I get it: you don’t want to forget your words, so you script your presentation…and then you read from that script. Or maybe you think you’re not doing that because your presentation is a series of Powerpoint slides…which you then read to your audience.
.Reading from a script can make you seem less engaged with your audience and less confident in your material. You’re making your job of connecting with the audience – of building a trusting relationship – harder for yourself. So, how can you remember your presentation without relying on a script? Here are some tips to help you deliver a memorable presentation:
1. Practice, practice, practice: The key to remembering your presentation is to practice it multiple times before you actually deliver it. This will help you become more familiar with your material and more confident in your delivery.
2. Use visuals: Visual aids like slides or props can help you remember key points in your presentation. They can also help keep your audience engaged and add variety to your presentation.
3. Break it down: Instead of trying to remember your entire presentation word for word, break it down into key points or sections. This will make it easier to remember and deliver in a more natural way.
4. Engage with your audience: Instead of focusing on remembering every word of your presentation, focus on engaging with your audience. This will help you stay present in the moment and make it easier to remember your material.
5. Use mnemonic devices: Mnemonic devices, like acronyms or rhymes, can help you remember key points in your presentation. Try coming up with some creative ways to remember your material.
And finally, and this is the most effective one:
6.TELL A STORY:. If I were to ask you to tell me the story of your day so far, you’d be able to do that, using details that bring it to life. If, in an hour, I asked you to tell me the same story, you wouldn’t use exactly the same words…but the STORY itself would be the same.
Free yourself from this need to be “word perfect”. Practise telling stories – add as many details, emotions and characters as you can to make your story compelling and engaging –and understand you don’t need to script your presentations. It’s far more powerful to be in the moment, with your audience, reacting and responding as they do.
If you’d like help structuring and delivering brilliant presentations, GET IN TOUCH.