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Also learn off by heart your final paragraph (remember this will tend to linger in the minds of your listeners). It therefore makes sense to know exactly what you are going to say to make that final lingering impact.

Your notes are a reading aid and should be constructed as such. Whether you use cards or plain paper plan the layout. Print the words so that they are easily read and use letter sizes that will enable you to see them easily at a distance. Coloured inks and sketches also help.

Regarding your notes: it is a good idea to also have one Master Sheet which sets out clearly the stages of your presentation. This enables you to be aware of the overall plan and sequence of what you saying. If you should then indulge in anything off the cuff or get side tracked, it will help you to see where your are up to and put you back on course.

Once you have prepared your talk rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! Make your friends listen, say it in front of a mirror, perhaps your dog or cat would like to hear, record it on tape and so on.

By repeating it over you may well find that you have to amend your notes. Sometimes the written word doesn't have the same effect when said aloud. It is important to stress that proper preparation will create confidence. It is only a lack of confidence that prevents any of us from becoming effective speakers.

# The Delivery Of Your Presentation

I'll finish up with a few points on the delivery of your presentation. Read over your notes, not into them. Never apologise either for yourself or for the subject matter. Speak in your natural accent and don't project your voice only to the back of the room. Talk to those in the front as well and look at your audience, talk to them and hold their eyes individually. If you are addressing a smallish group you must make eye contact with them all at sometime during your presentation. Make it a two way exchange, even if the words are only coming from you. And try to avoid 'umms' and 'errrs' and repeating loose phrases such as 'you know', 'you see', 'basically', 'personally speaking' etc. etc.

It's not too difficult to make a presentation or give a talk if you do your homework first. We can achieve most things in life if we really want to. It's simply a matter of effort and preparation mixed with a desire to succeed.

Good luck.

Learn more about this author, Mike Perry.
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