Build Your Leadership Skills by Presenting Trainings Effectively

By Nour Srouji, Associate Scientist at Wuxi AppTec, ChE Master's degree candidate at Rutgers University

Congratulations! You are officially part of the working world and moving up the corporate ladder, about to give your first training session! Or maybe you are a graduate student giving your first training seminar. You want to make a good first impression and showcase the extraordinary skills that have gotten you this far. Keep these key points in mind to engage and entertain your audience while you present your training materials.

Remember your body language

More often than not, the biggest mistake people make is not being aware of their body language. Move around! You are not grounded to one spot, and taking a few steps now and again during your presentation will help to keep the audience aware. It will encourage people to also readjust themselves and redirect their attention, bringing their focus back to you.

It is also important to be aware of your posture and positioning. Standing up straight, with a relaxed posture will help you display confidence to your audience. When you show confidence, people are more likely to pay attention – a key aspect of a successful presentation.

Understand your audience

Do those in attendance come from varying backgrounds and experiences? Are they new to the information you will be discussing or are they experts? These questions are key to understanding how in-depth you should go in your presentation.

When you are aware of the relationship between your audience’s background and your own, you will be able to be better connect with your audience. Keep it too simple and they will get easily distracted; too complex and they will be overwhelmed. Find that middle ground for your presentation. In addition to making your training successful, this communication skill is important for any developing leader.

Stop lecturing!

We’re all human. It’s very easy to ramble when presenting training. But before you even realize it, you’ve lost everyone’s attention. Instead, give your audience room to ask questions and become a part of the training itself. By encouraging and pushing for a more discussion-based training or seminar, you can ensure that everyone leaves engaged and entertained – and has learned something.

Practice, practice, practice

Most people find public speaking scary. By practicing what – and how – you’re going to give your training session or seminar, you will be able to create a more definitive flow to your talk. With this under your belt, the rest will come more smoothly and your expertise will shine.

Leadership benefits

With such a strong focus on science and math, sometimes engineers unknowingly neglect their communication skills. Mastering public speaking is a great way to show your supervisors that you have what it takes to advance in your career. By taking advantage of opportunities to train others, you will stand out from your peers, and more importantly, you are giving yourself more chances to practice. Put together, it makes you a better leader.

Being a successful presenter who understands an audience can also help you build a stronger team. It can bolster connections and communications between you and your colleagues, allowing for a greater flow of ideas and innovation. No true innovations, in industry or academia, can succeed without a strong team. And it all starts with you.