Perfect Presentation Skills - Nature or Nurture?

By Dominic Donaldson

Presentation skills can be applied in so many areas of everyday life: the way we look, the way we conduct ourselves, the way we present our ideas to others. In business these skills are particularly important. Creating the right impression, getting your message across clearly and with conviction and making an impact can all mean the difference between winning and losing business, or progressing your career and getting stuck where you are.

So, strong presentation skills are vital to success, but can everybody pull off a great presentation? Of course some people appear more naturally skilled than others at public speaking - perhaps due to greater confidence and lots of practice in communicating - but even the most shy and unconfident people can learn to present well. Equally, those who already present effectively can always improve with further training and coaching, perhaps to hone specific areas.

So what is involved in becoming an effective presenter? Standing in front of people, managing to string together the basics of a pitch or presentation is one thing but will staff, colleagues or clients remember what you were saying at the end of your presentation? Have you left your audience full of enthusiasm for your idea or needing a strong coffee to wake up? Do they have confidence in you?

A successful, impactful presentation is built on a whole suite of factors. Opening with a bang, using the right body language, maintaining eye contact, varying your tone, signposting and using relevant and engaging language, anecdotes and examples all make a difference. And of course there are plenty of things you can do to control those pesky nerves.

Presenting, however confident a person you are, can be a very daunting task. A well rehearsed presentation can be put in jeopardy due to the onset of nerves. Whether public speaking or presenting in front of friends, colleagues or complete strangers, an element of nerves is natural. The fear of embarrassment, making yourself look stupid or not making sense are all normal human emotions which, with the correct training can actually be harnessed in order to improve your presentation.

Modelling can be a great way to improve presentation skills. Carefully observing and analysing what good presenters do and then emulating those techniques can be a powerful way to improve your own skills.
In conclusion, yes some people do have a stronger natural talent for presenting and engaging an audience. But the good news is that everyone can improve and give a great presentation if they know what it is that makes a difference and how to apply the techniques. And if they”re given opportunities to practise and receive helpful and personalised feedback. The potential for progress is enormous and the rewards to be reaped both for your business and personal life are worth the effort.

About The Author

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the communication skills sector.
Find out more about presentation skills and how to boost your confidence in your career at Speakfirst.