Many students have to give presentations at university, whether summarising reading in a seminar or delivering the results of an experiment. It’s natural to feel nervous about this kind of situation.

However, a positive attitude can help. In the lead-up to your presentation, try to keep a clear head.

1. Know Your Topic

A great presentation starts with a topic that interests you. If you are not passionate about the subject matter, it will be difficult to capture the audience’s attention.

Ensure that your research is thorough, and you have a good understanding of the topic you are presenting. This will help you to create a well-organized body of your presentation. Each section should seamlessly connect to the next, leaving no holes in your information.

2. Know Your Audience

Knowing your audience allows you to tailor your presentation to their interests and knowledge level. This will keep them engaged and make it more likely that they will remember your key points.

Getting to know your audience includes learning demographic information such as age, gender, and education. It also includes understanding their backgrounds and experiences.

3. Know Yourself

When you’re presenting, your confidence level comes from within. Ensure you’re feeling confident by doing something that makes you feel good, such as listening to an empowering song, practising yoga or talking to friends and family.

Avoid putting too much pressure on yourself by not memorising your presentation. Memorising stifles creativity and robs you of the opportunity to be spontaneous. Rather, prepare the outline of your presentation and practice.

4. Know Your Materials

As a presenter you must know your materials, including visuals. Make sure you can answer questions that your friends might have about the content and data you are presenting.

Use slides as visual support and not to replace your presentation. Avoid using excessive text, as this causes the audience to read the material instead of listening to you speak. Use clear, concise bullet points.

5. Know Your Message

It is important to know what the audience will be expecting from your presentation. This information can help you shape your overall message and focus.

You may also want to consider what questions you will expect to be asked, especially if the presentation is followed by a question and answer session. This information will help you prepare and practice your answers.

6. Know Your Audience’s Needs

Your audience’s needs will determine how much background information you will need to provide. Gauge their familiarity with the topic to ensure your presentation adds value.

Ask your friends and colleagues to help you anticipate questions that may be asked during your presentation. Then, prepare appropriate responses. This will prevent you from being caught off guard and looking unprepared. It will also keep your audience engaged and interested.

7. Know Your Audience’s Learning Styles

It can take a few seconds to regain your audience’s attention after they lose focus. During this time, they can shift their attention to their phones, other audience members, or daydreaming.

Knowing your audience’s learning styles is important for ensuring that your presentation will be engaging for everyone. Most people have a combination of learning styles, so incorporating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements in your presentations is ideal.

8. Know Your Audience’s Priorities

Identify key decision-makers and influencers in your audience to tailor your presentation to their needs. This ensures that your presentation is relevant and impactful.

It’s also important to know how much your audience knows about the topic. This can help you determine how much technical jargon to include. For example, if your audience is comprised of IT professionals, you may want to include more technical details in your presentation.

9. Know Your Audience’s Priorities

When giving presentations, it is important to know your audience’s priorities. This will allow you to tailor your presentation to meet their needs and interests.

For example, if you are presenting to a boardroom of stakeholders, it is useful to identify who the key decision-makers are in order to prioritize your message. This will help ensure that your presentation is effective and relevant.

10. Know Your Audience’s Needs

The time of day, the environment in which your presentation is delivered, and how much your audience knows about your topic may impact their ability to concentrate. You should know as much as possible about your audience in advance.

This will allow you to tailor your message and ensure that your audience can relate. This will make your presentation more effective and memorable.