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Creating an effective speech or presentation requires planning, reflection and practice.

It’s not only the words that are said which are important to communicating successfully, but also the facial expression and body language.

Every speech or presentation has two main aspects:

• content (what you say)
• delivery (how you say it)

Content

In terms of the content, the most important parts are the beginning and end. A strong first sentence will capture the attention of the audience.

Here are some tips on how to start your presentation strongly.

• Challenge the audience’s traditional way of thinking by stating a commonly held belief and turning it on its head, eg “An ostrich doesn’t stick its head in the sand to hide from enemies.” But make sure that the belief or fact you choose links clearly to the content of your presentation.
• Ask a rhetorical question. This is a question that doesn’t require an answer, eg “What is the meaning of life?” However, a rhetorical question will make the audience think about the possible answer.
• Use a well-known quote or a catchy phrase to grab the attention of the audience.
• Shock the audience with startling facts or statistics, eg “Approximately 50 million tonnes of electrical waste is thrown away every year around the world. That’s the equivalent of 4 million double decker buses’ worth of old computers, TVs, and kitchen appliances, that could stretch as far as the Moon more than three times over.”
• Refer to a historical event that happened on the day of your presentation if it can be tied in to the content of your talk, eg “On this day in...”
• Tell a short story or anecdote with a message that links to the main theme of your presentation, eg “A few years ago, before my parents realised how important it was to recycle, they told me that they used to...”
• Start your presentation with a ‘what if...?’ scenario to get the listeners to think about a particular theme, eg “What if you could...?”

A strong end sentence could involve making the audience laugh or give them something that they will continue to think about once the presentation is over.

Presentations must be easy to follow and an effective way to do this is by signposting.

Signposting

Signposting your presentation means that you guide the listener through the content, beginning by explaining how your presentation will be structured. During the presentation you can use words and phrases to make it clear when one part has finished and the next part has started. For example, "Now that I have explained my passion for skydiving, I want to discuss the possible dangers".

Delivery

In terms of delivery, practice is essential. A presentation should be delivered calmly and confidently in a clear, loud voice. It's also important not to speak too quickly.

Text from slide show presentations should never just be read out word for word, nor should text on speech cards. Instead, use the text as a prompt that you can expand on in more detail during your delivery.

People want to feel like they are being spoken to directly, so there should be eye contact with members of the audience.

Generally, a presentation will have:

• an introduction
• the main body
• a conclusion