In the past two Einsight blogs, we explored Acts 1 and 2 of how to present like Steve Jobs, based on an article by Carmine Gallo titled “The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience”. Act 3 is our final installment: refine and rehearse.

Act 3—Refine and Rehearse. Once the planning is completed and the presentation itself has been finished, the work is not yet over. Presenting a presentation is just like giving a speech—delivery is as important as content. Body language, tone, enthusiasm, and even wardrobe are essential to making your audience want to hear what you have to say. To make sure that your beautiful PowerPoint is not wasted on unprepared mistakes or gaffs during the presentation, try these steps to get yourself prepared for the actual event:

Overcome Stage Fright—it’s natural to be nervous when standing in front of a crowd of people, but you can’t let your unease prevent you from communicating your ideas. Prepare yourself mentally for the stress of speaking to the crowd. Your delivery has to match what you are trying to say.

Practice, Practice, Practice—The same rule that applies to sports and music is just as important to effective communication in a presentation. Practicing your delivery of the project, familiarizing yourself with the content, and experimenting with different ways to express your ideas will ensure that you can communicate with ease and appear calm and composed in front of your audience.

Dress To Match—some occasions call for fancy attire, others can be much less formal. Keep in mind where you are, who you’re talking to, and the subject of your presentation, and dress according to what you find appropriate. Avoid looking sloppy or unprofessional by wearing clothes that don’t match you.

Make Eye Contact—a good presentation lets the presenter connect with his/her audience by making eye contact with them and giving them his/her focus. Practicing your communication can let you avoid staring at your slides and enable you to hold the attention of your audience on you. Looking at slides too often leads your audience to feel disconnected and ill at ease.

Following these steps can help you improve your ability to create and deliver an effective communication of your ideas. But perhaps the most important element, for you and Steve Jobs too, is enjoying yourself! When the speaker is having fun, then the audience can have fun, and that makes your presentation all the more effective.

End scene.

If you’re in healthcare, insurance, technology or other professional services industries, and need help with public relations, marketing or crisis communications, contact Scott Public Relations.

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