Presentation techniques
Give a presentation people will remember
On this page, you can get good advice on what to do before, during, and after a presentation. The topics consist of short introductions, as well as lists of tips and tricks, spiced up with illustrative video examples.
Enjoy!
Language and tone
How do I use my voice correctly?
When giving a presentation, it's obviously important how loud/soft you speak, how you articulate words, and which words you use. Naturally, we all speak differently, and luckily we don't all have to speak the same way. However, there are some general tips you can benefit from as an oral communicator regarding language and tone:
- Your voice strength should always be adjusted to the situation you're in. Is the room large or small, and is the acoustics good or bad. As a rule of thumb, however, you should expect to speak much louder than you normally do
- Be sure to articulate the words clearly, and always face the audience to ensure both presence and understanding of what you're saying
- Be careful not to speak monotonously, where you put equal stress on all words. Remember that the most important words and points should have the most power!
- Speak slower than you think is necessary – remember that the audience has never heard your presentation before and needs time for the words to sink in properly
- If you tend to speak too quickly, plan some pauses along the way to force yourself to slow down. And remember to breathe deeply into your stomach. This also limits the speed
- Avoid swear words and slang, as you cannot know how the audience will receive it – especially if it's in a professional/academic context
- Be mindful of excessive use of filler words and phrases like: Uh, right, um, or what is it called. Instead, take a speaking pause – it adds calm and concentration to your presentation
- Feel free to use metacommunication, where you explain what will happen in the presentation: The purpose of my talk is, before I proceed I will, or now we will try an exercise, etc. This way, the audience can more easily follow the structure, message, and thread of the presentation
- Use the terms I and you (both as singular and plural) instead of one. This provides much more presence
Videoklip: Hvis du vil holde dine tilhørere på dupperne, er det ikke altid nok at have et spændende emne. Det er en god idé at tænke over dit sprog og stemmeføring, ellers kan det virkelig blive kedeligt!
English translation - Video clip: If you want to keep your audience on their toes, it's not always enough to have an exciting topic. It's a good idea to think about your language and tone, otherwise, it can really become boring!
The above video is in Danish, but English subtitles are available.
Body language
What signals am I sending out?
When we have a conversation both privately and in public settings, a lot of communication happens nonverbally. This is also true for presentations, so it is essential to think about what signals you send with your body language. Much of it is, of course, personal style and movement patterns, but there are still a few tips you can take with you when you need to present:
- There should preferably be consistency between what you say and what you signal with your body and body language
- Avoid as much as possible a passive posture, where you stand slumped with your hands statically down your sides or heavily placed in your pockets
- Instead, try to adopt a more active position, with an upright posture, feet firmly planted on the ground, lively eyes, and hands that (in moderation) help tell the story
- Our eyes mean a lot for what we signal. Ensure good eye contact and always have a calm gaze – this creates security and trust
- Breathe deeply into your stomach. It permeates your entire body and gives you a calmer and more stable expression
- Smile, it pays off – and creates closeness and connection with your audience
- Be yourself. If you are normally a quiet type, you don't need to be overly animated when presenting. It quickly becomes untrustworthy. Instead, learn yourself and your presentation style well, and strengthen what works!
Videoklip: Vi har alle et personligt kropssprog, og det er forskelligt, hvor meget vi bevæger os rundt på scenen!
English translation - Video clip: We all have personal body language, and it varies how much we move around on stage!
The above video is in Danish, but English subtitles are available.
Form and message
Always prepare thoroughly
When you need to give a presentation, it's crucial that you have a solid understanding of form and message. You need to be sure that your message and the purpose of the presentation are crystal clear, and that your audience is with you every step of the way. A well-thought-out form for the presentation can help you with that.
Tips for a good form:
- Start strong. Open with a strong and enticing introduction. A small anecdote, a quote, a question, a film clip, etc.
- Make the purpose of the presentation clear right from the introduction. What can the audience expect to take away?
