Who Are You Talking To Anyway?
This one sounds simple enough. Before you get up to speak have your materials prepared. When you are introduced, get organized before you start speaking. Don’t start speaking while you are setting up. It is rude and no one will be paying attention to what you are saying. They will be distracted by what you are doing.
Often, our presentations are timed to fit within a specific schedule. Time may be limited to five or ten minutes. Set up ahead of time or tell your audience that you will need a minute or two to set up or pass out materials. They’ll understand.
When you are ready, focus on the audience, thank them for their patience, and use the remaining time you have to reward them with a performance that they will never forget. A shorter, more focused presentation will be more effective than a longer one that confuses the audience.