Signposting language for presentation skills

What is signposting language?

When you travel on the road, there are signs which give information.

A sign could tell you the number of kilometers between you and your destination. A sign may warn you about a sharp turn just ahead. Another sign could tell you to slow down to a particular speed.

While driving, signs are helpful. 

Imagine a road journey without any signs.

Wouldn’t that make you feel uncomfortable? Wouldn’t you be surprised to find that you have to make a hairpin turn without any warning?

What if a wild animal suddenly darts in front of the car?  I’m sure you would have preferred to be warned about something like that. You could then be mentally prepared to better respond.

Yes, signs on the road are essential. They help us to reach our destination safely. At times, they may even save our lives.

Signs are important when making presentations as well.

In a presentation, there are words, phrases, and sentences that give structure and a sense of direction to the audience.

For example:

‘Today, we’ll be focusing on three key issues affecting production in China.’

‘My presentation is divided into two parts.’

‘The presentation will be for 10 minutes.’

All this language (Today, we will look at three key issues… My presentation is divided into…) is called signposting language.

Signposting language is important because it helps your audience to listen better. They become more engaged. 

It gives your audience a sense of control.

This is because they know what to expect (e.g. the talk is for 10 minutes). Also, the audience will be able to understand the progression of your presentation from one stage to the next.  This will make it easier for them to absorb and retain what you say.

By providing structure, signposting language alerts your listeners to key messages and important transitions within your presentation. 

Signposting language can help you when preparing

Here is something many people do not know. Signposting language helps you–the speaker. You start thinking about the logical flow of your presentation. It makes you consider how to sequence the main points.

It may even help in generating new ideas or new ways to present a topic.

For instance, just by saying: my presentation is divided into two parts, you may gain clarity on how you want to present your thoughts and ideas. You may even think that it would be better to divide the presentation into three rather than two parts. 

When preparing for your next presentation, use some of the signposting language given below for introductions, middle parts, and endings. 

When presenting, signposting language gives you a sense of direction and control over your thoughts.

For example, when you say–okay, now that we have discussed the customer survey questions, let’s review the key findings–you are preparing yourself mentally to present the next part of the presentation. 

To sum up about the importance of signposting, it helps both the presenter and the listener. Signposting language provides structure. And having structure is vital. You know that. 

Use of voice

Be aware of how you use your voice when using signposting language. 

Emphasize signposting language.

For instance: FIRST, we will look at customer feedback. SECOND, we’ll look at how we analyze that feedback. And FINALLY, how we use the feedback to make changes in our processes. 

You should pause after using signposting language. 

For example, after saying in conclusion, pause before saying what you want to say.

Pausing makes a difference.

It signals to the audience to pay attention to what comes next.

It gives you time to gather your thoughts and choose the most appropriate words. After the pause, when you speak, you speak with confidence.

Here is some signposting language:

Signposting language to use for introductions

Good morning, my name is …

Hello, my name is … I am a ….  And have been in this sector for the past …. years. (to establish your credentials) 

I’m going to talk about …

I’ll be going over…

My presentation is divided into three parts… To begin with, we will look at …. Then, we will turn to… And finally, we will consider …

The presentation will be for 15 minutes. After the presentation, we will have 10 minutes for Q&A.

Signposting language for the middle of your presentation

Introducing the main parts of the presentation

The first point is… The second point is… And the last point is… 

Transitioning from one part to the next

Moving to the second point…

Now let’s turn to…

Now let’s consider…

We have talked about X in some detail, so let’s now look at Y.

Transitioning to a sub-part 

An example of this is…

When we look at the graph, what is striking is…

As you can see from this slide…

Signposting language to use for the end of your presentation 

To summarize…

To sum up…

So, let’s review…

To conclude…

The most important point to remember is…

The takeaway from today’s talk is…

The end 

Signposting language does its work quietly and efficiently. It allows you to control the direction of your presentation. It gives the audience a road map–telling them where they are and where they are going to. 

Do you have to make a presentation soon? Use signposting language.

You will feel the difference. 

Want more signposting language? Visit BBC Learning English. 

This post tells you how to be a bad presenter. Of course, once you read it, you’ll know how to be a better one.

FAQs

What is an example of signposting in a presentation?

Signposting tells the listener about the structure of the presentation.

Here is an example: This presentation is divided into two parts. First, we will look at X, and then we’ll talk about Y.

We use signposting language when transitioning to a new point: Now that we have looked at X, let’s talk about Y.

And to signal the conclusion: This is what I want you to remember … 

What is signposting language?

Signposting language consists of words, phrases, and even sentences the presenter uses to give structure and direction to her speech.

At the start of the presentation, signposting language could be: This presentation will be for twenty minutes. After which, there will be a Q&A session for about ten minutes. 

An example of signposting language in the middle of the presentation is: Now that we have reviewed how the data was collected, let’s turn to how it was analyzed. 

And at the end of your presentation, you could use this signposting language: The key takeaway is ….

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