15 simple tips you can't miss out for becoming a great speaker
Speaking in public contains traps that can turn a simple speech into a real purgatory. Here are 15 simple ideas to implement, unknown to most people, that will make you a popular speaker.
Before your presentation
1 Make a rehearsal
You should not be in a situation where your discover that you are running out of time and that you have to rush the last 10-15 slides. Make rehearsals at your office or home to assess the duration of your presentation and adjust accordingly.
2 Hold the number of slides to a minimum
You should not exceed 15-20 slides to support a 20 minutes presentation.
3 Keep visuals as simple as possible - do not overload the slides
Graphically, keep your visuals as simple as possible, remove the frills. Use a simple color scheme (2 or 3 colors maximum). Put in just a few words and use large lettering (yes, really). A good rule of thumb is 7-8 words on a single line and up to 15-20 words on a single slide.
4 Present yourself, but briefly
One often sees the mistake of the speaker who is introducing himself to the audience, summarizing his career, presenting his company and its history (or what it does) before actually beginning his speech (reach the goal of the conference). These introductions often last 10 minutes. It’s 9 min 30 sec too much. Do not make that mistake. Assume that the program of the event you participate in presents you properly. Introduce yourself to confirm who you are (some do not read the program and others will confirm that they are the right place), but do it briefly.
5 Start by outlining the purpose of the speech - submit your plan
Start by saying first what you will talk about, then deliver your conference and finish by recalling what you were talking about.
You should not be in a situation where your discover that you are running out of time and that you have to rush the last 10-15 slides. Make rehearsals at your office or home to assess the duration of your presentation and adjust accordingly.
2 Hold the number of slides to a minimum
You should not exceed 15-20 slides to support a 20 minutes presentation.
3 Keep visuals as simple as possible - do not overload the slides
Graphically, keep your visuals as simple as possible, remove the frills. Use a simple color scheme (2 or 3 colors maximum). Put in just a few words and use large lettering (yes, really). A good rule of thumb is 7-8 words on a single line and up to 15-20 words on a single slide.
4 Present yourself, but briefly
One often sees the mistake of the speaker who is introducing himself to the audience, summarizing his career, presenting his company and its history (or what it does) before actually beginning his speech (reach the goal of the conference). These introductions often last 10 minutes. It’s 9 min 30 sec too much. Do not make that mistake. Assume that the program of the event you participate in presents you properly. Introduce yourself to confirm who you are (some do not read the program and others will confirm that they are the right place), but do it briefly.
5 Start by outlining the purpose of the speech - submit your plan
Start by saying first what you will talk about, then deliver your conference and finish by recalling what you were talking about.