Preparing a presentation can be stressful and time consuming, but when you follow some simple guidelines, everything becomes easier. To succeed, you need a lot of practice, discipline and preparation, but this comes with time. Once you’ve mastered all the ins and outs of presentation making, nothing can stop you from making a good impression and delivering quality information.

Professional look

In order to make a good impression it is essential to have a very professional look. Whether or not your company imposes an office style, when preparing for a presentation you also need to have a professional look. This goes for both your clothes and your hair. There are a lot of natural hair color ideas of 2013 that will go great with an office style. However you should avoid a dramatic style change right before your presentation if you want people to focus on what you say and not on how you look. From the many hair color ideas 2013 we recommend the warm shades of brown and blonde since they go great with office colors such as black, navy and gray. An office look will make you look more professional and will help you feel more confident during a presentation.

Mental and Physical Preparation

Good preparation leads to great self-confidence, so it is extremely important to feel prepared. Make sure you know and feel comfortable with your material and the information you are about to deliver.

If you don`t have experience in public speaking, you should practice a few time before the presentation and even ask advice from a speech coach. It is also recommended to hang out with other speakers and ask them question, because they will generally inspire you more confidence.

Always think before you speak, take pauses when needed and breathe. Talk to individuals in the crows, as interaction is an important element of a successful presentation. Be calm and visualize a positive outcome.

It is important to have a good sleep the night before the presentation. Avoid alcohol, but drink a lot of water and eat well. Choose the right clothes and try to look professional.

Support Materials

Depending on the type of presentation and audience, remember that less is more. Keep text to minimum on your slide presentation – 5 bullet points per slide should be enough to capture the main ideas. Even if people don`t attentively listen your discourse, at least they read the slides. If you want your audience to have more detailed information or additional facts, you should prepare a pocket folder where you include all these.

Ensure the contrast and font size are readable and people can easily see what is written on the screen. Pay attention to the right resolution. Keep your visual ideas simple and include pictures to support your presentation. When it is about charts and graphics, avoid the complicated ones, as they are difficult to follow.

Actual Presentation

Remain positive all along the presentation and do not just read your slides or notes. Your public has all the charts, graphics or numbers in the pocket folder just in front of them, so it is better and more captivating to illustrate your ideas by telling stories.

Introduction should be short, clear and strong. If you make a mistake, stay calm and confidently continue like it never happened. Make a pause after strong ideas, in order to let your audience absorb the information. Don`t forget to smile, make a joke or even laugh if the situation is appropriate.

Good luck!