5 Key Presentation Skills To Master

5 Key Presentation Skills To Master5 Key Presentation Skills To Master Ive spent the past five years working for Nielsen , the worlds largest marketing research firm that helps media and consumer products companies understand what people watch and buy. I am currently a manager in our consumer analytics group, specializing in survey and segmentation analysis for large brands and retailers. My kollektivs projects uncover the who, what, where and why behind buying behavior, which enables clients to create products and advertisements that truly resonate with customers. A lot of data is involved in these studies, so Ive had to learn how to balance simplifying findings with providing enough supporting information to make recommendations clear and believable. It can be challenging to make all this information come together in presentation form. Here are five key techniques Ive learned along the way.Whats your starting point? Before you can advise about expanding a product l ine or increasing a products visibility, you need to know where things stand today. Begin with a Google search to learn the basics of a category. What brands do your client and competitors offer? Is your client a premium or value player in this space, or do they offer price points for all consumers? If this is a food-related category, is Organic a thing yet? Doing your research seems like common sense, but youd be surprised by how many people skip over this basic step - and then pay the price later on. Presenting to your fellow colleagues ? The same rules apply.The first question you have to ask yourself when putting together a presentation is What am I trying to achieve? When conducting studies, I have to sift through a lot of information. It can get overwhelming, so I make a point to focus on whats going to answer my clients distinct questions, and I save the rest for another day. Once you know the specific areas youre going to explore, identify which metrics are available to you and go from there. When we run our analyses, we look for information that tells a story that supports our clients goals. And, if we uncover any significant data that could contradict their goals, we make sure we share that information - and any potential solutions - with them as well.You can have the best data in the world - information no one else has - but if you dont know what to do with it, its worthless. So, after identifying key data points, I decide how Im going to share my information. Does it belong in a bar chart? A data table? Should I tell the story through imagery with captions? To avoid overwhelming anyone, I make sure to only show what is absolutely necessary and point to important findings. For example, if my research finds that price is the primary purchase driver for a product, I put this into context by showing how it ranks compared to other purchase drivers. But I make sure to highlight price in a different color, since thats the key point.I get a rush ev ery time a client has an a-ha moment and exclaims, Wow, I didnt know that But even that marker of success doesnt mean my work is done. Its important to continue to read the room for hints on how youre doing. I primarily look at facial expressions and body language . If Im getting a lot of confused looks, or too many people seem distracted, something has clearly gone off track. If my audience appears lost, Ill try repeating a point in simpler terms, or Ill elaborate with more examples. Sometimes merely changing the inflection of my voice gets people to re-direct their gaze to me. If I spot someone squinting hard at the screen, it usually means he or she is trying to figure out a slide rather than listening to me explain it, so I ask if there are any questions. If I see a person with his or her arms folded, it tips me off that he or she doesnt quite believe what Im saying. I acknowledge that and reassert the proof.It may feel silly, but doing a test run in front of someone with indu stry knowledge and someone without it will help you anticipate questions and force you to explain difficult concepts very simply. This is a great way to avoid being caught off guard. While you practice, look out for phrases like I think or I just wanted to that can make you sound less certain and diminish your authority. Use the rehearsal as an opportunity to memorize your slides. It makes you more likely to sound upbeat and engaging - two qualities you will want your audience to associate with you.Whether youre in a client-facing role or making a case for something within your organization internally, these recommendations are bound to help you become a more effective communicator.This article originally appeared on The Well , Jopwells digital magazine. The Well is the digital magazine of Jopwell, the career advancement platform for Black, lateinamerikaner/Hispanic and Native American professionals and students. Subscribe to receive weekly stories and advice in your inbox.