A Soft Skill You Must Be Aware Of (part 1)

By Author: Chris Surridge
Total Articles: 26
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When you are making plans for the future of your career, don't forget soft skills, because if you want to rise to the top of the finance profession, they are just as important as financial expertise.

One of those soft skills includes presenting an idea. Presentation and speech shares a very fine line but it's very important to understand the difference between the two.

A presentation is a communication form. It's a unique form of oral communication and has certain characteristics.

The presentation media could vary from written scripted pages to a Microsoft Powerpoint slides. Visual aids are used more often in presentations compared to speeches.

The presentation usually has a limited time frame and in some situations the media or visual aids are mandated on the presenter by the organizer.

On the other hand, in delivering the speech, the speaker uses a platform behind a microphone. Audiences are in hundred or thousands. The speech is usually scripted. This is all different from a presentation where audience is limited in number sitting in a room.

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Presentation Techniques

Presentation techniques depend heavily on preparation and knowledge of your presentation matter. They are pre-requisite for a successful presentation.

Presentation skills are all about entertaining your audience and avoid boring them. Its all about conveying your key message.

You need to grab the attention of your audience in the first 3-5 minutes. Otherwise they will start to stare and notice everything in the room except you. Most likely, they will start thinking about their own love lives, problems, next thing to do when they leaveanything but what you are talking about.

Mr Lin Luu, an ACCA teacher in China, said that your audience, no matter how small or large in numbers, wants to associate themselves with someone who could entertain them. Who have a sense of humour? Crunching numbers and statistics alone won't let you win through them.

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