Developing effective presentation skills: Preparation is the key to making your business report sing. (Career Intelligence).

The good news is that the report you prepared analyzing sales and marketing expenditures was well-received by management. In fact, they were so impressed that you have now been asked to give a presentation of your findings to others in the company. While you know this is a great career opportunity, you also worry about how well you will do since it has been a while since you gave a presentation.

How can you get ready for the big day?

Laying the groundwork

Preparation is the key. The better prepared you are, the more confident you will feel and the better equipped you will be to convey your message in a relaxed, professional manner.

The first step in preparing your presentation is to consider who will be in the audience. If there are people attending who are not familiar with financial terminology, you will want to pay particular attention to how you explain key issues or processes. Also, if those at the meeting will be primarily senior-level executives, you will want to create a more formal presentation that focuses on top-line issues.

Try to include as much analysis as possible in your presentation. This will capture the audience's attention much more than listening to a series of statistics and numbers.

Dealing with nervousness

Practising your presentation will help you overcome any anxiety you maybe feeling. Even if you have thorough knowledge of the topic you will be addressing, it is important to rehearse. People who "wing it" are rarely excellent presenters. You don't have to memorize everything, but repeating key points until you are comfortable with your delivery will help you to feel more confident when you begin your presentation. Also, make an effort to speak slowly and concisely.

Deliver your presentation to a colleague or family member to get their feedback. This can help identify speech patterns such as overuse of "um" and "uh" while you collect your next thought or find your place. It may also uncover any areas of your presentation that need further clarification.

If the primary source of your nervousness is being the centre of attention, consider using visual aids such as graphs and charts. This will shift the focus away from you and add impact to your message.

Remember to maintain perspective. Your nervousness is rarely as noticeable to your audience as it is to you. Some speakers are amazed to find that no one perceived their apprehension at all.

Succeeding on presentation day

Arrive early so you can make sure everything is set up properly. Are there enough chairs for the expected attendees? Does all electronic equipment work properly? Do you have enough handouts for everyone?

Begin your presentation by introducing yourself and letting attendees know what you are going to discuss and why it is important to them. Try to take a conversational approach and ask questions of the audience when appropriate. This will keep them engaged in the topic and make you feel less like you are giving a speech.

You don't have to be the office comedian to make the presentation interesting. However, by showing enthusiasm for your research, smiling and making eye contact with attendees you will build greater rapport. Some other behaviours that can help project a positive image include:

* Posture: Be sure to stand up straight throughout the presentation and avoid shifting your weight from one foot to the other.

* Voice quality: Vary the pitch and volume of your voice to avoid a monotone effect.

* Gestures: Make sure your movements are relaxed.

As you advance in your career, you will likely be called upon to deliver many more presentations. Consider enhancing your skills by taking classes on public speaking or volunteering to address a local meeting of a business or professional association on a topic about which you are knowledgeable.

By making an active effort to become an effective presenter, you will be in a stronger position professionally in both the short and long term. You will not only have improved your communication skills, but you will also have built your confidence level -- two traits that are highly valued in business leaders.

Trevor Zigelstein is a regional manager with Robert Half, a world-wide firm that provides staffing service for accounting and finance professionals. For more information, visit www.roberthalf.com