I hate giving presentations. I become very nervous beforehand and never know what to say. Do you have any advice? Anonymous

Creating and delivering an effective presentation requires a basic understanding of the communication process.
It is human nature to assume that when we communicate we are doing so effectively, and that if anything goes
wrong consequently then the responsibility for that must rest with the recipient.

A typical two-way communication consist of six steps

A presenter speaks to an audience. Therefore we have:
What the presenter thinks they say;
What they actually say;
What the audience thinks they say.

None of these are necessarily the same and three chances already exist for a breakdown in communication.

As a result of what a recipient hears, they may make a reply, giving:
What they think they say;
What they actually say;
What the presenter thinks they say.

When the opportunities for mis-communication are considered you may view it as surprising how often communication works without a problem

Planning: be absolutely clear on the aim of the presentation - have clearly identifiable parts - an introduction(10%), followed by a main body (80%) and finally a conclusion (10%) -

Research : ensure you have researched your topic thoroughly as quiet often you may be asked question during the presentation

Practice - rehearse in front of an imaginary audience and better still practice in front of a live audience of other willing students.
Carry out at least one full rehearsal of your presentation, pace, pause, volume and clarity when speaking in public, and avoiding the overuse of aura punctuation, hesitation and verification

Tools: Index note cards - Diagrams - Black/white board - over head projector - computer presentation software

Control your nerves: develop deeper and more relaxed breathing - adopt a more positive frame of mind, that will help you harness your nerves - it is normal to experience the following effects when speaking in public: your temperature is likely to increase, you may feel shaky and your respiration rate may increase making you feel stressed and panicky.
It can help to visualize an enthusiastic audience, that is reacting positively to your presentation. Remember the audience are likely to be interested in what you have to say and are unlikely to be hostile.

Body language: Eye contact with the audience is an essential part of any presentation - don't grow roots - ideally stand with your feet close together and your weight evenly distributed between them. Let your hand movements occur naturally and spontaneously

Stay in control: It is important to reiterate the main points of your presentation in your concluding remarks. When answering questions, address the entire audience and avoid getting into a protracted debate on any specific issue. The key to a successful presentation is to remain calm and composed, deal with situations as they arise and hold the interest of the audience.