Colleen Kettenhofen is a Phoenix, Arizona motivational speaker on managing people, effective leadership, dealing with difficult people, and presentation skills. She has spoken in 47 states and six countries for top corporations and associations since 1995. She is contributing author of “The Masters of Success,” featured on NBC’s Today Show and Fox News. Colleen is available for keynotes, breakout sessions, training and seminars.

Presentation Skills

Rehearsing with Visual Aids…
Why it’s Imperative!

Rehearse with your visual aids ahead of time, even if you were assigned to give your presentation at the last minute. Still take the time to practice. Rehearsing or “rehearing” yourself minimizes 75% of your nervousness. Research shows 95% of the success of your presentation is determined before the presentation. Planning and preparation is key to overcoming your fear of public speaking, and dramatically improving your presentation skills.

Rehearse with your visual aids, even on a crowded airplane. Here’s how: Days before your presentation, make 8 ½” x 11” copies of your slides, and numbered in order. Carry them with you in a plastic jacket. This will be very beneficial if you’re not able to practice with your actual slides. It will serve as a quick reference in that you’ll be able to familiarize yourself with the material even on an airplane. Not only will it minimize 75% of your nervousness, but it will help prevent you from reading what’s on your slides. When giving your presentation, have these numbered “cheat sheets” out on a table or podium in front of you. You want to be able to glance down at them to see what slide comes next, and then look back up at your audience. Think of your visual aids as “fast food for the eyes.”

Do the same type of “rehearsal” with your handouts. Whether you handout is one sheet or an entire workbook, make sure you know exactly what is on the pages and in what order. Your audience will know whether or not you are prepared and rehearsed. Remember, rehearsing works partly because you are “rehearing” your presentation.

November 13, 2005

You are free to reprint or repost this article for use in your newsletters, association publications, or intranet provided Colleen Kettenhofen's contact information (name, website, and email) is included with the article. Colleen Kettenhofen is a Phoenix, Arizona motivational speaker, trainer, & co-author of "The Masters of Success ," featured on NBC's Today Show, along with Ken Blanchard and Jack Canfield. For free articles, video clips, and e-newsletter, visit http://www.ColleenSpeaks.com. Colleen's area of expertise are leadership, managing people, life balance, difficult people, presentation skills. Colleen is available for keynotes, breakout sessions and seminars.

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