From Good to Great: Elevating Your Presentation Skills

This is a quick take on another critical skill for business analysts and other professionals in product development. As you create your deliverables you always need to keep it at the back of your mind that you may need to present it to someone at some point. Presentation skills are essential for effectively communicating our findings, ideas, recommendations and proposals to stakeholders.

With most peoples schedules, and decreasing interest in reading loads of text and bullet points, I’ve learned to keep my presentations short and visual. There are loads of sites where you can download really great presentation templates to add that extra kick to your presentations.

“The audience are likely to remember only three things from your presentation or speech”
― Stephen Keague, The Little Red Handbook of Public Speaking and Presenting

Getting your Presentations Right

Here are some key points to consider when preparing and delivering presentations:

1. Know your audience: It’s important to tailor your presentation to your audience. Consider their needs, goals, and level of expertise. This will help you choose the right tone, level of detail, and type of content to include.
2. Use visual aids: Visual aids, such as charts, graphs, and images, can help illustrate your points and make your presentation more engaging. Use them sparingly and make sure they are clear and easy to understand.
3. Practice: Practice your presentation before delivering it to ensure that you are comfortable and confident. This will also help you identify any areas that need improvement or clarification.
4. Be enthusiastic and engaging: Use rhetorical questions and anecdotes, to engage your audience and keep their attention. Encourage participation by asking for feedback and allowing time for questions.
5. Use a clear structure: Use an outline or a slide deck to structure your presentation. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you cover all the key points.

By following these tips, you can develop strong presentation skills that will help you communicate effectively as a business analyst.