Lori Kelman

Mastering good communication skills can be intimidating for even the savviest of business executives. Yet face-to-face business interactions in person (or using online meeting platforms) involve verbal expression that needs to be cohesive, succinct and impactful.

There are many notoriously shy individuals running major corporations that shudder at the thought of delivering that monthly presentation, simply because they were never taught the art of skillful oral presentation.

I have taught public speaking to adults and teens for many years and — no matter the age — the challenges are the same. Nerves, sweaty palms and dry throat syndrome are the norm for many.

There are quite a few famous singers and entertainers that I have met over the years with the same exact trepidations, yet you would never believe it by attending one of their concerts or witnessing their performances on stage.

It’s normal. And it can be overcome with adequate preparation, practice and the tools to train your mind

to adapt to any audience you need

to address.

Assessing your audience is step one. Who are you speaking to? That will help you gauge the tenor of the presentation. Will it be light and conversational, formal and businesslike, timed or comical? Starting with that in mind defines your oral delivery tone.

Next — based on the tone you’ve defined — you need to align your body language to meet that tone.

For instance, if the tone is light and conversational you might be able to walk back and forth or sit in a chair. If it’s a formal presentation, you might want to stand at a podium.

Your body language lets your audience know exactly what they’re in for and how they should respond. Meaning, if you show them it’s a formal presentation your audience members might want to take notes, etc. Connecting with your audience in this way prevents anyone from being caught off guard and gets everyone on the same page right out of the gate.

Your manner of dress is another key consideration to help you relate to your audience. The more you connect with the audience you’re addressing, the more at ease you will become.

Loud nail polish, dirty fingernails, flashy jewelry, visible tattoos, dirty shoes, spiked heels, provocative clothing, wrinkled jackets and generally mismatched attire can all work against you.

The goal is to have what you say leave the impact on your audience, not how you look.

Your pace, clarity, and pitch of speaking are all important elements to making a good presentation and favorable impression. Try to speak slowly, clearly and loudly.

The worst speakers are those you can’t hear, and often it’s because the speaker is uncomfortable.

That’s something you will need to overcome.

Most importantly, don’t speak too quickly. Deliberate sentences spoken loudly and clearly will encourage your audience to pay attention and engage with the content of your presentation.

Mumbling or speaking too softly is an immediate tune out. And once someone has tuned out, it’s not likely you’ll be able to grab their attention again.

No hands in pockets, twirling or adjusting your hair, looking down and talking to the floor, clicking a pen or tapping your foot. Those are all distractions for your audience and can prevent them from paying attention to what you are saying.

If you need to practice, use a recording device to test yourself or practice in front of a friend or relative. That will help you to refine those elements.

Before I make any presentation, I ask myself: Who am I talking to? What do they need to know? Why do they need to know it? Why would they care?

Once you answer those four questions, you will be able to put together an effective presentation. You never want to leave out critical information or leave your audience with unanswered questions.

An effective public speaking presentation has an opening, a body (middle), and a closing.

There is nothing wrong with jotting bullet points down under each of those headings on small business cards for reference.

They can provide comfort and can calm overactive nerves. (I always ask my audience to turn their cell phones off and put them away before I begin speaking).

The opening provides a brief overview of who you are and your expertise on the presentation topic, a synopsis of what you’ll be presenting, and the take-away goal for your audience.

The body is the gist of the content. My suggestion has always been to focus on three main bullet points in any presentation. That helps you to stay focused and on topic.

Tangents and wayward diversions lose your audience quickly. Any solid presentation has an intended takeaway for your audience and your closing should recap that by drawing a conclusion to your address.

You can also include contact information to reach you after the presentation (phone, email, etc.).

Bullet points on index cards for the three parts of your oral presentation ensure success.

Just like anything else, practice makes perfect. Use a recording device and play it back to assess your tone, pacing, diction and projection.

Try your presentation out in front of your toughest critic to evaluate your body language. Be mindful of your time constraints and adjust as

necessary.

Opening your presentation with a question is my best advice for grabbing the attention of your audience because it forces them to immediately engage — holding onto them is up to you.