Presentations are one of the most useful- and most feared- university assignments. For most of us, speaking in front of a group of people or filming ourselves giving a talk will be one of the most nerve-wracking things we’ll do at university. While it may be scary, presenting is also one of the most relevant and helpful skills for when we leave university and join the workforce. Nearly all jobs involve some form of public speaking, whether you’re a lawyer, a nurse, a teacher, or a CEO.
In this Lightning Session, we explore various ways to improve your presentation skills, with a particular focus on presenting online.
Presentation Tips
While it sometimes feels like some people are born presenters, the reality is that there are plenty of simple tips and tricks that any of can implement to improve our presentation skills.
- Keep it Simple. Academic presentations don’t have to be confusing! Having a single key point with just 2-3 clearly-signposted subpoints will make sure your listeners can follow along easily.
- Use Your Voice. Avoid simply reading from a script in a monotone voice. Instead, vary your tone and pitch to create interest. Most importantly, remember to sound enthusiastic; if you care about your topic, your audience will, too!
- Practice! The absolute best way to improve your presentation skills is to practice. The more times you rehearse your presentation, the more confident and comfortable you’ll be. Also, on a larger scale, the more presentations you give, the better you’ll get.
Online Presentations
Online presentations offer some unique challenges, but some aspects are actually easier online! Watch this short video to learn how to set up your presentation environment and take advantage of the online format.
[Note: this video is primarily focussed on pre-recorded presentations rather than live, but most of the tips apply to both]
Dealing with Nerves
Feeling nervous is an entirely normal part of public speaking. While presenters typically look confident up on stage, the reality is that even experienced public speakers often still experience intense nervousness!
A few quick tips to control your nerves:
- Recognise that nervousness isn’t always bad. In fact, some level of stress actually provides us with the adrenalin rush we need to perform at our best.
- Take deep breaths. Anything that slows your heart rate down, like deep breaths or stretching, will help you calm your nerves and prepare your mind.
- Practice, practice, practice! The more presentations you give, and the more often you practice your presentations, the more confident you’ll feel and the less nervous you’ll be.
Want more tips? Check out our full Presentation Skills resource for more tips and links to helpful videos.