Nearly every day we are called upon to present ourselves.
It might be in a business setting, where we need to
convince customers to purchase a product or it might be in
a social setting where we need to convince a person we meet
that we are interesting and fun to be with.
How can you improve your communication and presentation
skills? Your entire body – not just your voice – is part of
the “machinery” that can make or break your presentation.
If your voice, your message, and your body all work
together in harmony, you’ll get your point across and
increase the likelihood of success. However, if your voice,
message, and body don’t work together, your point could be
muddled or lost. Fueling the machine is part of the process
of bringing harmony to your presentation.
A balanced diet is an important part in fueling the
machine. Make sure you eat meals that are approved by the
food guide of your country (since many countries have their
own food guides due to local differences in food
availability).
If you have a very important presentation that requires
your full voice and attention in front of others, avoid
mixing proteins and starches in the same meal. As well,
avoid eating fruit unless it’s on an empty stomach.
Keeping your voice lubricated is another important aspect
of operating your presentation machine at peak capacity. To
do that effectively, make sure you drink at least 8 glasses
of water each day. On presentation days, drink water that
is room temperature. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and
carbonated drinks in the hours before your presentation.
Third, keep your presentation machine rested. Get 8 hours
of sleep each night and avoid stressful activities,
particularly in the hours leading up to your presentation.
This will help you to have a clear voice and to give your
full attention to the presentation at hand.
Aside from diet and rest, exercise is another important
factor. Exercising regularly helps to keep your body in
tune. While you may not immediately connect it with
communicating, think of it this way: your car’s purpose is
to get you from point A to point B. While getting your car
tuned up on a regular basis doesn’t do anything about the
specific act of driving from A to B, it does give you the
assurance that when you turn the key in the ignition, the
car starts and goes the way it should. Exercise does that
for your presentation machine.
Your communication and presentation skills will become
better as a result of investing quality time in yourself.
Of course, this isn’t something you can do just minutes
before the presentation. It is a lifestyle choice that you
need to continue to make. Commit to a healthier lifestyle
for many reasons including career success.
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Deborah Torres Patel is an internationally acclaimed
Communication Coach. Sign up for 35 lessons of
complimentary voice & presentation skills online training
on http://www.expressingyou.com .
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