Presentation skills: what they are and how to improve them.

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Gearing up for that all-important work meeting? Maybe you’re collaborating on a group project, or pitching a new business idea to a client? A presentation is a powerful way to get across your message in such scenarios. But identifying what presentation skills are and learning how to improve them can help you deliver work with greater clarity and impact.

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What are presentation skills?

Presentation skills are the abilities, attributes and techniques you need to develop to convey information to an audience. Why are they important? Because it’s more than just speaking.

Flexibility is key too – you’ll need to adapt your style to the audience and purpose of your presentation. For example, if you’re hoping to persuade, you may use influential, inspiring language. If you’re purely aiming to inform the audience, you may keep language plain and simple. Strong presentation skills include:

Clear communication. Speak in a way that’s easy for your audience to understand. Use plain, everyday language and keep speech clear and concise.
Audience engagement. Maintain good eye contact with the audience and vary your tone to hold their attention. A monotonous delivery can bore an audience.
Confident body language. Have good posture and use gestures to help emphasise your key points. Avoid nervous habits, like biting nails, for example.
Visual support. Use infographics, charts, diagrams and the like to convey data in a way that is digestible and helps to tell your story.
Adaptability. Listen, react and respond to your audience, encouraging and answering their questions. Active listening can help you better respond to questions.
Storytelling. Pique your audience’s curiosity with engaging storytelling. Sharing personal stories can add depth and help you connect with people.

Whatever the purpose of your message, strong presentation skills can ensure your delivery lands well.

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Why are presentation skills important?

Strong presentation skills are crucial to communicating your ideas clearly, but you can also use the soft skills gained from presentations in other areas of life too:

Public speaking. Successfully presenting shows you can articulate thoughts in front of others.
Critical thinking. Structuring a deck shows you can organise content to frame an argument or story.
Emotional intelligence. Reading the room and adjusting your delivery accordingly shows emotional intelligence.
Time management. Pacing the presentation to fit within a timeframe demonstrates time management skills.
Collaboration. Reacting and responding to audience questions shows good collaboration skills.
Leadership. Being able to inspire and influence your presentation audience shows leadership skills.
Creativity. Designing and planning a visually engaging presentation demonstrates your creativity.

Examples of effective presentation skills.

Getting your audience’s attention is one thing, keeping it is another. Honing and perfecting these techniques can make your message and delivery more impactful. They include:

Active listening.

Active listening means being attentive to your audience and responding accordingly. Don’t just tell them what you want to tell them – listen to what they think about your story or argument and learn from that. With active listening, empathy and respect you can connect more deeply with your audience.

Body language.

Your mouth may be saying one thing, your body another. Non-verbal cues like facial expressions can enhance or undermine your words. Use positive body language that is congruent with the message. Keep strong eye contact, and have a friendly, approachable demeanour.

Stage presence.

Being present helps you have presence, a trait all good leaders have. Commanding attention adds flow and gravitas to your delivery that keeps listeners absorbed. If they’re engaged then your presentation becomes memorable to them. And it can build trust and credibility in your expertise too.

Voice projection.

Projecting your voice confidently ensures your message is heard clearly. Control the volume, pace, rhythm, and tone to match the setting. For example, if you’re delivering something entirely new to an audience with little or zero knowledge of the topic, avoid using overly technical language.

Posture.

Good posture can have a big impact on the way you feel and how you’re perceived as it shows confidence. While poor posture can have the opposite effect, signalling uncertainty. Don’t overdo it though, as it can come across as arrogant. Good posture can also help with breathing and voice control.

Storytelling.

A quote by writer Terry Tempest Williams sums up storytelling well – “Storytelling is the oldest form of education”. It turns information into connection. Examples and personal anecdotes add a relatability to what you’re presenting. This can convey emotion, and help your message be better understood.

Understanding your audience.

Know your audience and you can tailor the presentation to their needs. You wouldn’t speak to teenagers in the same way you would retired pensioners, for example. Adapting it in a way that resonates with them helps to build rapport, adding relevance to your message.

How to improve your presentation skills.

It takes time, but honing your skills can bring presentation success. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you’re not going to learn everything that quickly either. But small changes implemented ‘little and often’ can amount to big ones, helping you to become a more charismatic presenter. Here are some steps on how to improve presentation skills:

Fighting stage fright.

Your breathing becomes faster, you tense up, and your voice pitch gets higher – typical signs of nerves. But don’t fret. Try breathing deeper from your diaphragm to help relax your nervous system. Thinking about the message, instead of yourself or your fear, can alleviate the pressure.

Be yourself and let your personality shine through.

Be real. Authenticity is likeable, and it builds trust. There’s no need to be overly formal, instead let your natural enthusiasm show, even adding jokes to put the audience at ease. People can usually tell if you’re being fake, and you can only hold up the act for so long. Be yourself, and you’ll find the experience is better both for you and the people listening.

Build self-confidence.

You can add to your confidence through preparation. Knowing your material by heart gives you sureness. Remember, preparation can prevent poor performance. Practice, practice, then practice some more until it becomes automatic. Start with shorter presentations then build up to longer ones. Over time, you’ll become more competent.

Learn how to use presentation tools.

Master presentation tools like Adobe Express Free Online Presentation Maker. Start by choosing a template. From there you can build your design in minutes, with full control to easily edit as you like. Being comfortable with these digital tools can help you create a smoother presentation.

Be visual.

Pictures paint a thousand words. Around 65% of people are visual learners, according to research. Images, charts, and infographics are useful ways to communicate data in an easily digestible way. This is especially helpful if you’re presenting complex topics.

Keep slides simple.

Avoid cluttering your slides. The last thing you want is people getting overwhelmed with the information. Make things more presentable by using bullet points and a clear design to emphasise the message clearly. Remember – sometimes, less is more. Overdoing the design can distract the audience.

Editable presentation templates from Adobe Express.