What to Do When Employees Lack Proper Skills to Give Effective Presentations

Perhaps you have an amazing and talented team of professionals, but when asked to present at an upcoming conference, you soon realize that your workers aren’t capable of delivering a dynamic presentation. The truth is, your employees may be experts in their field, but do they know how to communicate their ideas effectively? Unfortunately, not everyone is naturally skilled when it comes to giving a presentation, and this is oftentimes not a skill that was taught in school. However, corporate professionals understand the importance of public speaking and presenting and how it can take your organization to the next level. The ability to give a great presentation can translate into a new business opportunity and more revenue, so here are a few ways you can help your employees become better presenters.

Provide Presentation Training

You need to accept that not everyone is highly skilled at public speaking and presenting. Therefore, if you want your employees to be better prepared, you need to provide them with an opportunity to learn and improve their skills. This can be done in the following ways:

• You can conduct a workshop that touches on various presentation skills such as technical know-how, speaking skills, and presentation preparation skills. 
• Invest in courses or professional development where your employees can improve and practice their presentation skills. There are a number of online courses as well as in-person courses that your employees can attend. 
• Hold small-group training sessions where your employees can share ideas, knowledge, and insight to become better presenters.

Organize Mock Presentations

One of the best ways to improve any skill is by practicing it several times. This can certainly be applied to presentations. Look for opportunities for your employees to practice presenting at a weekly meeting or small group discussion. You can even set aside training seminars specifically to practice and rehearse this skill. For example, conduct conferences for mock presentations and encourage your employees to prepare and perform their presentations several times. As the old adage goes…practice makes perfect. 

Lead by Example

If you want your employees to become better presenters, you need to show them what that looks like. Prepare presentations of your own and deliver them at staff meetings or local conferences. Establish yourself as a good leader and presenter by showing your employees how it’s done. When they see what you are capable of doing, this will give them a clearer understanding of your expectations.