Become a Better Presenter - Emerging Nurse Leader

By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, FAAN

I am often asked by leaders how they can become a better presenter and speaker. For some leaders, public speaking strikes fear into their hearts. I always give the same advice – becoming an effective presenter is a learned skill and the more you do it the better you will get. An effective presentation can have a very positive impact in helping you as a leader to achieve your goals. There are organizations such as Toastmasters that I highly recommend as a way to develop speaking skills in a non-threatening environment. You can find a club in your environment or even form one in your work setting.

The following are some lessons I have learned from my own presentations:

1. Begin with the end in mind

Prior to preparing your presentation, you should develop about 3-4 goals/objectives (no more). Ask yourself what you would like your audience to know as an outcome of your presentation. A second key question is whether there is something you would like the audience to do differently as a result of your presentation. The answers to these questions can guide how you develop your presentation. When you state your goals at the beginning of your presentation, your audience has a clear idea about what to expect and it will guide how they listen to your content.

2. Consider your target audience

One size does not fit all with presentations. Understanding your target audience is very important. Ask yourself how much background your audience has regarding your topic. Should the presentation be a beginner level or more advanced? Is your audience large or small? What is their motivation for attending your presentation – is it by choice or required?

3. Don’t read your slides – elaborate on them

The purpose of your slides, if you use them, should be to illustrate your key points. Don’t be a slave to your slides. Audiences lose interest when speakers stand up and read their slides verbatim. If you are running out of time with your presentation, it is important to skip slides if needed to focus on your key points. Always proofread your slides for spelling, grammar and content errors.

4. Use a story to illustrate a key point

Stories are a powerful way to engage the audience and to help illustrate key points. A story is not appropriate in every situation. If you are a nurse leader giving a budget presentation to senior management, your presentation will need to be less emotional and more factual.

5. Get the audience involved

The most successful presenters find ways to involve their audience. People like the opportunity to react to presentations and express their viewpoints. A great way to do this is to ask questions of your audience during the presentation such as: How many of you have experience with this?, Have you found this to be true in your experience working with your patients?, Does this resonate or do you have a different viewpoint about what we are discussing?

6. Practice your presentation prior to giving it

Rehearsing your presentation in advance will help you to gain confidence as a presenter. If you have an important presentation, you might want to consider asking one or more professional colleagues to sit through a rehearsal and give you feedback.

7. Dress to give you confidence and for the audience

First impressions are very important. If you want to present yourself as an authority, you need to look the part. This will also boost your confidence in yourself. As a general rule of thumb, you should dress slightly better than your audience.

8. Less is More – Always end on time

For most presentations, you will have a limited time frame to present your ideas. Many presenters overwhelm their audiences with too much information. This is ineffective. Stick to your key points and be sure to leave 5-10 minutes for audience reaction and questions.

With preparation and practice, you can learn to do presentations like a pro. I would urge you to watch TED talks for excellent examples of how speakers are able to deliver powerful messages to an engaged audience in less than 20 minutes. Accept the challenge when you are given the opportunity to present. Read the evaluations and take any feedback as a gift. You will grow as a leader and become influential with your colleagues.

Read Rose Sherman’s new book available now – The Nurse Leader Coach: Become the Boss No One Wants to Leave

Read to Lead

Gallo, C. (2014). Talk like Ted: The Nine Public Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds. New York City: St. Martins Press.

The HP Learning Center. How to give a great presentation