EPSON | Presenters Online : Basics > Delivery > Putting Your Best Image Forward

It is extremely important as a presenter to project a positive image. Audiences evaluate not only what is presented, but who presents it. They may think the information you present is great, but if they are unsure of who is delivering it, you still may not convince your audience to do what you want them to do. Remember the messenger is just as important as the message.

Research shows you have seven seconds before your audience starts forming an opinion about you. That's not a lot of time to put your best foot forward. The key factors in a speaker's image include dress, attitude, tone and knowledge. Fine tuning these factors can help you develop a powerful image. Below are some tips to help you develop the image you want to project to your audience!

Dress

Your dress should communicate a professional image.
Dress should be conservative unless you know otherwise.
Men should typically wear a suit.
Women should wear a suit or skirt and jacket.
Clothes should be clean and neatly pressed.
Shoes should be shined.
You should evaluate the level of dress of your audience and dress one level up.
Power colors include navy blue, dark gray, and most jewel tones.

Extra Tips for Women!

Pearls add credibility.
Dangling jewelry is distracting.

Attitude

The only attitude that is appropriate for a presentation is an upbeat positive one! No audience wants to listen to an unenthusiastic, disinterested speaker. If you don't have a positive attitude about what you are talking about, why should your audience? There may be on occasion when a speaker should have something other than an upbeat attitude, but this is the exception and not the rule.

Tone

When speaking with your audience, your tone should be confident but not authoritative. The trick is to speak to your audience in a way in which you convey yourself as knowledgeable and confident, but not authoritative or overbearing.

Be sure you speak slowly enough for the audience to follow you. People are frustrated by fast speakers and tend to view those speakers as nervous. When covering the important points, slow down. Audiences will focus in on those specific points, and such concentration will help them retain information after the presentation is over.

Knowledge

Make sure you know what you are talking about! There is nothing more frightening than giving a presentation about something you don't know about. Make yourself take the time necessary to research anything you don't know.