![\"interviewwoman\"](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/interviewwoman.jpg\")
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2. Use media<\/h3>\n
Starting your presentation can be the most difficult bit.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re tongue-tied, stumbling over words and your heart is beating so fast.<\/p>\n
Give yourself the opportunity to collect yourself by using some form of media early on in the presentation.<\/p>\n
Begin your presentation with a quick introduction to who you are and what the presentation is about (use a title slide and a \u2018What I\u2019ll cover\u2019 slide, for example) and then incorporate a media break.<\/p>\n
Use video, music, an infographic – whatever, as long it\u2019s suitable and on-topic, use any form of media that allows you to have a breather and recover from that all too familiar fear of public speaking.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/b> so here we are again – biting your lips and fumbling with your hands as you wait to open your presentation for the HR role.<\/p>\n
Your presentation is on conflict management, a fairly sensitive topic, which you\u2019ll want to get right. But don\u2019t sweat it; simply introduce yourself and your specific presentation details\/content, then bring in an attention-consuming piece of useful media.<\/p>\n
In our case, it could be a funny clip of workplace conflict from a TV Program such as The Office* – this will lighten the mood and create a talking point. You\u2019ll be back in the driver\u2019s seat, and you\u2019ll be surprised by how quickly those nerves calmed down.<\/p>\n
*Disclaimer:<\/em> implement with appropriateness! Only you can decide on what sort of media will be acceptable to use in your situation, so think about this one carefully.<\/p>\n Feeling a little more confident?<\/p>\n Create a memorable moment by temporarily presenting without the aid of a prompt.<\/p>\n Open your presentation with conviction by using a blank slide as your second slide.<\/p>\n Why?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve introduced yourself and the topic of your presentation, most people will expect a thoroughly professional delivery from there on in.<\/p>\n Surprise them; switch the attention to you, shatter expectations, disrupt conventional presentation practice and display clear confidence in your ability to speak independently.<\/p>\n Using such a brave tactic will help in stimulating and retaining interest in your presentation throughout, and perhaps keep you top of mind when the employer is making a selection decision.<\/p>\n It will also show your potential employer just how much you know about the topic at hand.<\/p>\n Example:<\/b> Conflict solving requires someone with a calm temperament and an almost instinctive ability to thoroughly – and empathetically – understand the issues faced by people other than yourself.<\/p>\n Show that you\u2019re able to remain calm under scrutiny with all eyes in the room on you and truly understand a topic without any form of prompt using this tactic.<\/p>\n Head over to our\u00a0Business Skills Course Library<\/a>\u00a0and browse available courses from\u00a0Presentation Skills Training<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0Leadership and Management Training<\/a>. All courses are fully online so you can complete them at your own pace, on your commute or in the comfort of your own home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Presentations can sometimes be a little boring to watch and listen to.<\/p>\n That\u2019s no fault of your own; one person talking for a prolonged period of time is not a normal situation – how often does that\u00a0actually happen in everyday life?<\/p>\n Engaging your audience during a presentation is a common problem that is widely discussed.\u00a0I won\u2019t go into it here as that\u2019s not the core purpose of this post.<\/p>\n (This post from American Express details\u00a0nine simple tips for preparing an engaging presentation<\/a> if you\u2019re interested).<\/p>\n So what props should I use?<\/i><\/b> Think what you can use\/bring that will be both relevant and add value to your presentation.<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t think of anything, then don\u2019t bother – this tip will only work in set situations.<\/p>\n Example:<\/b> For your conflict resolution presentation, you could bring in something that will create a talking point and engage your audience.<\/p>\n In this situation, we\u2019ll go with a newspaper – you could start a debate about a widely discussed controversial topic, and use this quick exercise as an illustration of how you\u2019re able to apply your conflict solving ability in any circumstance.<\/p>\n It\u2019s natural to be concerned about freezing and making mistakes in the presentation that you\u2019re preparing for.<\/p>\n If that were to occur, it\u2019d be likely to happen at or near the beginning of your presentation when your emotions are at their highest.<\/p>\n To ease those nerves and open in a calm and confident manner, it might be advisable to use content that you know inside-out – that way, you\u2019ll feel more secure in the first few minutes of your delivery.<\/p>\n Once you’ve sailed effortlessly through that first part of the presentation, you’ll find the remainder of your content will flow just as easily now that you’ve settled those self-doubts.<\/p>\n Example:<\/b> Your presentation on workplace conflict is expected to last 20 minutes – that\u2019s a lot of content to get through!<\/p>\n Before you find yourself scrambling for the right words, simply introduce yourself and the topic of your presentation, then start with something such as:<\/p>\n A presentation is all about you.<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be though.<\/p>\n By introducing an activity for your audience to get involved in, you can take the spotlight off you temporarily, and seize a rare opportunity to connect with your audience in a candid manner.<\/p>\n It\u2019s pleasing just how much this strategy can reduce tension when starting your interview presentation. Once you\u2019re able to start a dialogue with your audience, the unnatural situation becomes significantly more manageable.<\/p>\n Example:<\/b> Well, you could make this one real interesting. Why not initiate a role play of a common workplace conflict, and then show the potential employers how you would deal with said conflict?<\/p>\n This is a fun exercise that shows your ability to apply the knowledge that you possess and will hopefully put your potential employers in a better mood for the rest of your delivery!<\/p>\n All of the techniques I\u2019ve outlined above could be applied to almost any interview situation in which a presentation is required – now it\u2019s over to you to get creative with how you\u2019re going to actually implement these ideas!<\/p>\n In writing this post I made a conscious effort to consider different personality types in the interview presentation opening tips that I have suggested.<\/p>\n But these actionable methods represent only a very small proportion of ideas that you can utilise for making a lasting impression in your interview presentation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Opening a presentation is the most difficult part, especially in a pressurising interview situation – so how do you settle those nerves and start strongly?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":4672,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[65,74],"class_list":["post-4668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-business-fundamentals","tag-career-development"],"acf":{"schema_disabled":false,"schema_properties_FAQPage_question_answer":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_tools":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_supplies":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_steps":null,"schema_properties_WebPage_cssSelector":null,"schema_sameAs_repeater":null,"schema_custom_json_repeater":null,"schema_custom_json_override":false},"yoast_head":"\n![\"using_media_presentation\"](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/using_media_presentation.jpg\")
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\n3. All eyes on you<\/h3>\n
![\"expert](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/expert-tip-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/div>\nNeed a Course?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n4. Incorporate props<\/h3>\n
![\"using_props_interview_presentation\"](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/using_props_interview_presentation.jpg\")
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\n5. Start with something you know<\/h3>\n
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![\"presentation_delivery_interview\"](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/presentation_delivery_interview.jpg\")
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\n6. Engage your audience with an activity<\/h3>\n
![\"presentation_interview\"](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/presentation_interview1.jpg\")
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\nFurther Resources:<\/h3>\n
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