--- description: Practice in front of a large audience if possible. Rhetorical questions make your arguments more persuasive. Use a lot of imagery. You can create an... title: How to Give a World Class Presentation: 10 Tips Backed by Research image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt49b433dd40597543/69876abf428a9e116dcc59af/presentation.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # How to Give a World Class Presentation: 10 Tips Backed by Research by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 24, 2014 11:25 PM CUT  Businesswoman presenting in front of a group Businesswoman presenting in front of a groupGetty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 24, 2014 11:25 PM CUT * Practice in front of a [large audience](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-improve-a-presentation "undefined") if possible. * Rhetorical questions [make your arguments more persuasive](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-rhetorical-questions-make-arguments-more-o "undefined"). Use a lot of [imagery](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-be-more-charismatic-during-presentatio "undefined"). You can create an instant feeling of familiarity with an audience [by using the word “we.”](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-create-an-instant-feeling-of-fami "undefined") * There are a number of tips for being [making a good first impression](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/5-ways-to-make-a-better-first-impression "undefined"), being [more persuasive](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-tips-can-help-you-speak-more-persuasivel "undefined") and being [more charismatic](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/3-quick-tips-for-being-more-charismatic "undefined"). Stand up straight to feel [powerful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-a-relationship-between-your-posture "undefined") and [confident](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-quickly-and-easily-increase-confidence "undefined"). We like people [who are prideful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-people-like-others-who-are-prideful "undefined"). Guys, [don’t be modest](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/should-a-man-be-modest "undefined"). Trying to seem smart [makes you look stupid](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-trying-to-look-smart-make-us-seem-stupid "undefined"). * [Gesturing](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-simple-thing-can-make-you-a-better-commu "undefined") helps you [communicate better](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-simple-thing-can-help-you-communicate-be "undefined"). Palm down gestures [indicate power. Palm up shows submission](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-you-demonstrate-power-or-kindness-by-the "undefined"). Pointing at something might [make you look smarter](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-pointing-at-something-make-you-seem-smar "undefined"). * Knowing your material isn’t everything. Presentation style is key. People prefer [eloquence over honesty](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-we-prefer-honesty-or-eloquence "undefined") and [confidence over expertise](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-we-prefer-confidence-or-expertise "undefined"). Tone and body language are frequently [far more important than what you actually say](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-more-important-what-you-say-or-how-you "undefined"). When your message is counter-attitudinal [fast talking is more persuasive](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-fast-talkers-more-persuasive "undefined"). When preaching to the converted, slow speech is better. * Looking good matters. We make up our mind about someone in about [_100 milliseconds_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-long-does-it-take-us-to-make-up-our-mind "undefined"). We assume [attractive people are more similar to us](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-we-assume-that-attractive-people-are-more "undefined") and [similarity is good](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-key-to-being-liked-and-being-more-i "undefined"). Quickest way to make yourself more attractive? [Smile](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-easiest-way-to-make-yourself-more-a "undefined"). And dress appropriately – [what you wear affects how you act](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-what-you-wear-affect-how-you-act "undefined"). * Expect that people will like you and [they probably will](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/a-quick-easy-trick-for-getting-people-to-like "undefined"). Feeling stressed? [Ladies, drink coffee. Guys, don’t](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-coffee-help-us-cope-with-stressful-meetin "undefined"). * “Obscenity at the beginning or end of the speech [significantly increased the persuasiveness of the speech and the perceived intensity of the speaker](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-swearing-make-you-more-or-less-persuasiv "undefined"). Obscenity had no effect on speaker credibility.” * Take a second beforehand to imagine someone who is a great presenter. This alone [can improve performance](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-thinking-about-geniuses-make-you-a-genius "undefined"). [Positive self-talk and positive mental imagery](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-two-proven-tricks-for-focusing-your "undefined") are potent preparation tools. You can learn a few things about top notch performance from the [Navy Seals](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-four-psychological-techniques-did-the-go "undefined") and the [Army Rangers](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-3-techniques-does-the-army-use-to-instil "undefined"). * Still nervous? Faking it until you make it [works](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/should-you-fake-it-until-you-make-it "undefined"). **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/07/10-tips-for-giving-a-world-class-presentation-67263/ "undefined")**_._** **Join over 135,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** Related posts: [How To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple Emails](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/make-your-life-better/ "undefined") [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/ "undefined") [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3603900/give-a-presentation/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3603900/give-a-presentation/"},"headline":"How to Give a World Class Presentation: 10 Tips Backed by Research","datePublished":"2014-11-24T23:25:13.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:02:50.300Z","description":"Practice in front of a large audience if possible. 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