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Understanding Your Impact
© GettyImages Make your presentations stand out. How do you feel when you have to make a presentation? Are you well prepared and relaxed, confident that your performance will have the desired impact on your audience? Or is the thought of standing on a podium, holding a microphone, enough to give you stage fright? Enjoy it or not, presenting – in some form – is usually a part of business. Whether you get up in front of formal audiences on a regular basis, or you simply have to make your voice heard in a meeting, you're using presentation skills. Many believe that good presenters are born, not made. This is simply not true. Sure, some people are more relaxed and comfortable speaking in front of others, but everyone can learn the skills and techniques they need to increase their level of confidence and performance when presenting. From sales pitches to training lectures, good presentation and public speaking skills are key to many influential roles in today's business world. The good news about presenting is that you can improve with practice. So do you have the skills you need to do a good job? And how effective are you when you have to "perform"? Take this short quiz to help you assess your skills. How Good Are Your Presentation Skills?InstructionsFor each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some questions seem to score in the "wrong direction." When you are finished, please click the "Calculate My Total" button at the bottom of the test. Your last quiz results are shown.You last completed this quiz on , at .
Becoming a Better PresenterEffective presentations are a mixture of a variety of elements. You have to know what your audience wants. You need to prepare good, interesting, engaging content. You must be confident in presenting the material, you have to know how to manage your environment successfully, and you need to make sure that your message has maximum impact. Balancing all four elements is no easy task. And, when combined with the natural anxiety often felt before giving presentations, it's no wonder that many people struggle with this skill. In fact, fear of public speaking is extremely common. Subscribe to Our NewsletterReceive new career skills every week, plus get our latest offers and a free downloadable Personal Development Plan workbook. Read our Privacy Policy However, you don't have to remain fearful and stressed by the thought of giving a presentation. With the right tools and material, along with planning and preparation, you can present with energy and confidence. Let's now look in detail at those four key elements of effective presentations:
(Questions 2, 5, 9) Your score is 0 out of 0 The success of most presentations is generally judged on how the audience responds. You may think you did a great job, but unless your audience agrees with you, that may not be the case. Before you even begin putting your PowerPoint slides together, the first thing you need to do is understand what your audience wants. Try following these steps:
When what you say is what your audience wants or needs to hear, then you'll probably receive positive reinforcement throughout your presentation. If you see nods and smiles, or hear murmurs of agreement, for example, then this will motivate you to keep going and do a great job. When your audience is satisfied, it doesn't matter if your delivery wasn't absolutely perfect. The primary goal of the people listening to your presentation is to get the information they need. When that happens, you've done a good job. Of course, you want to do a great job, not just a good job – and that's where the rest of the tips can help. (Questions 6, 11, 13, 14) Your score is 0 out of 0 The only way to satisfy your audience's needs and expectations is to deliver the content they want. That means understanding what to present, and how to present it. Bear in mind that if you give the right information in the wrong sequence, this may leave the audience confused, frustrated, or bored. If you provide the information in a well-structured format, and you include various techniques to keep the audience engaged and interested, then they'll probably remember what you said – and they'll remember you. There are a variety of ways to structure your content, depending on the type of presentation you'll give. Here are some principles that you can apply:
A special type of presentation is one that seeks to persuade. Monroe's Motivated Sequence, consisting of five steps, gives you a framework for developing content for this kind of presentation:
To brush up on your skills of persuasion, look at The Rhetorical Triangle. This tool asks you to consider your communication from three perspectives: those of the writer, the audience, and the context. It's a method that builds credibility, and ensures that your arguments are logical. (Questions 1, 4, 7, 10) Your score is 0 out of 0 Even the best content can be ineffective if your presentation style contradicts or detracts from your message. Many people are nervous when they present, so this will probably affect your delivery. But it's the major distractions that you want to avoid. As you build confidence, you can gradually eliminate the small and unconstructive habits you may have. These tips may help you:
(Questions 3, 4, 8, 12) Your score is 0 out of 0 While much of the outside environment is beyond your control, there are still some things you can do to reduce potential risks to your presentation.
Key PointsPresenting doesn't have to be scary, or something you seek to avoid. Find opportunities to practice the tips and techniques discussed above, and become more confident in your ability to present your ideas to an audience. We all have something important to say, and sometimes it takes more than a memo or report to communicate it. You owe it to yourself, and your organization, to develop the skills you need to present your ideas clearly, purposefully, engagingly, and confidently. Note:This assessment has not been validated and is intended for illustrative purposes only. It is just one of many that help you evaluate your abilities in a wide range of important career skills. Click here for other self-tests. Which of the following aspects of audience analysis is given emphasis when the speaker looks into the attitudes and beliefs of his or her audience?Psychographic analysis explores an audience's attitudes toward the speaker and topic. Situation analysis focuses on the physical environment in which you will be presenting and why the audiences attend.
What are the main aspects of audience analysis?Audience analysis involves identifying the audience and adapting a speech to their interests, level of understanding, attitudes, and beliefs. Taking an audience-centered approach is important because a speaker's effectiveness will be improved if the presentation is created and delivered in an appropriate manner.
What are the four aspects of audience analysis?4 components of a complete audience analysis. Demographics. Probably the most popular categories among marketers, demographics provide the foundations of a thorough audience evaluation. ... . Psychographics. ... . Prior knowledge. ... . Usage patterns.. What are the 3 types of audience analysis?There are three types of audience analysis: Demographic analysis. Psychographic analysis. Situational analysis.
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