Answer questions from the audience

It is good practice to have an idea of what questions may be asked as a result of your presentation. However there will always be questions that you can't anticipate so it is important to:

• Listen and allow the questioner to finish their sentence
• If unclear, ask for clarification of the question
• Ensure that everyone in the room has heard the question before you answer
• Answer honestly and sincerely. Avoid waffling or lying. Especially important if you don't know the answer
• Stay Calm- Remember not all questions are directed at you or your material. Questions may be proposed for political reasons or to impress colleagues
• Respect the questioner- It can be tough asking questions in front of a group. Showing the questioner respect can help to improve or maintain your credibility

Practice, Practice and Practice

No matter how long you have been speaking for, good speakers practice and become familiar with their surroundings and equipment before they present. Don't leave anything to chance. It is a good idea to practice in the actual room that you will be presenting in and to become familiar with the layout, equipment, lights and sounds. Practicing will also provide you with an opportunity to determine your speech timings and to make any adjustments before the big event.

Preparation Checklist 1 [pdf]

Preparation Checklist 2 [pdf]

Be Yourself

After all of the information and books that you have read on presenting, some one has to tell you to be yourself. Be natural and always try to be caring, considerate and respectful of your audience. All of these will help you to get your message across and will help to maintain your credibility and professionalism as a speaker. 

Celebrate

Don't forget to reward yourself after the presentation is over. It can also be a good time to re-assess your performance either personally or by asking an honest colleague. The best way to improve as a speaker is to re-evaluate, aim to improve piece by piece and maintain a focus on your presentation strengths.

Self Evaluation Form [pdf]

Reference Material and readings:

“Secrets of power presentation” by Dr William Hendricks, Micki Holliday, Recie Mobley and Kirsty Steinbrecher: Career Press: USA: 1996.

"101 Ways to Better Presentations" by Elizabeth Tierney: Kogan Page Limited: UK: 1999.

"High Impact Presentation, A Multi-media Approach" John Wiley & Sons INV: Canada: 1997.

"The Modern Presenters Handbook"  by Jim Macnamara: Prentice Hall Australia: 1996. 

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R Covey: The Business Library: USA: 1989.