Do the words \u201cpublic speaking\u201d make your heart pound? For the good of your career, it\u2019s time to face your fear of presenting. By stepping up to the mic, you can expand your network of peers and potential employers while building your reputation and credibility as an industry expert.<\/p>\n
Melody Kruzic, Senior Career Counselor in Capella University\u2019s Career Center, shares five steps to giving a great presentation\u2014and reaping the rewards. In short, it\u2019s all in the preparation.<\/p>\n
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Every industry has one or more professional associations, which you can join for an annual fee. If you don\u2019t already belong to an association that aligns with your career, join one. Google search the best organizations within your industry, or check this list of professional associations<\/a> from the Capella Career Center (login required).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Professional associations typically hold an annual conference featuring presentations on relevant, timely industry topics. Large organizations might host more frequent events\u2014quarterly or monthly. If a big-time national conference feels too intimidating, start smaller with a local event.<\/p>\n Look on your association\u2019s website to find information about any upcoming events. You might find a clear call for presentation proposals and instructions on how to submit them. If there\u2019s no call for proposals on the site, contact the conference coordinator or a board member.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The conference planning committee is looking for presentations that are highly relevant to the conference attendees. Pick a presentation topic that you\u2019re knowledgeable and passionate about, and that audience members will find applicable to their careers. Read industry newsletters, blogs, and LinkedIn discussions to take the pulse on hot topics. Look at last year\u2019s conference program to get a feel for past presentations.<\/p>\n As you consider topics, remember that you\u2019ll often have, at most, 50 minutes to present. So choose a topic you can cover in an interesting way in a brief amount of time.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re reading this and thinking, \u201cI could never get up on stage by myself!\u201d consider co-presenting. Presenting as a team can be a great way to ease into public speaking. And as a duo, you give the audience more than one perspective on the topic.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Once you choose a topic, you\u2019ll need to write a 1-2 paragraph blurb (sometimes called an \u201cabstract\u201d) giving the gist of the presentation. If the association gives submission guidelines, follow them to the letter. If no guidelines are given, email or call the conference coordinator to learn the best way to submit a proposal.<\/p>\n If your presentation isn\u2019t accepted, don\u2019t be hard on yourself. Have a friend or trusted colleague look at your proposal and give feedback about how you could revise it. Also:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If your presentation is accepted\u2026congratulations! Now, you need to build it. Here are a few tips to get you started:<\/p>\n For more help with your presentation, check out The Complete Guide to Creating a Captivating Professional Presentation<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n2. Target an opportunity.<\/h4>\n
3. Decide on a topic.<\/h4>\n
4. Submit a proposal.<\/h4>\n
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5. Develop and make your presentation.<\/h4>\n
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