“Life only demands from you the strength you possess.
Only one feat is possible – not to have run away”
Dag Hammarskjöld
Finally, the entire string of grueling presentations is over! Looking back at all these, I must say that I have learnt a huge deal about making oral presentations. In fact, I am also proud to report that I am actively applying what I have learnt from these into other subsequent presentations as well. Through the rounds of presentations I find myself attaining a much better understanding of my abilities, in addition to having better control over my displayed emotions. I have learnt much with regards to the entire process of preparing and delivering a presentation, as well as tailoring additional media to enhance the effectiveness of the delivery process.
In preparing for my presentations, I referred, first and foremost, to the team’s proposal. From there I was able to draw the content which I wished to convey. Yet a presentation is particularly different from a written proposal. It essentially should be a summary of the proposal, but still manages to capture every salient aspect of the subject in question. Tidying up my slides and making them coherent was a tedious and often infuriating task, but ultimately the effort did pay off. In addition, I had the intention of including a timed animation which was to be played as I spoke. This required immense accuracy and concentration. The feat took me a number of tries before I was able to manage a speech that flowed together with the tour. In addition, I went through the process of writing a full script, matching it with the slides, before condensing everything into a point-formed set of cue cards. The effort was done with an intention to deliver a large amount of content with both a sense of conviction and confidence.
On the day of the presentation I rehearsed my parts innumerate times. The first few came off rapid, with me forgetting a good number of important points I needed to cover. Nervousness got the better of me as I delivered my speech with practically breakneck speed. However, subsequent tries allowed me to calm myself down, as I found myself remembering things better if I slowed my pace, contrary to my previous convictions.
During the actual presentation, I was able to compose myself, and kept to a pace which I felt comfortable in. However, as a result of wanting to deliver a presentation with substance and a strong sense of passion, I somehow forget the need to loosen up a little. As a result, while the content and the delivery was sound, somehow there was a lapse between my emotions and the way I displayed them.
Through the pointers provided by my peers, I soon understood the need to loosen up, in order to meld my thoughts and emotions into a complete and cogent presentation. A good presentation often involved a harmonious duet between the two aspects, with the addition of meaningful eye contact. I must say I have enjoyed myself tremendously in this round of presentations. My peers have been nothing short of excellent audiences, and I am very sure the lessons I have learnt will be translated into valuable skills vital in my future career.
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