As a Life Sciences contractor, are you tasked with making presentations?
Could you use some tips to help with your current presentation style?
As part of LSC’s consultant success programme we run soft skills courses throughout the year to help our consultants advance their careers in the Life Sciences industry!
Recently we hosted a workshop with a focus on presentation skills in response to high demand from our team of consultants.
Here’s some feedback from our Learning & Development Coordinator Gina O’ Brien following the event:
“Effective presentation skills are a valuable life skill which can help us all in our careers to build personal confidence, make communication easier and build rapport with colleagues and clients. Below are our top tips following the workshops on how to engage your audience when presenting”
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Tailor your presentation to suit your audience, they’re taking time out to listen, know and be clear what’s in it for them?
ENGAGE
Connect with your audience, make eye contact, address by name where possible, be relatable!
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Stick to the 5 x 5 rule – 5 words per line and 5 bullet points max! People can’t read and listen at the same time. Use a visual to anchor your presentation.
HAVE A HOOK
You have 45 seconds to make an impact – Think of the key message you want your audience to take away and how you’re going to get their buy in!
TAKE INSPIRATION
From previous presenters that won you over! What made their presentation stand out and can you incorporate elements of this into yours?
BE CREATIVE
Don’t consistently edit your last saved presentation – this stops creativity!
CHECK YOUR BODY LANGUAGE
This creates more impact than the words you use and your tone of voice.
SPEND TIME PREPARING
Plan your message, know your audience, stick to your timings and be confident!
If you want to find out more about how we support our team of consultants at LSC click below to read about our Consultant Success Programme!
Here are some useful links if you’re looking for presentation tools and templates:
presentermedia.com
slidehunter.com
sparkol.com
This blog was written by Gina O’ Brien, LSC’s Learning & Development Coordinator
