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or too slowly. Trust to your preparation and rehearsals.

If you are using projected slides, try not to read word for word that which is on each slide. Your audience are quite capable of reading them so make sure you have the material to hand which explains your displayed bullet points. Stand to the side of any visual aids, especially the flip chart. You'll have to perfect writing at an angle! Also, stay fairly still if you are showing slides, it will distract your audience if you are moving around as they will nearly always want to focus on what you are doing. Remember, slow down!

During your delivery constantly make eye contact with different people in the room. This will make them feel included and valued, although try not to draw attention to any one person in particular, it may have the opposite effect and make them feel uncomfortable. If you are asked a question during your presentation, do not be afraid to stop, deal with it and then resume. If you feel the discussion at this point is going to go into detail, make a note of it and suggest that you come back to this at the end. Just make sure you do!

Wrap up and questions. Again, pause before the summary. Keep your summary short. Tell your audience what you have just told them and remember to inform them that that is the end of the presentation and that you will now take questions. If this is not done, people will not actually be sure that it is finished and will be hesitant to ask anything further until someone else does.

Check your notepad to see if you have any questions raised during the presentation left to answer.

If you have followed these guidelines, then not only you will have delivered a presentation well, but also one which will reflect well on you. More importantly though, your audience will remember most of it so give yourself a big pat on the back and relax!

Learn more about this author, Andrew Houghton.
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