Tip 203: Remove all accessories

Let's face it: for most people, giving a presentation is going to be a stressful experience.

Giving a presentation is a performance. A show. An act. A drama. The presenter is on display to the whole world as he or she bares all to reveal himself or herself to the audience.

The last thing you, as the presenter, need at this difficult time is anything that is going to get in the way of you giving your best performance.

You don’t really want any distractions right now.

You want to remove from your environment any obstacles or dangers that are not strictly needed.

With this in mind, this is a list of things which you can safely leave behind on your desk or in your bag when you are called to the podium:

• Mobile phone – it will ring or vibrate at the most inopportune moment. Anyway, were you planning to call for a pizza in the middle of your presentation?

• Watch – it will jingle or beep

• Pens – the time for writing notes is long gone

• Keys – are you going to open doors during your presentation?

• Coins – you will put your hands in your pockets and jingle your keys

• Credit cards – they will fall out of your pockets if you have to bend over to pick something up

• Sweets – they will melt with your body heat

• Chewing gum – why have an obstruction in your mouth while you are trying to make your voice heard across the room? You risk unwittingly projecting it at high speed towards an innocent member of the audience

• ID badge – your audience already knows exactly who you are. Anyway, no one can read your badge from a distance.

• Jewellery – you will nervously fidget with rings, necklaces or earrings when you are struggling with awkward questions or if there is a problem during your presentation.

The focus of your presentation is your message, which is important, interesting, relevant and useful. Taking any of these things to the podium with you can allow them to distract from you and your message.

More importantly, these are all familiar personal items which people rely on as comforters in a stressful situation. Grow above and beyond such a childish attachment and leave them behind. They are not needed for your presentation, and your presentation should be the only thing you and your audience should be thinking about at this time.

"Wow! This guide and handbook made a huge difference to my delegates at my online workshop. They loved everything we did. Thanks to Dr Mandar Marathe's book I developed my presentation skills quickly whilst enjoying all the new concepts and ideas this book offers in a very easy to read and practical manner.
 
All professional speakers, trainers and sales people should get a copy of this book!"
- Ash Ali, Online Marketing Expert & Founder of Sandalstore.co.uk

Table of contents
(Click to view sample pages from the book)

Introduction
About the author
How to use this book
Who needs this book?
Chapter 1: Planning for your presentation
Chapter 2: Preparing the delivery
Chapter 3: Preparing effective PowerPoint® slides
Chapter 4: Preparing a handout
Chapter 5: Rehearsals
Chapter 6: Just before the presentation
Chapter 7: Last-minute tips for confidence
Chapter 8: Delivering the presentation
Chapter 9: 'Any questions?'
Chapter 10: After the presentation
Chapter 11: Final Thoughts

About the author

Dr Mandar Marathe graduated from Southampton University with an honours degree in Biomedical Sciences in 1998 and a Bachelor of Medicine degree in 1999. He holds advanced qualifications in Emergency Medicine and in Toxicology.

He juggles a career as a doctor working in Accident & Emergency, while raising three children with his wife, writing books, and endlessly surfing the internet looking for the next "big thing".

With almost two decades of public speaking experience in both academic and professional arenas, he is today an enthusiastic and popular educator who is well qualified to share his ideas about what makes a successful speaker and a powerful presentation.

Dr Mandar Marathe is the course director for the FCEM Course.