Public Speaking 101 - The Do's and Don'Ts of Giving a Presentation

First of all, I understand that the title to this article is not new because many authors have previously expressed their view on this topic. What makes this article original is that what I am sharing below is based on my own experience as a trainer for more than 10 years. In compiling the Do's and Don'ts lists below, I would also like to acknowledge all my mentors for their generous sharing of experience and techniques used in their own training.

Here is my Do's list:

• Find out whether the training is conducted in my own room or other people's room. If it is in other people's room, I will find out from the event organiser whether there are any specific requirements for the participants. I do not assume that my rules are their rules.

• Prepare my template by listing down the title to the presentation; a few enrolling questions to engage the participants at the very beginning; my personal story and the answer to the question "why am I qualified to give the presentation". Finally, I will also prepare a list of benefits my participants will receive out of the presentation based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ("MBTI") Model and/or the Extended DISC Model.

• Prepare my script and rehearse as many times as possible before the actual presentation. This is to ensure that the presentation flow would be smooth.

• Prepare the timetable and decide what kinds of group activities would be used in the presentation.

• Remind myself through visualisation technique that I will use empowering and positive language in my training at all times.

• Decide the marketing plan and opportunities for the participants who might be interested in my other programmes. I understand that many authors do not include this in their do's lists. I guess this is because they believe that they are only speakers and not information business entrepreneurs. According to my mentor, a speaker only speaks. An information business entrepreneur makes information sharing a business.

• Always acknowledge my participants for their participation and sharing. If applicable, I will also acknowledge the event organiser for its effort to organise the event and put my participants and me together.

• Make sure there are regular opportunities for the participants to do their review and revision in order to reinforce what they have learnt.

• Prepare a speech for delivering at the end of the training session as a proper closure.

Here is my Don'ts list:

• Do not use PowerPoint unless I am showing pictures and diagrams which require a certain degree of accuracy. Use flip charts as my main teaching tool instead.

• Do not conduct the training as a monologue. Instead, always look for opportunities to engage my participants by asking them questions.

• Do not show off. The training is not a forum to show how much I know on the topic I am teaching. It is my participants' show and I should let them shine.

• Do not mumble or speak too fast. A good trainer is someone who can communicate well with his participants. Speaking slowly and clearly will allow my participants to understand my messages.

• Do not let my participants' energy level go down because this would be detrimental to their learning. If needed, stop teaching immediately and perform stage change techniques. I will only resume the teaching when my participants are back to their original energy level.

• When dealing with questions from the participants, do not assume that I must answer all of them. Other participants might be able to answer some of these questions. I can take a step back and become the facilitator of the exchange of views between the participants.

• Avoid using judgemental comments or passing unnecessary remarks about my participants.

• Do not keep on teaching without giving breaks to my participants. I confess that I have been guilty of this for years.

I hope you will benefit from my Do's and Don'ts lists as discussed above. Visit my website as I have a lot of useful tips on public speaking. Please leave me with your comments on my website as I would love to hear from you too.