To bring a page of written context to spoken life, presentation techniques are essential. To inject interest in the audience and build up a rapport use your body language to animate your presentation. Here are few techniques which you can follow to keep the audience’s glued to your speech:

1. As you are speaking to the audience, the way you speak is of significant importance and so are the words that you choose.

1. Avoid using technical, bureaucratic and tough language. Instead of long phrases, use short and meaningful sentences.

2. Be very specific. Prefer giving a specific day or time rather than saying “soon”.

3. Try to use concrete words over abstract ones. For example, use the word “microphone” over “sound amplification facilities”

4. Use simple language rather than Latinized words.

1. Instead of technical, use conversational English. Speaking the words from the prepared text sounds very robotic, artificial and stilted. On the other hand, use of conversational English makes the speech sound natural and flowing. It also helps to build up a rapport with the audience.

Conversational English differs from the written one very distinctly. In conversational English, grammatical and incorrect use of words can be ignored as long as the message has been clearly delivered. Use colloquial language.

1. Everything you say should make sense. There is a major difference in expressing the same sentence by writing and by speaking. A listener is solely dependent on the speaker to make him understand.

1. To make it more interesting, use the technique of labeling and signposting in your presentation. It enables to know what is coming up next and make them know what you really want them to understand from it.

1. You can signpost the whole talk at the beginning itself by telling the audience what all are you going to discuss.

2. You can even signpost the sub-points of the issue to be discussed.

3. You can signpost the issue itself.

4. Or you can signpost the end of your presentation.

1. You can use jokes as an amusing way to build a rapport with the audience. The shared laughter becomes a point of contact. But jokes need to be well-presented, appropriate and funny, as; if it works it brings you together but if it fails it pushes you apart. Have good comic timing and don’t forget the punch-line.

2. Pause to give an extra effect to your speech. But you need to know when it is appropriate to give a pause and let your message to sink in.

1. You can pause to tease your audience after a provocative question.

2. You can pause before you deliver the punch-line of your joke.

3. You can add a pause to let your audience re-settle after a general discussion or laughter.

4. You can pause to give your audience time to think about any question you might have asked.

5. You can also use a slightly longer pause to show that you are in control.

1. Don’t just keep on telling the audience; add a touch to your presentation by converting a point into a narrative or a story so as to entertain your audience and involve them into it.

Mastering such simple techniques can raise your presentation expertise to great heights!