Improve your Presentation Skills : Part 1

Prepare with care

To give a great presentation, you need great preparation. Start, by thinking about your topic and the audience and what they are most interested in. Then list your key points and write down the general structure of the presentation ahead.

If you need to, write down every word that you want to say and memorize it. Experienced presenters don't need to do this. But if you're a little nervous or you're new to presenting, then by writing everything down it will boost your confidence and settle your nerves on the day.

On the day

Take these 5 tips to give a fresh, vibrant presentation:

1. Get a good nights sleep beforehand. Eat a healthy breakfast and try and free your schedule, so you're more relaxed going into it.
2. Before you present, spend 15 minutes going over your presentation.
3. Then concentrate on your breathing for 2 minutes. This focuses your thoughts, relaxes you and gets rid of any nerves.
4. Remember, the open and close of your presentation are the most important parts. So put in extra effort here, to make it memorable.
5. If you forget something or make a mistake, then never stop and apologize. Keep going and try and relax. It will soon be forgotten.