- Include highlights along the way and incorporate tempo changes in your presentation. This sharpens attention. For example, an exercise, dialogue, funny story, illustration, etc.
- Prepare thoroughly, but don't be afraid to adjust the presentation if a dialogue, for example, takes the presentation in a different direction than you had imagined
- People remember better if things are repeated. Consider creating a small summary at the end with your key points
- End the presentation with a bang. The last impression stays with us. Therefore, prepare an interesting conclusion. Again, it can be a quote, a call to action, a story, etc.
Videoklip: Det er altid en god ide at forberede din præsentation, så du har styr på form og budskab. Ikke alle kan nemlig winge den lige godt
English translation - Video clip: It is always a good idea to prepare your presentation so that you have a clear understanding of form and message. Not everyone can wing it equally well
The above video is in Danish, but English subtitles are available.
Nervousness
Everyone knows the feeling
Many people struggle with nervousness when they have to give a speech or a presentation. Fortunately, you're not alone, and often the audience actually has a lot of understanding for potential nervousness, as they can recognize the feeling themselves. Also remember, we get nervous because it means something, and we want to do well, and we are engaged in the task. And engagement is contagious! Just ask yourself, who would you rather listen to a presentation from; someone who is totally disengaged from the task or someone who is a bit nervous? Take a closer look at our tips against nervousness, maybe they can help ease your nerves a bit!
- For many, it helps to prepare thoroughly for the presentation, and at the very least have a solid grasp of both the start and the conclusion
- Practice your presentation in front of a friend, study partner, or similar, so you remember the presentation better when it's time, and you can weed out what doesn't work
- Have a plan b or something to fall back on if a dialogue fails, the technology malfunctions, or something else unforeseen happens. And remember, your audience doesn't know what you might forget
- Smile when you enter and make eye contact with your audience – believe in yourself, and others will too!
- Try to visualize your presentation, where everything goes well. Preferably in detail. This can give you calm and a good atmosphere around your upcoming presentation. Many elite athletes use this technique
- Breathe calmly and deeply into your stomach before you go on, and remember it's "just" a presentation. The world will still be there afterward, and you'll do great!
Videoklip: Det er altid ubehageligt at blive nervøs, når man laver en præsentation
English translation - Video clip: It is always uncomfortable to get nervous when giving a presentation
The above video is in Danish, but English subtitles are available.
Bad habits
Get control of them by being aware
Uh, uh, uh, uh, we all know it. The annoying bad habits when we present! But don't worry, the first step to leaving the habits behind is to identify them. Therefore, we have compiled a list of the most classic bad presentation habits. Maybe you can recognize some in yourself:
- The hyperactive one, who moves quickly and restlessly around. Instead, try to visualize a circle on the floor and stay within it
- The pen clicker, who clicks the pen in and out a million times during the presentation. If you need something in your hand, take a marker or something similar that cannot be clicked
- The hand-in-pocket type, who has both hands planted firmly in their pockets. Be careful with that, as it seems disengaged. Instead, use your hands to tell and paint pictures with (of course, in moderation)
- The monotonous speaker, who bores the audience to death. Always remember to emphasize your important points and show with your tone that you are engaged in your presentation – it’s contagious
- The speed talker, who speaks so quickly that the audience loses their breath. Breathe and insert some well-placed pauses. It sharpens the audience's concentration and creates calm around you
- Uh, Uh, Uh – type, who finds a favorite word and repeats it after every single sentence. Deadly, if the audience notices it. Here you must actively fight your urge to say "the word". Remember instead that pauses in a presentation are okay and do not need to be neutralized with an "uh" or similar
- The paper-gazer type, who only has their eyes fixed on the script. It's okay to look down occasionally, but remember to look up and create presence and eye contact. If you tend to stare at the paper, consider writing down only keywords and learn your start and finish by heart. It provides calm and security
Videoklip: Pas på med øh, øhm, og at bruge de samme vendinger igen og igen!
English translation - Video clip: Be careful with uh, um, and using the same phrases over and over again!
The above video is in Danish, but English subtitles are available.