1. Look for a big audience.

If you can, schedule a volunteer orientation for a large group of new volunteers.  A larger group gives you a better chance of being able to connect with someone.  If you find yourself starting to get nervous focus on a person you’ve connected with, it will help you to get back on track and not feel as nervous.

2. Take all the words off your slides.

If you need to make sure that your volunteers are paying attention to what you’ll be saying, take all of the words off of your slides.  This way, no one will be reading ahead of what you’ll be saying.  Make sure to use pictures that relate to what you’re talking about, though.

3. Don’t give print outs of your slides.

Giving out a printout of your slides before your presentation gives your new volunteers something to pay attention to other than you and the orientation.  If you want the volunteers to have the information you’ll be talking about, give it to them after the orientation.

4. Show up early to figure out the lay of the land.

This may sound a bit silly, especially if you’ll be giving your orientation at the place you work.  You probably know the lay of the land there fairly well.

It’s not just about being familiar with the room, but being able to set up a room in a way that works best for you.  Don’t like where a desk is?  Move it.  Don’t like how much light is in the room?  See if you can change it.

Showing up early gives you time to set up your presentation before your new volunteers arrive.  This way you can get things started right away instead of keeping your new volunteers waiting while you set up.

5. Encourage your audience to ask a lot of questions.

Make sure to leave open time during your orientation for the new volunteers to ask questions.  Not only does this give the volunteers an opportunity to ask their question while it’s still fresh in their head, but it gives you a break from talking and moves the attention to the volunteers.  A few moments of not talking reminds you to breathe and gives you an opportunity to get a drink of water or mentally rearrange your orientation.

6. Have fun with mistakes.

No matter how well rehearsed and planned your orientation is, something is going to go wrong.  Don’t dwell on what’s not going right.  Have fun with what’s not working instead of letting it turn into a crisis.

Lets not kid ourselves.  Standing up in front of a group of people and talking is hard.  Try not to let it intimidate you.  Remember that you know what you’re going to be talking about.  Don’t forget to have fun, either!

How do you prepare for new volunteer orientations?  What have you done that works really well?  What have you found that doesn’t work?