Five Practical Tips on How to Be an Effective Presenter

by John Penaflor

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Who says you can’t be an effective presenter?

It’s true that it’s never easy to face a crowd for a presentation, nor, deliver a speech before an audience. But it’s also true that everyone can be a good presenter. It may take some time to be one and take much effort to prove it, but pursuing to be an awe-inspiring speaker is very achievable.

Here are some practical tips, I also learned from some “speakers by heart” I have met over the years and gauged from distinctive occasions and from work exposures who made me the trainer I am today.

Dare to prepare!

By weighty preparation and thorough practice, one can be more than ready to speak to his audience. If you want to give an acceptable and a good presentation stint, you need to plan it well and practice as much as you can. A well-organized presentation can help keep your audience focused on you, so you can convey your message profoundly.

"Preparation is just as important as the presentation itself”.

Build No Wall but Rapport!

Effective presenters know how to perfectly engage himself with his audience. By asking questions like, “How are you today?”, “Anything you know about Megaworld?” and “From which province or country are you?” etc. can definitely build rapport with your listeners, thus, enabling you to be one of them. You may also say like “Nice shirt, you’re wearing today Mr. Saranillo!” or “It’s pretty traffic outside, how did you guys manage that?” and eventually share your thoughts too.

Connect with them and let them feel comfortable with you in one common ground. Make it a two-way street where both parties are interacting, listening and learning.

“Creating connection equates to creating trust.”

Impact with eye contact!

I’d like to believe that the ability to make a good eye contact is one social skill that gives so much impact. It sustains powerful connection with your audience and it makes them feel how much you care about their opinion and thoughts. As a speaker, this will also help you establish a comfortable zone as you address an audience of any size.

“Even before the age of the internet, we already have the eyes to connect and communicate. Use them to sincerely convey your message and use them to establish confidence”.

Storytelling is compelling!

It’s not always about your presentation but about the stories you tell in between. As a presenter your job is to deliver your message with clarity and sincerity. But it is also your job to tell stories to persuade and influence. Storytelling is a powerful form of communication because it translates ideas that are relevant to your intention why you talk to them, or what’s about your presentation.

Stories have purpose. They help the information you tell even more understandable and relatable. If your presentation material allows, you may share a personal story or experience connected to your topic, because in that way, you’ll be able to reach your listener’ hearts and minds, and could even help them move to action.

“Facts tell, stories sell”.

Accent vs Content

Don’t force yourself speaking like someone to impress. An effective presenter would not mind about how he says a word but how a word impacts the totality of his presentation. You may not be a “Ted-Talk” speaker or an American narrator-like but you can always be “you”. You who will be appreciated just by being you. After all, what matters is how meaningful your message is, and how impactful the content of your presentation is. Don’t fear you won’t sound with accent as you present because you can always improve that area. What you need to focus more on during your stint is the content that will even make you remembered as an effective speaker.

“Content will surely bring in results and not your accent, because accent is just one thing, while content is everything.”

These are some of the practical tips I can share to those who’d like to be an effective speaker. But on top of all these, is “self-confidence”. Follow these basic rules on your next presentation and you’ll be surprised of how assertive and effective you could be. Don’t fear the crowd and don’t get intimidated, because you have the spot to inspire and shine!

Enjoy the stint and just have fun!