Courtesy ASME’s Affinity Partner, American Management Association (AMA)

Consider these seven tips when making your next presentation to a group:

1. Rehearse in front of a mirror. Do you look relaxed? Do your gestures seem appropriate, natural, varied, and smooth?
    
2. Wear professional clothes -- interview clothes -- for the occasion. Don't wear something so new that you will be uneasy about your appearance. Avoid jingly jewelry or coins in pockets as you move on stage.
    
3. Use a tape recorder placed at the far end of the room to record your presentation. Now listen to the tape. Ask yourself these questions: -- Am I speaking too quickly? Do I vary my pace appropriately, slowing down, and speeding up for extra effect?
    
   1. Is my voice at a comfortable pitch -- not too low or too high? (If you keep your voice fairly low-pitched, you're less likely to sound nervous.)
       
   2. Do I vary my vocal pitch appropriately? Do I too often allow my vocal inflection to rise or fall at the end of a sentence?
       
   3. Am I emphasizing the right words or phrases?
       
   4. Do I use too many "ahs," "ums," and "y'knows" as fillers?
       
   5. Is my diction clear? Do I slur my words or mispronounce common words (for example, won't for wouldn't)?
       
4. Be aware of those parts of your body that feel tense as you practice. Tighten those areas even more -- as much as you can -- then let go. If your hands tremble when you talk, give them something to do, like gently grasp the podium. Never let your hands get near your face unless you need to cough.
    
5. Maintain eye contact with your audience throughout, lettering your eyes sweep over their faces and occasionally making brief eye contact with individuals.
    
6. Don't pretend knowledge you don't have. Words like usually, in my observation, and I predict, are friends -- as opposed to words like always, unquestionably, and inevitably.
    
7. Deal with interrupters. If someone interrupts your talk to comment or, worse, disagree, just say, politely but firmly, "I'll take questions as soon as I'm done talking -- starting with you," and continue. If the heckler persists, say, "I have the floor now; you'll have your turn."