A presentation might make an IT guy even more nervous than other people. But that is not necessary. With some easy tips and training you will perform (almost) like a rockstar And yes, presentations can really work without laptops and projectors.

1. Know your stuff

There might be people who can talk about just everything and sound intelligent and solid. But as hard as i try, that is not the case with me. I need to know about the stuff I am talking else I get bumpy.

2. Time planning

Time planning is essential when you have a limited time budget. And you should have a limited time budget always, otherwise you wouldn’t be focused on your goal.
If you know your stuff you should always expect that you need longer than you needed without your audience.
So consider which parts are more time flexible than others. Where could you drop something when time gets tight?

3. Storyline, Flow, Tension

To get your message out and to keep the audience interested it is useful to plan even finer.
Work on your storyline, keep a flow and create tension. If you use slides, make transitions between them. Don’t switch to next slide speechless to then read what’s on it.

4. Prepare, Practice

Prepare your presentation by practicing it. Start with talking to yourself then get a virtual audience. The next step is filming yourself and analyzing the video. The real challenge is the presentation infront of real people. You can use anyone you find, but it might work best with your spouse.

5. Use your voice

Be passionate, but not like in a bad tv spot. Vary your pitch without sounding like a lyre.

6. Use your eyes

Connect with your audience. Eye contact keeps the audience alert and interested. You can get direct feedback on your presentation that way also.

7. Use your hands

Here aswell you shouldn’t overdo it of course. But use your hands to emphasize your message, to show chronological directions (Put yourself in the position of the audience, their right is your left and vice versa).

8. Find your position, get comfortable

Find a physical standpoint which feels good for you. This will influence your conversational standpoint enormous.

9. You are the main event not the slides

Yes, it may be hard. You are probably just as well a computer freak as I am - but: Don’t think that your slides are your presentation. They may assist you while presentating but the star role is played by yourself not by the wall or the projector. Use your slides to list your agenda and your catchwords, don’t use them for all information you are going to say and don’t write long sentences.

Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30-Rule might not be the blueprint for every type of presentation but in essence it is really a great advice:

It’s quite simple: a PowerPoint presentation should have ten slides, last no more than twenty minutes, and contain no font smaller than thirty points.

Try to make other media part of your portfolio: Use a whiteboard (or even blackboard), use a flip chart and switch between them and the slides.

You can even turn off the projector for a while or use a white or black slide. This will get the attention of your audience to yourself immediately. (Better have something to say then )

Further recommended readings: Seth Godin’s Really Bad Powerpoint, Presentation Zen
You might even be as radical as Kathy Sierra and go without slides once in a while?

10. Dont end weak

Dont end weak. Get your message out.
So many presentations end abrupt with a presentator, who seems surprised by the end himself.
“I think I’m done…”
Don’t do it! Repeat your key messages. Engage your audience in future things. Tell them what you want them to
do. Call to action!

Ok, I think I’m done … Just kidding
It is important to plan, to practice and to get in touch with your audience. Get out and surprise them!

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