# Delivering a great presentation

**Source**: https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/presenting-your-work/delivering-great-presentation/
**Parent**: https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/learning-at-university/

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# Delivering a great presentation

- [Developing oral presentations](https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/presenting-your-work/developing-oral-presentations/)
- [Practising your presentation](https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/presenting-your-work/practising-presentation/)
- [Delivering a great presentation](https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/presenting-your-work/delivering-great-presentation/)
- [Academic posters](https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/presenting-your-work/academic-posters/)

Learn how to showcase your research in a way that engages and captivates your audience.

## How to start your presentation

- Engage the audience – pause, smile, make eye contact.
- Practice a strong opening – slow and clear, with a good hook.
- Thank the previous speaker if you have been introduced.
- Be confident. Do not apologise, do not panic and be calm if you make a mistake.

## Make eye contact

Making eye contact helps with reading the audience – see how they react. Tips for eye contact with large groups:

- Treat your presentation like a series of five-second mini conversations.
- Avoid reading slides or notes.
- Avoid darting your eyes or swiveling your head.
- Avoid staring at a specific person for too long.
- Have a friend in the audience to give encouragement.

## Use body language

- Appropriate dress code – helps you feel confident and relaxed.
- Breathe – this helps you to relax.
- Posture – shoulders back, head up.
- Feet planted firmly on ground – do not sway or shift nervously.
- Make purposeful movements – hand gestures to emphasise words, point to draw attention to slides, slow pacing around stage if necessary to keep eye contact.
- Do not fidget – distracting, repetitive movements show your nerves.

## How to use your voice effectively

- Tone – placing stress or emphasis on key words.
- Pacing – do not talk too fast, slow down even further to emphasise important points.
- Pause – adds emphasis, lets you breathe, catch your thoughts, allows the audience to catch up.
- Do not mumble.
- Use confident statements – do not say things like ‘I guess you all know about …’
- Use a conversational style and tone.
- Aim for clear pronunciation.

## How to engage the audience

- Use voice and body language to keep attention on you.
- Use visual aids to support your story, not to tell it – do not let slides distract your audience.
- Include audience participation – rhetorical or non-rhetorical questions (you can just ask for a show of hands), short discussion with your partner.
- Watch audience reactions and adjust pace accordingly – e.g. a whispering audience may mean you need to clarify yourself.
- Try not to get distracted by latecomers or early leavers.

## How to respond to questions

- Listen carefully to understand the question – ask for clarification if you are unsure.
- Pause to think about your answer.
- Keep your answer brief – do not start a long discussion with one person.
- Offer to meet afterwards for more discussion.
- Be honest if you do not know the answer.

## How to deal with nerves

- Practice
- Be organised
- Know your content
- Get familiar with the technology and venue
- Dress appropriately
- Breathe
- Remember the audience is on your side
- Do positive visualisation
- Act confident even if you do not feel it
- Reframe your nerves as excitement

### Related topics

- [Time management](https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/key-study-skills/time-management/)
- [Reading effectively](https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/reading-effectively/in-depth/actively/)
- [Writing at university](https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/writing-effectively/at-university/)

### Workshops

- [Let’s Talk](https://auckland.campuslabs.com/engage/events?categories=19648)

See all [available workshops](https://auckland.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/tetumuherenga).

Have any questions?

[Ask us](https://www.forms.auckland.ac.nz/en/public/library/ask-us.html)