Workplace Presentation TipsWhether you make workplace presentations every week or just once a year, it's crucial that you deliveran informative but also engaging performance. If not, you may not sell your boss on that great idea you've been developing for months, and you'll miss out on valuable opportunities to establish yourself as a leader within the organization.Get the Audience's AttentionThanks to the Internet and television, the average attention span is much shorter than it used to be. You only have a few minutes to capture your audience's interest, so even if you're presenting on a seemingly dry topic, it's essential that you engageyour audience right away. Don't spend too much time introducing yourself or your concept. Instead, start off with a powerful opening such asa funny anecdote, a provocative question or a surprising statement.Give the Audience a PreviewWithin the first few minutes of your speech, give theaudience a brief outline of what you plan to talk about. For example, say "Today I want to discuss the three most effective ways we can reduce workplace errors." This provides context and prompts the audience to start thinking about the topic. It also guides them through the presentation. Once you've covered the second point, they'll know the presentation is nearing its conclusion, and they'll likely start thinking of questions they want to ask once you finish. This keeps them engaged and encourages them to participate rather than just listen passively.Use Technology to Illustrate Your MessageEmploy visual aids such as slide shows to hold youraudience's interest and help them understand what you're saying. If you're trying tomotivateemployeesto boost productivity, show them a graph or chart demonstrating the decline in revenue over the past few years. If you're trying to persuade management that a new method could save the company money,show them a graph estimating how much your suggestion would cut costs every year. One note of caution: Don't use any technology, though, unless you're proficient working with it, and check the projector, laptop or other equipment before the presentation to ensure it's in working order.Work the RoomInstead of staying behind the podium or staring at your notes or your slide show, move around and make frequent eye contact with your audience. You'll bring energy to the room, which can liven up even a dull topic such as a review of the year's sales figures. Making eye contact engages the audience and makes them feel as though you're talking directly to them instead of bombarding them with a lot of information or numbers. They'll be morereceptive to your message or your pitch if they feel you care how interested they are.RehearsePractice your presentation several times before you face your colleagues. This helps you spot potential problem areas in your presentation and gives you ample time to correct them. For example, you may realize there's a section in the middle where the