20 Top Tips
How to Present Successfully
- Above all, consider the audience. Remember the rule: ‘Its not about you, its about them’
- Keep to three main points
- Introduce yourself
- Finish on Time
- Look them in the eyes!
- Rehearse properly (dress rehearsal)
- If in doubt, cut it out
- Repeat questions from the audience (buys you time, checks your understanding of what they are asking, ensures everyone in the audience gets to hear the question)
- You are not supposed to know everything. It is acceptable to say ‘I don’t know, let me find out and get back to you’, or perhaps even more useful, reflect it back to the audience member by saying: ‘I don’t know, what do you think?’
- Have an objective for the meeting
- They will only remember 10% of what you say
- They are allowed to disagree with you
- Interact with the audience throughout
- Have a friend there to keep notes
- The friend can also keep track of time
- Summarise at the end
- Thank them for listening to you
- Stay around afterwards for questions
- Give them your (e‐mail) address
- Follow up afterwards with a note or e mail thanking them for inviting you