Good presentation skills require us to challenge our preconceptions

What are the elements that make for a good communicator, or conversely, a poor one? Why is it that some have the gift of presenting and some do not? How do presenters stand out when most follow a very similar formula?

The answer is not just those that can speak or write with eloquence, although that does matter, the answer is those that can both speak and listen in equal parts. Here are a few simple tips to help:

  • Communicate with passion. If you care, show it!
  • When you stop speaking, really listen. It’s not a time to reload your next dazzling point!
  • Simplify the complex and talk to your audience. Nobody is impressed that you know the big words, trust me on that one. You need to communicate the complex in a way that everybody understands. Be a storyteller, demonstrate, show, don’t tell.
  • And last but not least, always be learning. Try a new platform, or a different way to present. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone to be truly present.