How to master your presentation skills

Whether you’re talking to your team or to an audience of clients or industry peers, effective communications and presentation skills are essential says Edward Hemmings, Alan D Hairdressing. We’re all presenting all the time in our everyday lives, but there is something about being handed a microphone or being asked to present to a crowd that gives most people the fear. Here are my top tips for an effective presentation.

• Consider the things you can’t change: where it is, what it is, how long it needs to be and who the audience will be. Then plan for any eventualities that could pop up.
• Take control of the things you can change: plan your outfit well (you don’t want to reveal a bit more than you bargained for!), know exactly what you’re presenting and do what you can to avoid unexpected mishaps – never use new scissors on stage.
• Start by saying who you are, where you work and why you are there. You’re never going to forget those things so it will give your confidence a boost and carry you through.
• Have a beginning, a middle and an end to your presentation: start by saying what you’re going to do, do it and then remind everyone what you did.
• Speak slowly and clearly with regular pauses and make sure you use the whole stage to keep everyone alert.

So now you’re ready to go, remember Edward’s most important tip: “Have fun! The audience have come to learn not pick holes in what you have to say.” Edward recently spoke on this subject at Salon London as part of the NHF Business Workshops.