''You only get one chance to make a good first impression.''
This is particularly true in presenting. And your first impression happens before you start to speak.
1. Confident Stance.
Before you say anything, take your position and stand with confidence. That means: good posture. Stand straight, with your shoulders back, but also relaxed. Keep your head up (don't look at your feet or keep your eyes down).
Take a strong and stable foot position, with no rocking or shifting your weight from leg to leg. It's really easy. Practice a few dozen times (it only takes a moment to get into this position) over the next few days. Soon it will become natural for you and you won't even have to think about it.
2. Introduce Yourself With Your Eyes and Smile.
Again, do this before you start to speak.
Look at the audience with 'happy' eyes. Make direct eye contact (briefly) with a few specific members of the audience. If there are colleagues or friends in the group, make sure to make eye contact with them (this helps with stage fright: supportive looks from friends make you feel better).
Have a happy look on your face. Not a silly grin, but also not a frown or the look of fear.
3. Have Your Hands in a Strong Home Position.
I always say: people do the strangest things with their hands. Don't!
Again, before you start, put your hands in a strong and confident home position.
All of this only takes a few seconds. And now, after the attention grabbing pause, you are ready to start speaking.
4. Memorise Your First Two or Three Lines.
For presentations, I don't recommend memorisation.*
But do memorise your first few lines. This is the moment when your stage fright is at it's strongest. Having your first lines delivered easily and without having to think about it will boost your confidence. It also allows you to get into the rhythm of the presentation with no hiccups at the start.
5. Have an Interesting Introduction.
You've done everything else right, so don't spoil it with a boring, or weak, or overly-used opening line. It doesn't have to be high drama; just a strong statement is enough.
Some examples:
''Today I have some really good news....''
''We have some important information for you...''
At this point, open your hands and make your first confident but natural gestures.
If you follow these very simple five steps, you will have made a very strong first presentation impression.
After that, the rest is much easier.
And don't forget to practice!
(Note: * For short pitches and pitch competitions I DO recommend memorisation.)
All the best, and happy trails,
Rob
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