Making Dynamic Presentations

Copyright Brenda R. Sims 2014

Plan an effective presentation Prepare the content Create visual aids Rehearse Prepare for emergencies Make it dynamic

Overview

Plan an Effective PresentationEffective Presentations Require Planning

Will you use technical or industry terminology or acronyms? ◦If so, will the audience understand the

terminology and/or acronyms? Is the audience familiar with the topic? Do they have a positive attitude about the topic?

Do they have a negative attitude?

What Does the Audience Know about Your Topic?

What do you want to accomplish? Do you want to

◦Inform?◦Persuade (sell)?◦Both?

Why Are You Giving the Presentation?

Will the audience expect◦A formal presentation?◦An informal presentation?

What do you want the audience to do with the information?

What is the Occasion?

Know the time allowed for the presentation◦Listening takes twice as long as reading

Condense your presentation into its key points◦Refer the audience to written research,

reports, handouts, etc. for details

What is the Length?

Prepare the ContentPrepare and Organize for Success

Grab the audience’s attention Preview Support Summarize Ask for questions

Organize for Success

Get the audience engaged◦Ask a question By show of hand, what does . . . ?

◦Tell a brief story

Grab the Audience’s Attention

Tell the audience what you will talk about◦Use the order used in the presentation

Preview the Presentation

Use one or more of the S.E.A.T.E.D approaches

Support Your Statements

Use statistics that relate to the topic◦Statistics bring credibility◦Vague and not credible Sales are up in the southwest region.

◦Specific and credible Sales in the southwest region have

increased 12% between June 2013 and June 2014.

S=Statistics

Use examples that ◦relate to the topic ◦the audience can understand

E=Example

Use an analogy—especially for technical information◦Life is like a box of chocolates◦“... worrying is as effective as trying to

solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum" - Baz Luhrmann, Everybody’s Free (to Wear Sunscreen)

A= Analogy

Use the testimony of experts

T=Testimony of an Expert

Use a visual aid

E=Exhibit

Demonstrate your topic◦Videos◦Films◦Prototypes◦Photos

D=Demonstration

End with power Use one of the “SEATED” approaches to close

Know when to end

Summarize

“Who has the first question?”

Ask for questions

Define (or avoid) terms they may not understand

Clarify and support unfamiliar information, claims, or recommendations

Include information they will expect

Anticipate the Audience’s Questions

Create Visual AidsKeep the Audience Engaged with Visual Aids

Stay focused Remember key points Follow the organization of your presentation

Visual Aids Help the Audience

Stay in your allowed time Remember what you planned to say Explain complicated ideas

Visual Aids Help You

Slides prepared with PowerPoint tm or Prezi tm

Films and videos Demonstrations or prototypes Handouts (of professional quality) Posters (of professional quality)

Most Effective Visual Aids for Presentations

Select backgrounds without images behind the words

Use phrases, not sentences when appropriate

Brand the slide for UNT (or your organization) when appropriate

Effective Slide Layout

Hydroelectric power has these disadvantages:◦It causes the loss of wildlife habitats◦It takes significant amounts of land for

constructing the reservoir

Examples of Ineffective Text

Disadvantages of hydroelectric power◦Loss of wildlife habitats◦Loss of land

Example of Effective Text

Sans-serif type Type size the audience can read

◦28-32 point type for text◦36-48 point type for headings

Uppercase and lowercase letters◦No all capital letters

Ample white (negative) space

Guidelines for Effective Slide Designs and Layout

RehearsePractice Really Does Make Perfect

If possible, arrange the room to make you comfortable

Place the laptop so you can use it as a “teleprompter”

Check Out the Room

Use a clicker If presenting with a team, determine who will advance the slides

Plan for Advancing the Slides

Don’t stand in front of the screen For team presentations, when you aren’t speaking, sit

Where to Stand

Prepare for EmergenciesYou just never know

Take backups of the slides Take backups of visual aids Have a backup plan if you will be using the Internet

Bring copies of the slides

How to Be Prepared

Give the PresentationAnd Make It Dynamic

Before the presentation◦Shake hands◦Make casual conversation

Introduce Yourself to the Audience

Introduce all members at the beginning of the presentation◦Saves time during the presentation

Avoid awkward transitions such as ◦“Now John will talk about”

Team Presentations

You know more about your presentation than the audience

Remember: You Are the Expert

Talk slowly and distinctly Look the audience in the eye Speak with enthusiasm and confidence

Avoid verbal pauses ◦“um,” “ah,” “uh,” “you know”

Don’t read the slides Keep within the time allowed you

Help the Audience Enjoy Your Presentation

Use verbal transitions to alert the audience to a change ◦ “My second point is”◦ “Next, I will discuss”

Use visual aids to signal a change

Use Transitions Between Key Points

Plan the presentation to take slightly less than the allowed time◦A few minutes short is better than a few

minutes too long

Stay in the Allowed Time

Repeat the question Take a few seconds to think before you answer

If you don’t know the answer, say “I don’t know, but I’ll find out”

Field Questions Effectively

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