Understanding Your Impact
Good presentations come with practice.
How do you feel when you have to make a presentation?
Are you well prepared and relaxed, confident that your performance will have the desired impact on your audience?
Or is the thought of standing on a podium, holding a microphone, enough to give you stage fright?
Enjoy it or not, presenting – in some form – is usually a part of business. Whether you get up in front of formal audiences on a regular basis, or you simply have to make your voice heard in a meeting, you're using presentation skills.
Many believe that good presenters are born, not made. This is simply not true. Sure, some people are more relaxed and comfortable speaking in front of others, but everyone can learn the skills and techniques they need to increase their level of confidence and performance when presenting.
From sales pitches to training lectures, good presentation and public speaking skills are key to many influential roles in today's business world. The good news about presenting is that you can improve with practice.
So do you have the skills you need to do a good job? And how effective are you when you have to 'perform'? Take this short quiz to help you assess your skills.
How Good Are Your Presentation Skills?
Instructions:
For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some questions seem to score in the 'wrong direction'. When you are finished, please click the 'Calculate My Total' button at the bottom of the test.
14 Statements to Answer Not at All Rarely Sometimes Often Very Often
1 The visuals in my presentation match well with the information I'm communicating, and they help carry the speech.
2 To prepare for my presentation, I think carefully about the message I want to send.
3 Before I present, I become familiar with the room and the space in which I'll be speaking.
4 I plan and practice my presentation until I can speak comfortably and fluently.
5 I assume my audience knows very little, and then I give them all the information they need.
6 I use an indirect, subtle approach, and I send a gentle message to my audience.
7 Anxiety gives me stress, and brings negative energy to my presentation.
8 I make sure that organizers or other staff prepare my equipment so that I can arrive right on time and start immediately.
9 I encourage my audience to ask questions at the end of the presentation.
10 I pay attention to my nonverbal behavior, like facial expressions and eye contact, to make sure I stay engaged with the audience.
11 I use examples to support my points.
12 My presentations sometimes take longer than planned.
13 If I want to persuade an audience, I get them to think about what the future will be like if they continue without making changes.
14 I focus on the main part of the presentation more than the beginning and end, because that's where most of the information is given.
Calculate My Total
Total = 0
Score Interpretation
Score Comment
14-32 Your presentations are probably quite weak, and perhaps a little boring. There are lots of ways to bring more excitement to what, and how, you present. You simply need more practice developing the right kind of content, and learning to use your nervousness to create a positive flow of energy. Read this article for everyday tips on building your self-confidence. (Read below to start.)
33-51 Your presentations are OK, and they're probably very typical of average presenters. The impression you leave isn't good or bad – it's essentially nonexistent, and your message is likely soon forgotten. Use the tips and tools in this article to add life to your presentations so that your audience remembers you for all the right reasons. (Read below to start.)
52-70 Super job! You're giving excellent presentations. They're interesting and well suited to the audience, and you know that taking time to prepare pays off in the end. Review the strategies in this article, and challenge yourself to continue improving your presentation skills.
