Text 1. Effective business presentation skills

Presentations skills and public speaking skills are very useful in many aspects of work and life. Effective presentations and public speaking skills are important in business, sales and selling, training, teaching, lecturing and generally entertaining an audience. Developing the confidence and capability to give good presentations, and to stand up in front of an audience and speak well, are also extremely helpful competencies for self-development too. Presentations and public speaking skills are not limited to certain special people - anyone can give a good presentation, or perform public speaking to a professional and impressive standard. Like most things, it simply takes a little preparation and practice.The formats and purposes of presentations can be very different, for example: oral (spoken), multimedia (using various media - visuals, audio, etc), powerpoint presentations, short impromptu presentations, long planned presentations, educational or training sessions, lectures, and simply giving a talk on a subject to a group on a voluntary basis for pleasure.

Presentation skills relate to how you prepare, write, rehearse and deliver your presentation. Developing your presentation skills can help you deliver your presentation with better clarity and confidence.

Effective Business Presentation skill is one of the most important leadership and management skills. Your ability to communicate your ideas, inventions and messages will help you lead and manage your team, followers or audience.

According to research, the importance and value of any Effective Business Presentation skills relies upon the following factors:

7% for WHAT is being presented

40% for WHO is presenting

53% of HOW s/he presents

In order for you to be a good presenter, you need to learn the good presentation skills techniques. Effective business presentation skills also require that you design your presentation before you deliver it.

Effective business presentation skills require that you exhibit confidence and relaxed. Your good preparation and rehearsal of your presentation reduces your nerves tension and helps you avoiding errors. So, in order to acquire the above mentioned presentation skills techniques, you need to plan your presentation.You need to keep in mind that 60% of your presentation is read from your body language.

You need to grab the attention of your audience within the first 3-5 minutes. Otherwise, you will notice that they star staining at everything in the room except you. Most likely, they will start thinking about their love lives, problems, next things to do when they leave. Leaving is something they will all try to do, but feel bad to leave you alone in the room.

The following are good presentation plan guidelines for Effective Business Presentation skills. Good and professional presentation skill techniques require you to:

a). Understand the audience background and motivation to attend. Consider the following questions and possible answers:

· Know what turns on your audience?

· Do they like the subject or not?

· Are they pro or against the presentation content in general?

· Are they the decision makers or decision influencers?

· How much do they know about the subject of your presentation?

· What are their motives to attend your presentation: is it a day off the office or are they coming to make a decision about what you are trying to sell?

· Are they innovators or conservatives against your idea being presented?

· What is their background or education: can they understand your language or jargons? There is no point to present in English to a Japanese executive if his English language skill is limited!

· Are their local customs prejudges against your race?

· Who is the key decision maker in the audience?

b). Use the most effective audio and visual aids.

c). Make your objectives practical, clear, direct, precise and positive.

d). Organize the data to be presented in a clear sequence that is persuasive.

e). Plan the audience sitting/room, if possible.

f). Show confidence while presenting to the audience.

g). Control your body language in its movements, gestures and other non-verbal elements of communication.

h). Handle questions and their responses in a professional manner.

i). Rehearse the presentation.

j). Grab the attention of the audience by delivering a unique presentation opening and certain gestures such as jokes, interesting example etc.

v Task 3. Find English equivalents to the following words and phrases: