Appendix

Presentation Skills Checklists

Body Language

Warm up and stretch out before your presentation.
Remember that you begin communicating with your audience as soon as you become visible to them.
Before you begin speaking, (1) get where you need to go, (2) claim your space, and (3) connect with your audience.
Maintain an upright and relaxed posture. Imagine that a string is attached to your sternum, pulling you up toward the ceiling.
When seated for a presentation, avoid leaning back in your chair or forward on a table, and try not to fiddle with your pen or other objects.
When standing, distribute your weight evenly toward the balls of your feet.
Avoid pacing, swaying, handwringing, or other movements that will distract the audience from your message.
Stay open to your natural impulses to move.

Look your listeners in the eye.
Read your audience’s responses and react accordingly.
Don’t stare.
Avoid making only general sweeps of the audience.
Avoid rushing from one face to the next.
If you need to refer to notes you are holding, hold them up high enough that you can glance at them without having to drop your head much.
When you don’t need to refer to notes, don’t.
Practice making eye contact in your daily life.

Warm up your voice.
Speak loudly enough that the people in the back of the venue can hear you.
Articulate so that your words are clear and easily understood.
If something is worth saying, then say it like you mean it.
Speak at a pace that allows your listeners to digest what you are saying.
Vary your tone, pace, and volume.
In general, use upward inflections for questions and downward inflections for statements.
Remember that silence can be powerful; use it to your advantage.
Avoid fillers such as um or uh.
Breathe deeply from your diaphragm; breathe as often as you like.

Know your audience.
Know your objectives.
Understand your topic well and find something in it that matters to you.
Engage your audience immediately.
Organize your talk logically, making it easy to follow.
Develop your ideas with vivid examples and details.
If you can say something in fewer words, do so.
In your conclusion, emphasize the most important points of your message. Finish with confidence.

Ask yourself whether you really need presentation materials.
Remember that visual aids, speaker notes, and handouts all have different forms and functions.
Limit text in visual aids. If you do include text, keep it simple and easy to read.
Where appropriate, make use of graphical images in your visual aids.
Do not allow your visual aids or handouts to upstage you.
If you use speaker notes, make sure they are very concise and easy to read.
Maintain your connection to the audience. You should be their primary focus, and they should be yours.

Anticipate possible questions and prepare answers to them in advance of your presentation.
Listen carefully to questions and respond specifically to what is asked.
Ask for clarification if you need it.
Before you give an answer, make sure all of your listeners have heard the question; repeat the question if necessary.
If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so.
When answering a question, keep in mind the interests and needs of the entire audience, not just the questioner.
Remember that concise answers are usually the best answers.
Approach the Q&A session as an integral part of your presentation.

Remember that you are responsible for maintaining the focus of your presentation.
Let your audience know if interruptions are welcome.
If you are interrupted, assess the nature of the interruption and evaluate the audience’s reaction before responding.
Show proper respect for people who interrupt, but don’t be afraid to use a firm tone when necessary.
Be a responsible steward of your audience’s time.

Remember that posture matters, even on the phone, as it affects the quality of your voice.
Speak clearly, at a relaxed pace, and support your voice with energy and personality.
When placing or receiving calls, identify yourself right away.
Don’t ask for five minutes of someone’s time if you really intend to use ten.
Avoid using a speakerphone unnecessarily.
When using a speakerphone, tell your listeners if anyone else is in the room with you, don’t wander too far from the microphone, and if you use the mute button, use it carefully.
On a conference call, identify yourself when you speak if listeners might not know it’s you. Also, avoid talking over people, listen attentively, and don’t make distracting noises.
Make your outgoing voicemail greeting clear, concise, and polite. It should also be accurate and current.
When leaving a voicemail message, keep it brief and include your phone number, unless the recipient knows it by heart.