Improving presentation skills is a journey as much as a destination. Small changes in technique accumulate to make a big difference. Below are practical strategies you can begin applying now.

Begin with your audience in mind. Before drafting your presentation, think about who will be listening, what they already know, what they care about, and what their assumptions might be. Tailoring your message to the audience increases relevance and connection.

Work on your opening. First impressions set the tone. Opening with a story, a provocative question, a surprising fact, or something that elicits emotion draws people in and invests them in what follows.

Structure your content clearly. Group related points together. Use transitions so listeners can follow where you are going. Signal when you move from one section to another. Use summaries and signposting to keep structure visible.

Use stories, analogies and examples to make your points concrete. Abstract concepts are easier to understand when anchored in real-life experiences. Stories help people to feel, imagine and remember.

Practice voice, tone, pacing and pauses. Speak clearly and with variation. Pauses can emphasise a point, let the audience absorb what you have said, or mark transitions. Speaking too fast or with monotone voice risks losing engagement.

Use nonverbal communication consciously. Eye contact creates connection; gesture to emphasise; posture influences how you are perceived. Movement can help refresh audience interest but should be purposeful.

Design visual aids that support rather than distract. Use clean slide layouts, minimal text, powerful images. Only include visuals that help explain or emphasise your message. Avoid cramming too much content on any one slide.

Rehearse under realistic conditions. Stand up, time yourself, use any technology or slides you will use, simulate Q&A. Recording yourself can help you observe habits you might be unaware of.

Manage nerves and anxiety. Deep-breathing techniques, visualisation, practising before a friendly audience, arriving early to check equipment and space can help calm pre-presentation jitters.

Seek feedback and refine. After presenting, reflect on what went well and what did not. Ask trusted colleagues or mentors for feedback. Use that to adjust content, style, pacing. Over time, iteration improves quality substantially.

If you are serious about developing all these areas in a systematic way, the presentation skills training offered by Presenter Studio might be just what you need. Their programme at https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training