Funocity Blog

The Art of Presentation

Speaking in front of a group can be stressful, especially when a new client, or in my case a grade, is riding on it. I have been taking a presentation workshop at the University of Oregon with Mark Lewis for the past ten weeks. I am preparing to give my final presentation of my college career and thought I would share some of the tips I learned.

The basics:

1. Practice, practice, practice.
2. Look the part. I am a firm believer that if you look good, you feel good!
3. Remember to smile and thank your audience for being there, and for listening.
4. Be yourself. Don’t force anything like a joke if you aren’t a naturally gifted jokester. Find your strengths and play on those.
5. Remember to make eye contact with people, not the blank wall in the back of the room.

What I have learned from Mark Lewis:

1. Ground yourself before beginning your presentation.
2. Breath! This feels like a no-brainer, but it is interesting how many of us don’t do this when we are talking to a crowd.
3. Be believable.
4. Know the rules of presenting and remember it is okay to break the rules.
5. Whatever you do, just own it!

You can connect with Mark Lewis here.