Board Presentation Tips

• Visual aids are vital to any presentation, but should not be used as a crutch. Alistair Berg/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  With public speaking topping people's lists of deepest fears, it's not surprising that board presentations seem especially daunting. Career and investment futures are often made or broken by how well the speaker comes across. However, advance preparation and staying tightly focused on the main points will improve the speaker's chances of succeeding. Knowing the audience is also essential, as well as preparing for problems--such as unexpected mental lapses or awkward questions.

Provide a Road Map

• No speaker should begin without a road map. Ariel Investments Inc. President Mellody Hobson advises starting with a headline that summarizes what the audience will hear, followed by the supporting points. Presentations should be learned in outline form--so speakers can jump to the next bullet point if they lose their place, says author Carmine Gallo. Speakers should also practice specific answers for tough questions that may crop up.

Know the Audience

• Presentations are aimed at persuading board members to act, so it is crucial to identify the decision-makers and learn to speak their language, according to Marjorie Brody of Brody Communications. In deference to board members' schedules, speakers should keep their presentations concise, to avoid overwhelming listeners with details--an error that equals "death by PowerPoint," Brody told "Inc" magazine in 2000.

Maintain a Commanding Presence

• Body language says volumes in any presentation. Speakers should avoid closed postures that isolate them from listeners, Gallo told "Entrepreneur" magazine in 2007. Examples include crossing arms and legs, or putting hands in pockets. Keeping steady eye contact with everyone in the room is important as well, according to Gallo. This can be more readily accomplished if the speaker comes well-prepared and only needs prepared notes for reference.

Stay Focused

• Staying focused is the key to giving an effective presentation, according to Hobson. She recommends sticking to one main theme and three ideas. In-depth responses can be saved for question and answer sessions, where the speaker's knowledge can shine, says Hobson. Most listeners make up their minds early on--so the main point should arrive during the first 90 seconds to two minutes, says Gallo.

Expect The Unexpected

• Listeners often judge speakers by how well they respond when things go wrong. When memory lapses kick in, for example, the speaker should have several relevant anecdotes ready, according to Gallo. When tough questions pop up, the speaker should never answer dishonestly or make listeners feel stupid for raising the issue, says Gallo. Although most questions can be phrased in many ways, most will lead to one particular answer, he adds.