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Planning, organizing, managing resources, these are skills associated with effective project managers. Project managers do not stand alone however their success depends on engaging people. Project staff, company staff, steering committees, directors and even customers can impact the success or otherwise of a project.

Project managers need effective presentation skills to gain the positive engagement of all the people impacted by their project.

There are six elements of success in presentations.

1. Outline the purpose, audience and location
Ask yourself the following questions. What are you trying to achieve, what time is allowed, what else is happening? Does the audience know anything about you or the project? Why are they there? What do they expect? What size is the room? How will it be laid out? Do you know how to use the technology?

Answering these questions will allow you to target the interests of your specific audience and ensure that everything will work toward them being focused on your presentation.

2. Plan and write the presentation
Your objective needs to be clear, specific, measurable and achievable in the time available. An opportunity for audience participation often achieves better outcomes.

Write out every detail of your presentation and ask somebody who has experience in presentations to review it and provide feedback.

3. Use visual connections.
Up to 50 percent of information is taken in visually. When using powerpoint presentations present only high level essential points. Screens filled with words defeat the purpose of using visual aids. Talk to the major points as the presentation progresses. Use pictures and color to stimulate your audience's senses.

4. Prepare you speech
You need to decide whether you will use a full script, notes or talk from memory. Never try to talk off the cuff. Less than .01% of people can do this naturally. Take your notes with you. Referring to notes is perfectly acceptable.

5. Practice, practice, practice
The way to sound natural is to know your content and the way to know your content is to practice. You do not need to be word perfect, and in fact this will seem stilted, but you do need to know what you will say during each part of your presentation.

6. During the presentation
It is normal to feel nervous before a presentation and this can sometimes flow over into the presentation itself. If you feel nervous, breathe deeply and look at your audience. Talk slowly and relax. Remember that the audience is on your side, they want to hear what you have to say.

Someone once suggested to Greg Norman, a world class golfer, that he was very lucky. He said "yes I am and the more I practice the luckier I get". These words of wisdom can also be applied to presentations. The more you practice, the more you will engage your audience and gain their commitment to the success of your project.

Learn more about this author, Marie Hurley.
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