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If the mention of presentations on your syllabus makes your heart race and palms sweat, fear not! This blog is here to guide you through some effective presentation skills and share some tips to boost your confidence. With these strategies, you’ll be able to handle all future presentations with ease and success.

Effective Presentation Skills

Communication

Communication means how you deliver your message and how your audience receives your presentation. Speaking clearly and confidently shows good communication with your audience while ensuring your presentation is properly conveyed.

Body language

Posture, eye contact, hand gestures, and facial expressions are all components of body language. Your body language has the power to transform your presentation and convey a confidence you might not yet feel.

Voice projection

Projecting your voice allows your audience to properly hear your presentation. The way you project your voice can make your presentation more engaging, and the way to do this is by standing with your shoulders back and enunciating your words.

Posture

Slouching and looking tense sets a bad tone for your presentation. Positioning yourself confidently with your back straight helps you to remain open while taking the formality of the presentation into account.

Understand your audience

Understanding your audience means understanding their needs and interests so you can base your presentation around them. This will allow you to make your presentation more engaging and easier to understand.

How to Boost Your Confidence

Develop strategies

Some strategies you can develop to help your presentation confidence include grounding yourself, practicing your presentation, and deep-breathing exercises.

Breathing techniques

Breathing techniques can help ease anxiety and get rid of any pre-presentation nervousness. Taking deep breaths beforehand and maintaining a smooth cadence during your presentation will help increase confidence.

Note cards

Writing a script or having some talking points prepared on note cards can help you feel more prepared for your presentation and help you avoid potential awkward pauses.

Be sure to also check out the library’s soft skills guide! This guide has great information and resources related to communication, creativity, and positive attitudes, all of which play a part in presentations.

Coursera Staff. (2024, January 30). What are effective presentation skills (and how to improve them). https://www.coursera.org/articles/presentation-skills

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