Presentation Delivery

This page looks at important aspects of delivery (as opposed to language) when giving a
presentation.

'Delivery' refers to the way in which you actually deliver or perform or give your presentation.
Delivery is a vital aspect of all presentations. Delivery is at least as important as content,
especially in a multi-cultural context.

Nerves
Most speakers are a little nervous at the beginning of a presentation. So it is normal if you are
nervous. The answer is to pay special attention to the beginning of your presentation. First
impressions count. This is the time when you establish a rapport with your audience. During this
time, try to speak slowly and calmly. You should perhaps learn your introduction by heart. After
a few moments, you will relax and gain confidence.

Audience Rapport
You need to build a warm and friendly relationship with your audience. Enthusiasm is
contagious. If you are enthusiastic your audience will be enthusiastic too. And be careful to
establish eye contact with each member of your audience. Each person should feel that you are
speaking directly to him or her. This means that you must look at each person in turn - in as
natural a way as possible. This will also give you the opportunity to detect signs of boredom,
disinterest or even disagreement, allowing you to modify your presentation as appropriate.

Body Language
What you do not say is at least as important as what you do say. Your body is speaking to your
audience even before you open your mouth. Your clothes, your walk, your glasses, your haircut,
your expression - it is from these that your audience forms its first impression as you enter the
room. Generally speaking, it is better to stand rather than sit when making a presentation. Be
aware of and avoid any repetitive and irritating gestures. Be aware, too, that the movement of
your body is one of your methods of control. When you move to or from the whiteboard, for
example, you can move fast or slowly, raising or reducing the dynamism within the audience.
You can stand very still while talking or you can stroll from side to side. What effect do you
think these two different approaches would have on an audience?

Cultural Considerations
Because English is so widely used around the world, it is quite possible that many members of
your audience will not be native English-speakers. In other words, they will not have an Anglo-
Saxon culture. Even within the Anglo-Saxon world, there are many differences in culture. If we
hypothetically imagine a German working for an Israeli company making a presentation in
English to a Japanese audience in Korea, we can see that there are even more possibilities for
cultural misunderstanding. You should try to learn about any particular cultural matters that may
affect your audience. This is one reason why preparation for your presentation is so important.
Cultural differences can also be seen in body language, which we have just discussed. To a Latin
from Southern France or Italy, a presenter who uses his hands and arms when speaking may
seem dynamic and friendly. To an Englishman, the same presenter may seem unsure of his
words and lacking in self-confidence.

Voice quality
It is, of course, important that your audience be able to hear you clearly throughout your
presentation. Remember that if you turn away from your audience, for example towards the
whiteboard, you need to speak a little more loudly. In general, you should try to vary your voice.
Your voice will then be more interesting for your audience. You can vary your voice in at least
three ways:

 speed: you can speak at normal speed, you can speak faster, you can speak more slowly -
and you can stop completely! You can pause. This is a very good technique for gaining
your audience's attention.
 intonation: you can change the pitch of your voice. You can speak in a high tone. You
can speak in a low tone.
 volume: you can speak at normal volume, you can speak loudly and you can speak
quietly. Lowering your voice and speaking quietly can again attract your audience's
interest.

The important point is not to speak in the same, flat, monotonous voice throughout your
presentation - this is the voice that hypnotists use to put their patients' into trance!

Visual aids
Of all the information that enters our brains, the vast majority of it enters through the eyes. 80%
of what your audience learn during your presentation is learned visually (what they see) and only
20% is learned aurally (what they hear). The significance of this is obvious:

 visual aids are an extremely effective means of communication

It is well worth spending time in the creation of good visual aids. But it is equally important not
to overload your audience's brains. Keep the information on each visual aid to a minimum - and
give your audience time to look at and absorb this information. Remember, your audience have
never seen these visual aids before. They need time to study and to understand them. Without
understanding there is no communication.

Apart from photographs and drawings, some of the most useful visual aids are charts and graphs,
like the 3-dimensional ones shown here:
Piecharts are circular in shape (like a pie).

Barcharts can be vertical (as here) or horizontal.

Graphs can rise and fall.

Audience Reaction
Remain calm and polite if you receive difficult or even hostile questions during your
presentation. If you receive particularly awkward questions, you might suggest that the
questioners ask their questions after your presentation.

We've looked at delivery. Now we'll move on to the language of presentations in English...

1. Presentations in English
2. Presentations: Introduction
3. Presentation Preparation
4. Presentation Equipment
5. Presentation Delivery
6. Presentation Language
7. The Presentation
8. Presentation Review
9. Presentation Test