| Because most technical presentations are extemporaneous, you should practice your presentation to be sure that you keep within your time limits. Rehearsing in front of an audience will also help reduce nervousness during your presentation. If possible, practice in an environment similar to your presentation room; it will make you feel more comfortable the day of your presentation. Beginners afraid of forgetting what to say sometimes include too much text on presentation slides. To be most effective, you should speak directly to your audience, rather than read from your slides. Well-designed slides contain text and graphics that not only explain to the audience your main points but also provide hints that remind you of the points you want to discuss. Presentation programs such as PowerPoint® enable you to print out handouts of your slides to give to your audience. Except for presentations about complex topics or those in which you expect your audience to take notes, you should distribute your handouts after you give your presentation. Your presentation will be most effective if you have your audience's full attention. In addition, an element of surprise as your audience views each slide is an added bonus. |
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This slide contains too much information. The speaker will be tempted to read from the slide, rather than address the audience. |
