., should be done beforehand. This approach will give you ample time (and the right headspace) to perfect your presentation’s core theme and key message.
Also, increasing the number of slides or crowding each slide with elaborate visuals or content does not necessarily make up for a winning presentation. Remember – LESS IS MORE. An overwhelmed audience and a speaker switching and fumbling between an array of slides are not an indicator of a good presentation.
Useful Tip: A balance should be maintained throughout slides, emphasizing creating a clean and crisp presentation rather than squeezing all the concepts into it.
2. Use Creative Illustrations
The presentation design and its content are the elements that excite and interest the audience the most. As we know, people tend to connect to topics they share an interest in. So, a good tip would be to include illustrations and designs that will best attract your audience’s attention and focus. Your presentation’s entire vibe, color scheme, fonts, and visual appeal should center around the key message as it unconsciously alerts the audience regarding what they are about to experience. It is best to avoid inevitable mistakes in PowerPoint designs, like including too much text, not including an exciting or eye-catching visual, etc. Too much use of PowerPoint defaults is a big no; use your creativity and imagination instead to create an impressive contrast.
Also, don’t forget – Content is King! No matter how well-versed or experienced you are in the subject, research and prepare your content in advance. This approach helps you familiarize yourself with the flow and does not throw you in the event of any disruptions or questions during the slideshow. A well-kept secret among good speakers is that they put in great effort in content planning; this avoids the risk of them being repetitive or talking too fast or slow and helps maintain a confident demeanor till the end.
Example: Watch Phil Waknell deliver a compelling Ted Talk on “The 3 Magic Ingredients of Amazing Presentations” to motivate presenters to focus on the audience and include designs customized according to their preferences.
3. Strong Body Language and Posture
Did you know that you could influence your audience’s response to your speech by selecting your words, voice tone, and language? Non-verbal communication plays a vital role in engaging your audience. Furthermore, good presenters know that the audience’s eyes and attention are drawn involuntarily to even the slightest movements and subconsciously alert them (true fact!), so they intentionally incorporate subtle hand movements while discussing critical points. The key is finding the ideal sweet spot between too much movement (distracting) and too little movement (boring and monotonous).
4. Connect with Your Audience
Maintaining a connection with the audience helps them relate to your message. Encouraging the audience to ask questions and queries throughout the presentation keeps them interested in your speech and makes them feel a part of the overall experience. Incorporating live quizzes, debates, and questions in between presentations is also an excellent medium to gain insight into the audience’s thinking and encourage them to engage deeply. Another key tip is to customize the speech’s narrative according to your audience’s interests; this makes them grasp the intended context much faster. But in hindsight, you must stay focused and not lose sight of the central message; if you wander off (unintentionally), be sure to find your way back confidently.
5. Practice Makes Perfect
Make time for a few practice runs before the actual presentations because the effects and results of practice will be apparent and promote you as a confident and experienced individual. Putting together a presentation at a moment’s notice and delivering it impeccably is a skill only the selected few are adept at. Practicing it beforehand gives you an idea of the content flow, reduces speaking flaws, and strengthens your control over the intensity and the direction in which the message is to be communicated. Rehearsing beforehand prepares you to tackle the audience’s questions calmly and confidently. It gives an illusion that you are spontaneously delivering this presentation and enhances your image in front of your audience (win-win!). However, remember that practicing doesn’t mean memorizing and reciting your content by heart. Be mindful of putting forth your most confident and spontaneous self forward.
The Bottom Line
Delivering a successful slideshow comprises both good communication skills and incorporating beautifully designed slides in the presentations. A presentation without good illustrations and content will feel flat and boring, and even the best-designed presentations will not have the desired impact when not communicated confidently. So, strive to strike a balance between these aspects and become a presentation champion!
