Presentation Skills

A presentation is when you share information with an audience, usually by speaking and showing visuals. Giving presentations is a skill you use in school and later in work. Good presenters are organized, clear, and confident. The more you practice, the better you become.

Preparing a Presentation

Start by knowing your topic well. Organize your information with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Create simple visuals like slides, posters, or charts to support your points. Practice your presentation several times before the big day. Time yourself to make sure it is not too long or too short.

Delivering Your Presentation

Stand up straight and face your audience. Speak clearly and at a pace that is not too fast. Make eye contact with different people in the room. Use your visuals to help explain your points, but do not just read from them. If you make a mistake, just keep going. Your audience is cheering for you.

Fun Facts

• TED Talks are famous short presentations that have been viewed billions of times online.
• Visual aids can help your audience remember up to 65 percent more of your presentation.
• The most popular TED Talk of all time has been viewed over 75 million times.

Did You Know?

Most professional speakers say they still get nervous before presentations, but they use that energy to give a better performance.