Pressures of Presenting

Going through university and then onto a PhD giving presentations is inevitable. Now I can’t say I love them but having done so many I have come to fear them less. I thought I would share some wisdom and my experience of giving presentations. The do’s and don’ts that I have learned on my journey through university.

These are just a few ideas and advice that have helped me. Everyone is different.

Content
Try and keep the amount of writing on presentation slides to a minimum. A full on paragraph can be very daunting to the audience and they will be less likely to read it all. I have often found that bullet points work better and remember not everything you say needs to be written down. There should be a balance between what is on the slide and what you say, the audience should be listening to you. Any images and graphs should be clear and explained clearly so the listener understands the point you are conveying.

Time Keeping
Most presentations you will give will come with a time limit. Don’t fret too much over this. It is a guideline to how much content you should cover and the number of slides to use. A 10 minute presentation? Say 10-12 slides or so. Also don’t practice and practice your presentation to ensure it lasts for the time allocated as most likely you will speak at a different pace on the day. Don’t worry if you are a minute below or over just don’t turn a short presentation into an hour long lecture.

Preparation
The right level of preparation is key. I’ve spent countless hours in the past obsessing over a script of what to say and when to say it. Writing speeches and perfecting them might seem like a good idea until after you have finished your presentation and you realize you have missed something out. At this point I beat myself up about it but in reality the people listening don’t know that you forgot to say something. I find understanding the points you want to make the most important thing. If you understand then the words will come when the slide appears. Of course writing down a few extra details is still a good idea but try to avoid writing a speech.

Questions
These can really throw people off. It is something that you can only prepare so much for as you cannot predict what will be asked. My best advice? Don’t stress too much. The main reason you will get asked a question is because the audience is interested and wants to know more. Take pride in that. Remember no one knows more about your presentation than you do. Most importantly though is it is okay to say “I don’t know”. Now I have to admit I struggle with this because I hate admitting to not knowing something however it is better than mumbling incoherently something which does not make sense. I was presenting yesterday and I can honestly I had to answer a question with 'I don't know' and the world did not end.

Confidence
Do what works. I like to hold something to stop me talking with my hands so much. A pen or some paper they act like a comfort blanket. If you are confident then you will project and carry your presentation perfectly. Remember everyone you are speaking to have been where you are and most likely felt the same as you. They can empathize.

Outfit
This is not the most important point but you don’t want to be worrying about trivial matters on top of your presentation. I’ve stood in front of an audience thinking more about whether or not my bra is showing than what my next slide contains. That was not the best talk I have ever given. My advice is to wear something comfortable and exudes confidence. Trousers/jeans and a blouse or shirt is perfect.

My last piece of advice is BREATH.

Do you have any more advice for presenting? Any good or bad experiences?

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