Giving a presentation

• An effective introduction to the presentation reduces nervousness.

• Practise with familiar people or in front of the mirror.

• Visualise the presentation in a positive way. When preparing, imagine that you will be successful in the presentation.

• Assess your communication and rhetorical skills realistically, but above all, also favourably. Avoid a sweeping negative self-judgement.
  
  

• Adopt an upright, open posture and take up enough space for it.

• Use deep abdominal breathing, speak slowly and take your time.

• Breathe before you start speaking.

• Use different everyday situations as opportunities to practise (e.g. also dare to take time and space or speak up in a circle of friends).

• You may even find the attention and positive feedback from the audience a bit of fun. Enjoy!
   

• Even before you start speaking – look at your audience.
  
  
• Making contact with the audience helps to understand reactions better.
  
  
• Everyone in the audience wants to feel addressed.
   

• Try to endure the silence instead of filling pauses with «ums». 
  
  
• The pauses will not seem as long to the audience as they do to you; they will even appreciate them.
   

• This can be particularly successful with a personal reference to the topic right at the beginning of the presentation.
  
  
• Not only can your enthusiasm be contagious, but it can have a positive effect on the whole dynamic of the presentation.
   

• Preparation is the basis of a successful presentation. The better your preparation, the better your presentation will be.
  
  
• Plan your time. Think about when you want to prepare what and don't spend the time learning by heart. Ideally, of course, you should be interested in the topic Start researching, reading up on the topic, brainstorming and drawing a mind map. Only now is it time to structure: What is the central idea? What do you want the audience to take away? Who are the listeners anyway? What is their level of knowledge?
  
  
• Stick to «KISS» («keep it simple and smart») Keep reminding yourself of this principle while preparing. Then the presentation can be built up step by step.
  
  
• Write down keywords only. For your presentation script, it is best to write only key words on flashcards and not complete sentences so that you can speak freely. A4 paper is not as suitable because it makes the slightest tremor big.
  
  
• Then comes the most important thing: practise, practise, practise – in front of other people and alone out loud for yourself, that will help the most.
  
  
• Be there early. Shortly before the presentation, be sure to explore the room, check the projector connection and try out whether everything is working.
   

• A good introduction is the be-all and end-all and also helps you as a warm-up phase. The introduction fulfils the following three functions: 1. establishing contact. 2. arousing curiosity 3. providing orientation. Incidentally, stage fright is also reduced during the warm-up phase. But a certain amount of tension is good because it helps you to stay focused.
  
  
• Choose the right introduction from a variety of possibilities. Ask yourself how you can best win over the audience at the beginning and encourage them to think along with you. For example, would you like to start with an everyday experience, read out a quote, formulate a provocative thesis, ask a question, show a short film or a picture, or pick up on a current event?
  
  
• State the objectives of the presentation at the beginning. This helps the audience to assess the importance of the presentation and to avoid false expectations.
  
  
• Give the audience an overview of how your presentation will proceed. This is also an important first orientation for the audience.
  
  
• Always begin the first sentence after exhaling.
   

• The main part contains the message of the presentation. In it, you try to make your thought processes transparent.
  
  
• Visual aids serve as orientation, create surprise and can set priorities. They make a content more vivid by creating visual stimuli or making the connection to everyday life and practical experiences. If used at the right moment, they offer variety and help to deepen the content. This is how you keep the audience's attention. In addition, we can better retain what is conveyed via several sensory channels.
  
  
• It is best to put little text on the slides, illustrate a lot and speak as freely as possible (also with small cards). And remember, never pack too much into a presentation - concentrate on the essentials. Think about what basic idea you want the audience to get.
   

• Presenting means communicating. You not only convey content, but also show yourself as a person – with posture, gestures, facial expression as well as speaking tempo, tone of voice and volume. Don't think about your body language during the presentation - but do think about it during preparation.
  
  
• Don't stay in the same place all the time, move around. Having flashcards or a felt-tip pen in your hand can help if you don't know where to put your hands. Stand with both feet on the floor and keep looking around.
  
  
• Choose three people from the audience that you like. Preferably on the left, in the middle and on the right. Then let your gaze wander back and forth between those people. This makes it seem as if you are looking at everyone in the audience. You yourself, however, will feel as if you are only talking to these three people.
   

• Nervousness is a fact of life: your audience knows that too. As a speaker, you are usually much more aware of your nervousness than your audience is. In addition, your inner restlessness often subsides after a few minutes of speaking, so that you can concentrate better again.
  
  
• Practicing is an important strategy for overcoming nervousness. Once you have decided on the content of your presentation, present it to someone in private. This person does not need to be an expert. Their job is to give you feedback on how you come across in general. In addition, ask one or two fellow students to pay particular attention to the content, but also the comprehensibility and style of your presentation. They can also give you valuable feedback.
  
  
• A certain amount of confidence during the first few minutes of the presentation helps to deal with nervousness. It also makes it easier for the audience to get into the topic. Therefore, pay special attention to the start of the presentation.
  
  
• Have a glass of water ready and make sure your breathing is calm.
  
  
• At the top of this webpage you will find more specific tips for dealing with nervousness. If needed, please also see our books and links below, as well as our workshop on «Giving a presentation».
   

• Give notice of the end of your presentation in good time. In the closing phase of a presentation, it is important to communicate that you are approaching the end of your presentation so that the audience can prepare for it and think about it.
  
  
• Briefly summarise the most important points again and go into the essentials. You can also clarify the sequence of events again and indicate that the presentation will soon be over.
  
  
• Give your audience the opportunity to ask questions. Wait a moment to see if a question comes before thanking the audience, saying goodbye and packing up. Much like it is with actors, your body tension will only ease once the curtain has fallen: Your talk, and hence your role as speaker, is not over until you are back in your seat.
   

Please see below our web offers on the topics «Stress management», «Relaxation and exercise» or «Mindfulness and meditation», which may be useful when preparing a presentation:

• Universities of Berne Counselling Centre – Avoiding stress
• Universities of Berne Counselling Centre –Relaxation and exercise
• Universities of Berne Counselling Centre –Mindfulness and Meditation

The Austrian Student Psychological Counselling Service also offers helpful information and tips for preparing a presentation:

• Studierendenberatung Österreich – Coping with studies – Giving a Presentation

Please also note the «10 features of a really good presentation» from the German student platform «Studybees»:

• Studybees – 10 features of a really good presentation (in German) 
   

You want to convince your audience, but you are very nervous? Everyone is familiar with this situation! Ulla Beushausen explains what speaking anxiety is, how it manifests itself and how it can be overcome:

• U. Beushausen: «Speaking Safely & Freely. Successfully reduce speaking anxiety.» Munich: Reinhardt Verlag, 2017 (German)

The fear of speaking in front of other people is widespread, especially at universities. It is also a burden for many at work. Ursula Steinbuch shows how to deal with speech anxiety constructively and how to reduce it step by step:

• U. Steinbuch: «Getting the Speech Out. Getting through your studies without speech anxiety.» Frankfurt: Campus, 3rd ed. 2005 (German)

Both books can be borrowed from the library of our Counselling Centre:

• Universities of Bern Counselling Centre – Library