When you are speaking in public you may be representing your group / class / school / organization or just yourself. It is you whom the other person, group or audience sees and before you have time to open your mouth and give an account of yourself, certain assumptions, both consciously and subconsciously, have been made. Followings are some main point we should keep in mind while presenting ourselves.
Appearance: is an often disregarded part of communication and presentation skills. We know ‘First impressions are very important – they can be about attitude as well as dresses! Visual impact is at least as important as verbal impact, people make assumptions based on your facial expressions, the clothes you wear, how well-groomed you are and your body language.
Clothes and Grooming: It is important to be suitably dressed within expected line and limits of society and events. Nobody expects you to be groomed into esteem. You should aim to present yourself to your best possible advantage. Good grooming and a tidy appearance are preferable, whether casually or more formally dressed.
Facial Expressions: Little can be done to alter your face but a lot can be done about the expressions. However the day started and whatever minor crisis has occurred along the way, people have not come to meet you with a dark expressions on your face. It is your duty to convey a calm, friendly and professional exterior, despite how may feel inside. Smile and appear optimistic.
Personal Image: The reflection that stares back at you from a mirror is not necessarily a true likeness of the face known to family, friends and colleagues. This is because they will see you off-guard, in repose, concentrating on a task or listening to them. How many people can honestly admit to looking in a mirror without altering their expression?
It is quite natural to ‘play to a mirror’ possibly by raising an eyebrow, pulling a face or smiling at the reflection.
The Real You: It is human nature to make compromises. All individuals change their approach depending on the people they meet and what they feel is expected from them. Everyone has many and varied roles in life. You can be one person and be a son/daughter, brother/sister, friend, adviser or all in one day. These differing roles all require their own particular qualities and skills in personal communication and can also call upon different requirements of attitude and appearance, i.e., of visual image.
Your external image (appearance) is how you are seen by the world, where as the real you (not a role model or the person you would like to be) is someone who is honest with themselves.
That is why your presentation play a very important role in your day to day life. These are all my important points which help me to take keen interest to present myself.