Presentations – Top Ten Tips

Like most of my tips articles this article will sometimes seem to state the obvious be believe me, these are all mistakes I’ve seen made in presentations by eminent speakers!

  1. Do make sure you have not only prepared what you want to say but also practiced saying it, preferably to a small audience (family and/or friends). That way you will ensure your talk doesn’t run over time (or come in under time which can also be embarrassing!)
  2. Know what’s expected of you – make sure know how much time you’ve got, whether that includes question time, whether the preferred format is questions throughout or at the end etc.
  3. If possible know your audience – what questions might they ask? Are they likely to be for or against the points you’re making in your talk?
  4. Do use slides but don’t use PowerPoint as a crutch! Use the slides to show key points in a succinct format rather than showing your talk word for word!
  5. Don’t paste graphs or diagrams into PowerPoint without checking that they will actually be readable as a slide.
  6. Aim for about one slide for every two to three minutes of speech, or even less, unless your presentations is particularly visual e.g. on an arts subject
  7. Keep any slides you do use uncluttered.
  8. Don’t overuse animation – words ‘flying’ in from above, one side etc. Some of this can be very effective but too much is distracting and irritating to the audience
  9. Try to use slides more imaginatively than just bullet-pointing what you’re saying, although within limits such bullets can be a useful summary.
  10. Make sure you know what audio-visual equipment will be available at the venue you’re speaking at and how they want you to bring presentation materials e.g. CD, floppy, email in advance, on your own laptop

How To Present A Speaker To The Audience

For most of the time, the host will have to do some introductory speeches before the motivational speaker can go out and play to the stage. It is important that he knows the background and history of the guest in order that the audience can form some idea with regards to the person that will about to enter the scene. A good introduction will properly introduce the speaker and if the achievements of the speaker are good enough, the people will trust him on the spot and it will be a smooth sailing for the guest. And so, the host will have to prepare his introductory speeches beforehand for the best outcome.

If there’s a handing out of invitations before the actual event, it will be a good idea to include the name of the motivational speaker together with some of his top achievements in order to give the invitees some idea regarding what to expect later on. It may even change the mind of those who are not interested with the actual event in case they are a fan of the speaker and are eager to see and listen to what he will say. So, if there’s enough space on the invitation cards, it is recommended to place the name of the speaker on it.

In presenting a speaker to a sports teams or other certain group of people that longs for motivational and inspirational speeches, it is always a good idea to explain why they must listen to him. The host can tell a short story of the speaker’s success, possibly some sort of tale with regards to his journey from nothing to abundance or from nothing to publicity. This will surely inspire a nice percentage from the group and in turn, they will trust what the speaker has about to say.

In conclusion, presenting the speaker to the audience can be done in a lot of ways. Some requires planning a few days before in order to yield the ideal outcome. But, nevertheless, the most important of all is to know all the details about the guest. This is because if the host doesn’t have any idea about the speaker, he will only be able to give out an introductory speeches that are in general and although this is not that bad, it will certainly bore a lot of people because speeches that are in general are typically boring and uninteresting.

Learning the Art and Skill of Real Estate Negotiations

No skill better commands a higher gain than the art of negotiating. Whether you’re a real estate investor, lawyer, businessman, teacher or housewife even, negotiations are an integral part of living and are most definitely keys to success. Talk to a range of successful individuals and you’ll see that, for the most part, they have mastered the negotiating skill and can usually work things in their favor.

Not all people know how to negotiate but this skill can be learned by the person who has the willingness to study it. Coupled with the drive to succeed and a zest for learning, the individual who wishes to expand his horizons can open his doors to very fruitful real estate negotiations and deals that can change his life for the better. Not everyone is easy to deal with; hence, the art of negotiating will always come in handy as a person walks through the journey of life.

The art of negotiating is more complex than it seems. A successful negotiation is one wherein both parties can actually gain something of value. When one party loses while the other one wins, then the wrong negotiating tactics must have been employed. Good deals should always benefit both parties, as there may come a point in time when the person you’re dealing with, can greatly help you in the future.

Take the case of a real estate investor who wishes to sell a property and a buyer who is looking for a house to live in. This investor would most probably want to sell the house at a high price while the buyer would want quality and value for money. A give and take scenario will make both parties win in this situation. The real estate investor can command a high price if the house he is selling is in tip-top shape and in superb condition. The investor profits from the deal while the buyer gets the house of his dreams.

While negotiations are much more evident in real estate and business deals, they are unconsciously done every day. You do it when you’re haggling for the best deal on a second-hand car. You also do it when you’re having a job interview and want to be paid well for your expertise. It is a MUST-HAVE skill that people should learn. When done well, negotiating can translate into profits and a truly comfortable life.

Some individuals learn how to negotiate the right way when exposed to people from all walks of life. A career that allows a person to meet plenty of people greatly helps improve one’s negotiating strategies as well as readings good books and attending seminars about it. Online seminars are fantastic ways to learn the skill as these e-courses can be studied at a person’s own time and pace. There are plenty of resources in which one can learn the art of negotiating on the internet and all it takes is a considerable amount of time and dedication.

Even if you try to avoid it, negotiations are the real deal in getting what you want and providing a good future for your family. Once you learn the art of negotiating, it is a skill that you’ll always have for the rest of your life. It most certainly gives you a better advantage in whatever situation you’re in.