I've given countless presentations and attended plenty of lectures about them.
I've set my own commandments and try hard to follow them.
Here are my '20 Commandments' for a successful presentation.
[1] A presentation is a play, the presenter is the actor, and the venue is the stage. Of course, it's a 'true story' based on facts. It must never become a boring presentation time.
[2] I < YOU. Instead of the presentation and design I prefer, I should make the presentation and design the audience prefers.
[3] The proposal and concept are the foundation of a presentation. When these two are solid, a precise and clear presentation is possible.
[4] Think about what the theme of the day is. For an investor, showing just one page with the ROI can be the best presentation.
[5] Consistent eye contact, upright posture, and bold gestures boost credibility.
[6] Using difficult words doesn't make you skilled. Explaining difficult things in an easy way is real skill.
[7] Being prepared — a remote clicker, clothes matching the concept of the presentation, a one-page summary handed out after the talk — raises the odds of success.
[8] Don't memorize the script; grasp the key words and the flow. Respond flexibly to the situation and the reactions on the day.
[9] When giving rationale, cite sources and numbers; when sharing information, adding explanations and examples greatly increases credibility.
[10] Use sight and sound to craft a single 'image' or 'story' that stays in the heart, and move the audience.
[11] \"I'm so crazy-in-love with this project.\" Make the audience feel that you have conviction and passion about your presentation.
[12] A strong tone and performance increases audience focus, but it can also seem chaotic. Control the dynamics.
[13] Being too calm can look insincere. A bit of nervousness adds sincerity.
[14] Fix your bad habits, or adjust them so the audience sees them as your character, something special.
[15] Never chop off your words or drag them out. Speak naturally as if in conversation. (70% formal, 30% casual.)
[16] Mid-presentation and especially closing summaries catch the core that the audience might otherwise miss.
[17] If you can't fit the entire content into a one-page proposal, consider that the presentation is needlessly bloated.
[18] Differentiate at least one thing — your own outfit, your own personality, a joke of yours, your own presentation style — to make yourself memorable.
[19] Draft and prepare for likely questions. If you answer a sharp question with prepared material, that's a day to raise a toast.
[20] Don't cram too much onto one page (the rule of 3), and reserve effects for the parts you want to emphasize. (Make it easy on the eyes.)
