11 ways to improve your presentations

1. Remember: Your audience wants you to succeed

Whether you're presenting to colleagues, fellow students or pitching an idea, most people aren't waiting for you to fail. They're hoping you will make the meeting interesting and worthwhile. If you prepare with a positive mindset this can significantly reduce nerves.

2. Preparation beats confidence, so know your story arc

Confidence isn't something you magically have, it's something you build by preparing properly. Know the story arc of your presentation and make sure you have a clear idea of the opening, middle and end. Understand your key messages and anticipate a few likely questions. Good preparation allows you to think clearly when the pressure is on. Always lean on several key points or phrases you need to get across, rather than a long script.

3. Don't try to memorise every word and avoid a full script

Whilst reading every word out loud is never advised, trying to remember a script off by heart is also challenging. I always recommend bullet points or key words to remind you of the journey of the presentation. Reading out loud or trying to remember something word for word can make you sound robotic and increase anxiety. Know your structure and speak naturally around your main points.

4. Start strong

The first 30 seconds set the tone. Introduce yourself confidently, explain what you'll cover and tell your audience why it matters. The Rule of Three is really useful here. It can become a cliche as many people use it, but to build confidence, this is a good guide to structuring your presentations. If you are confident using humour, then that is a great way into a presentation to bring your audience onside.

5. Embrace the nerves and slow down

Nerves are a good thing, because they show we care. But you have to manage them and not let them make you rush. Speaking just a little slower gives your audience more time to process information and gives you more time to think. It also means you can include pauses and silences, rather than filling thought gaps with uhms. Silences used well can also make you sound confident, not uncertain.

6. Focus on the message, not yourself

When we are nervous, we become overly aware of how we look and sound. Shift your attention to helping your audience understand your message instead. Effective communication is about serving the listener, not performing.

7. KISS, use simple language

I love Keep It Simple Stupid as a piece of advice in journalism, radio and podcasts and it is also true here. The clearest communicators rarely use the most complicated words. Avoid jargon where possible and explain concepts as if you're talking to someone outside your industry/course. If people understand you, they'll remember you. If you have slides, the same message applies. Do not fill them with content, use them as your bullet points to guide you through. If someone is reading a slide they are not listening to you.

8. Eye contact

If you are using slides, use the preview screen to look at what people are seeing, not the slide projection (if you can). Your slides should support your presentation, not become your script. Look at your audience regularly, even if it's just one person at a time. Connection is built through eye contact, not bullet points.

9. Learn to embrace silence

Many presenters panic when there's a pause. In reality, a short silence gives your audience time to absorb what you've said and makes your next point more impactful. You don't need to fill every second with words. It also allows people to think and encourages questions (if you are confident to take them).

10. Accept that mistakes happen

Forget a sentence? Mispronounce a word? Nearly everyone has done it. Most audiences won't remember small mistakes unless you draw attention to them. Stay calm, correct yourself if necessary and move on. If you spend time thinking about that mistake it can become like dominoes falling and more mistakes will follow. Take a breath, smile, and move on.

11. Every presentation makes the next one easier

Presentation skills aren't something you're born with, they're developed through repetition. The people who appear most relaxed have usually delivered dozens, if not hundreds, of presentations. Each opportunity is another step towards becoming a more confident communicator. Remember too that some people are naturally better at this, but you do not need to compete. Make use of your personality and use your strengths. That can be your personality or your knowledge and expertise.