Presentations. The word itself sends a chill down the spine and you can feel your blood pressure spike. This is one of the most dreaded aspects of the business world and unfortunately All of us have to give presentations or speeches to small to large groups at some point. To avoid the panic that ensures when this occurs, it is highly recommended that you practice making speeches and presentations often so you are in “good shape”. Just like exercising at the gym, creating presentations comes down to practicing until it is all muscle memory. Almost any volunteer organization or activity you get involved in will give you the opportunity to practice. This can be from your local Rotarian group to teaching at church to organizations like Toast Masters.
Join groups and organizations to take the opportunity of practicing how to be able to quickly pull together a presentation on some topic. It does not matter if this is related to your job or if you have joined the Earthworm Enthusiasts Society; all that counts is you taking the time to pull together your sources and being able to deliver your presentation to a crowd of listeners. You know your business well; it is the difficulty organizing into a presentation that this practice will give you. Get used to knowing your material and content and then formatting it to present in front of a crowd. Many people who are used to a weekly Bible Study can do a quick presentation on a project situation because they are used to short deadlines and speaking in front of an audience that is not always interested in what they have to say. Martin Luther King Jr. did not give his famous “I Have a Dream” speech as his first public presentation. He was accustomed to preaching to a congregation every week, the only difference was a matter of scale.
With time, practice should help you be able to quickly organize your thoughts and clearly explain and display it, so your audience can understand what you are saying. Remember: practice practice practice makes perfect.
Organizing your thoughts, and clearly bringing them forth
Practice practice practice makes perfect
