Whilst much has been written on the subject of giving a professional presentation, there is one simple key to success – ensure that you leave a positive and long-lasting impression in the minds of those you are presenting to. You may be the world’s leading expert on your chosen subject, and feel confident in delivering a slick, engaging and entertaining presentation, but the overall impact will be lost (if not diminished) if you are let down by technical glitches with visual support equipment, or if your chosen location has the ambience of a dual carriageway underpass.

To be successful you have to be dynamic in the quality of the material you deliver as well being professional in the atmosphere you create. Get either wrong and the impact of your presentation may not reflect what you originally desired.

So here are some simple tips:

CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE

• You may be an expert, but that’s no excuse to use jargon.
• Senior managers and board directors will require clear and concise information, so don’t ramble.

STAY IN CONTROL

• Practice makes perfect and allows you to be perceived as confident and knowledgeable.
• Make eye contact with the audience – but don’t single out just one person.
• Don’t let interruptions stop your flow – decide from the outset whether you’ll take questions during the presentation or once it has finished.
• Prepare for tricky questions and how you’ll handle the answers.
• Ensure your presentation doesn’t run over time.

GRAB THEIR ATTENTION – AUDIO VISUAL SUPPORT

• Create a simple theme that communicates clearly with your audience.
• Use the best quality visual aids available, but don’t overload slides with too much information.
• If you must use charts and graphs make sure they are clear and easy to read.
• Remember, the audience isn’t there to read your slides – they are there to listen to you present.
• Don’t be afraid to inject some humour into the presentation – this will keep them on their toes and make sure they pay attention.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

• Chose your location with great care so that it supports rather than detracts from your presentation.

Whether you are giving a sales pitch, launching a new product or perhaps leading a training session, choosing the right location is key to a successful and persuasive presentation. In recent years many large institutions that conduct staff training sessions or hold regular product, brand or corporate meetings have found that it is beneficial and less distracting to conduct these meetings off site. Traditionally, businesses have outsourced their meeting requirements to hotels which have conferencing facilities; however, there is a growing trend toward purpose built meeting and business facilities.