Presentation Guide
Tips for a Good Presentation
Whether you are a seasoned presenter or a nervous first-timer, the following
tips are intended as a simple guide.
What to Bring
Bring your presentation on a USB drive, bring a copy on a second USB as a
back-up and email the file to yourself ahead of time in case of loss or failure.
In addition, you may bring along printed copies of your presentation, your full
paper or other handouts, to distribute to audience members. We also recommend
that you bring business cards.
Checklist
- Presentation on a USB drive
- Back-up of presentation (USB and email)
- Printouts of presentation, full paper and/or relevant handouts (optional)
- Business cards
What to Wear
There is no official dress code, but delegates generally wear business casual. However, professional attire is appreciated by fellow professionals, so we suggest erring on the smart side – although a tie is not necessary!
Timing
Aim to arrive the conference room at least a few minutes in advance before the
session starts. Time is of vital importance in making a presentation, so please
be aware of the overall length of your presentation, as well as how the time is
divided within your presentation, to ensure that you leave the appropriate
amount of time for each point.
How Long Is the Ideal Presentation?
You have a 15-minute slot allocated in which to present, but your presentation
itself should be no longer than 15 minutes. We would suggest aiming for around
12–13 minutes. This will allow ample time for directly engaging with the
audience through discussion and questions.
Practice Makes Perfect
Long before the conference, make sure you spend ample time distilling and
crafting your ideas into a well-thought-out presentation. Do NOT just read out
your paper – a well-written paper does not equal an interesting and effective
presentation.
Practice delivery, timing and use of visuals a long while ahead of the event
with your colleagues and friends. Invite feedback and incorporate their
criticisms as you polish your presentation, which should be interesting and
informative, well paced and lively. Show your passion for your subject:
enthusiasm is infectious!
Checklist
- CHECK your facts, figures and quotes are accurate.
- CHECK your presentation for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. If English is not your first language, please consider asking a native speaker to assist with this.
- CHECK your timing, ensuring that your presentation is 15 minutes or less in length. Coming in under the 15-minute mark is better than overrunning.
- CHECK your presentation is interesting and informative, and that you are delivering it with the enthusiasm your topic deserves.
- CHECK you have printed copies of your presentation in case they are requested by audience members.