Effective Presentation + Speaking Skills

WH EducationUSA Conference – New Mexico – Sept/Oct 2009

Workshop facilitated by Debbie Hefferon, Consultant, Washington, DC

DeborahHefferon@gmail.com

Workshop Goals To provide opportunities to practice

public speaking in a safe environment To understand the cultural dimension of

effective presentations To focus on the needs of the audience To address concerns of NAFSA and

advisers To practice thinking on your feet To learn ways to engage the audience

Effective presentations

Cultural implications Exercise Determining what “effective”

means – different perspectives

Remember: your purpose in speaking is not about you. It’s about your audience and what they hope to learn from you.

Your Audience - WIIFM

Consider the “take-away” value Who is my audience? What does my audience want/need? What do they want to gain from my

presentation? Handling multicultural audiences Audiences really want to like you.

by David Wallechinsky

The Book of Lists: Fears10. Dogs 9. Loneliness 8. Flying 7. Death 6. Sickness 5. Deep Water 4. Financial Problems 3. Insects and Bugs 2. Heights1. Speaking Before a Group

Tips for Public Speaking Survival

                                                                           

Conquering fear

What’s the worse thing that can happen? Discussion Example: What if my mind goes blank?

Nervousness is a great tool Visualize success Create a great first impression Working with anxiety

Oration skills – Public speaking

Common sense: Smile (cultural implications?) Slow down

Your presentation starts in your mind Get excited about your presentation Convey confidence Don’t eat the microphone

Presentation techniques Make better introductions Getting to the point

numbers Illustrating your ideas Keep it simple (KISS) Make an outline Start and end strong Use clear transitions

Engaging the audience

Skills to get the audience talking Design an effective introduction Gear your content to your listeners’

knowledge, experience, & interests. Help your listeners find their way

through your presentation. Use language that is clear to the ear. Design an effective conclusion.

Helping others learn

What makes people remember?

Grass, Paper, Cat, Knife, Love, Bird, Tree, Desk, Truth, Table, Fork, Pen, Stream, Wisdom, Stream, Flower, Zulu, Radio, Ruler, Blue, Sheep,

Meaning, Field, Pencil, Sky

Helping others learn

What makes people remember?

Tricks of the trade

Practice, practice, practice Backup if you forget Avoid too much material (single,

biggest mistake) Avoid too many visuals

Timing

Keep faith with your audience The chairperson’s responsibilities How to cut down your speech

Anticipate that this can happen What are your main points?

Let’s practice!

Visual supports

The uses and abuses of PowerPoint Don’t narrate your slide show!

Working with notes What to do when technology fails Plan your remarks as remarks,

pretend there are no visuals Let your slides support your

narrative

Thinking on your feet – Q&A

Relax Listen Have the question repeated Use stall tactics Pause to organize

Thinking on your feet – Q&A

If you don’t know the answer Stick to your point Prepare some “what ifs” Practice clear delivery Summarize & Stop (S&S) Dealing with difficult people

Thinking on your feet – impromptu talks

You don’t need the perfect presentation

Start with the end in mind Table topics (Toastmasters) Use research to your advantage

Let’s practice!

Thinking on your feet – explain EducationUSA quickly

Let’s practice!

Continuing your professional development – presentation skills

Pay attention Workbook Grab as many opportunities as you

can Join Toastmasters Videotape yourself

Final words

A presentation is a gift. It is not a data stream. It is one

human speaking to other humans. Tell a story. Tell it simply. Enjoy yourself in the telling.

Resources Extraordinary Oral Presentations, Margaret Ryan,

Scholastic, 2005 How to Run Seminars & Workshops: Presentation

Skills for Consultants, Trainers & Teachers, Robert Jolles, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005

Presentation Basics, Robert J. Rosania, ASTD, 2003

http://presentationcoach.typepad.com/ (a journal about how to be a great public speaker by Scott Rayburn)

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/ThinkingonYourFeet.htm http://www.toastmasters.org/