The problem with many business presentations is that they don’t have a two-way interaction.  Oftentimes the presenter simply pushes information at the audience.  While this might seem like an easy approach to presenting, the fact is it’s not effective.  The object of any presentation is for the audience to absorb and retain the information and…

Giving a presentation is no easy feat and most people feel more comfortable about it when they have notes in front of them.  Even if they don’t use the notes the entire time, something about knowing they are there is enough to make the speaker feel more at ease.  This begs the question: Is it…

Using humor in presentations is not always a laughing matter.  Sometimes it can backfire and actually hurt your credibility.  Other times, humor can help you stand out and build a rapport with your audience.  How, then, do you know when to use humor in your presentation?   In general, humor can be beneficial for increasing the…

Most of us have had to speak in public at some point in our lives and we have been given plenty of advice about it.  You have probably been told to keep your hand gestures to a minimum so you don’t distract the audience from listening to your words.  However, as soon as you stand…

Voice modulation refers to the way you control or adjust your voice and it is an important component of communication because it fills your words with expression and emotion.  It is especially important in public speaking because it helps the audience to clearly hear and understand the presentation.  By mastering the art of voice modulation,…

Intonation refers to the rise and fall of the voice while speaking.  It is an important communication tool because it allows the speaker to alter the meaning of what they are saying.  They can strengthen a specific key word, add emotion to a sentence, or adjust their attitude simply by varying their pitch.  A speaker…

Giving a presentation is a nerve wracking experience.  Oftentimes people become so uncomfortable and anxious that they don’t even know where to stand or what to do with their hands during the presentation…but what about their eyes?  Where should you look during a presentation?  Many people find it frightening to look directly at the audience.…

If you have ever attended a lecture or presentation where the presenter spoke from behind a podium for the entire presentation than you understand just how boring and disengaging that is for an audience.  Movement during presentations sometimes gets a bad reputation because audiences might be distracted by mindless, repetitive pacing.  However, when movement is…

When you are giving a presentation you might consider silence the enemy or the sign of someone who is unprepared.   It happens when you get lost in your thoughts or you become riddled with anxiety.  It’s during these silent moments that we oftentimes begin to panic.  While silence can certainly feel disturbing at times, there…

Same Presentation, Different Location You might have a job that requires you to give presentations every now and then.  In some cases, you might even have to travel around giving the same presentation to different audiences.  In order to be a successful leader in the workplace, you have to become skilled at giving presentations like…