5 Things to Avoid Before a Presentation A presentation is only as good as its presenter. Often a presentation goes awry not because the presenter was ill prepared or nervous, but because of some bad decisions made right before the presentation. Here are 5 tips to consider before taking the stage: 1. Avoid pulling an all-nighter the night before

• Sleep is essential for memory formation
• Sleep relaxes your body and mind so that you are bright and fresh for your presentation
• Lack of sleep will make you look grungy, fatigued and more prone to make mistakes

2. Avoid heavy meals on the day

• Carb and fat heavy meals tend to make you lethargic
• Avoid sugars and spices as they might make you uncomfortable while you’re presenting

3. Avoid last-minute changes

• If the presentation has been rehearsed in a different manner, then making last minute changes will cause confusion and nervousness
• Good presenters are well prepared and well-rehearsed

4. Avoid alcohol and other diuretics

• It’s common sense not to be drunk or hung-over before the presentation, but avoid alcohol altogether as even a small amount can impair your cognitive abilities
• Also avoid diuretics containing caffeine which may prompt unnecessary peppiness

5. Don’t smoke right before taking the stage

• Even a single cigarette can cause a sore throat, hoarseness and make you want to frequently clear your throat
• Drink water and relax your vocal cords before going on

By keeping these aspects in mind, you can rest assured that your presentation will be engaging and that everyone will enjoy being a part of it. We offer a terrific 2 day workshop called Think On Your Feet® that will give you dynamic structures to strategically position your message giving you the spit and polish your delivery deserves. It really is the art of impromtu speaking. [traininglist slug=”think-on-your-feet-2-days”] ]]>