Presentation Skills

The Human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up

to speak in public.-- Sir George Jessel

To help combat fear

Walk around the venueMeet and greet the audienceBending exerciseTake deep slow breathTense and relax musclesConcentrate on your successVisualize audience after your presentationEngage in self-talk; excellent presentationBe prepared

Group communication basics

Know your audienceDefine your goalsBe preparedCommunicate orally, visually and physicallyInvolve your audienceKeep to your agenda and schedule

Know your audience

Size of the groupBackgrounds and interestsAgesExperience and expertiseExpectations

Define your goals

Identify two or three most important you want them to take away from your presentationBe clear about what you hope to accomplish:- Skill development- Knowledge retention- Information sharing- Decision making or action taking

Preparation

Allow 4 hours of preparation for 1 hour of presentationWill the presentation be formal corporate level; or casual common office communication?Will the presentation be in the form of a lecture, discussion or a combination of both?Use knowledgeable persons as resource personsKnowing personalities of people help you ‘play’ to the audienceStructure presentation around what the audience wants and needs to know

Develop the agenda

Welcome and introductionsOverviewWorkshop activities / presentation elementsConclusion / next steps

Before structuring presentation

Clarify your topic get clarification from customerIdentify your theme message around which you weave your themeResearch your topic be familiar with your topicIdentify appropriate visuals

Structuring thoughts

• Determine how to present the information to the audience:• Deductive: lecture format. Take an idea and pose to the

audience. Tell them how to use the info just presented.- Principle How to’s, applications, things to do• Inductive: For group participation. Help audience reach a

conclusion or consensus based on the dialogue with audience- Instances, events, issues Principle• Combination: You discuss an idea, reach a conclusion and then

tell your audience what to do based on the group consensus

Developing an outline

1. Topic:2. Opening: Subject 13. Transition: Subject 24. Transition: Subject 35. Call to action

Develop the materials

Choose media that are appropriate for the group size and contentRecognize limitation of the room or equipmentSimplify information for group displayProvide details in handout

Arrange the room

Formal presentation; classroom styleLarge workshop; “U” shaped sittingWorkshop: pod arrangement; small groupsSmall group brainstorming discussion

Check the equipment and the room basics

Equipment functionsBack-up is availableVentilationLighting and black-out

Communicate orally, visually and physically

Annunciate and projectMake eye contactBe positive and energeticMoveUse your visual aids

Involve your audience

Reveal the structureUse different mediaIncorporate participation

Keep to your agenda

Be conciseEnd on timeRespect your audienceAccomplish your goals

Ask for feedback; Learn from experience

Informal and formal feedbackAll feedback is validLearn from othersBe open to new ideasPractice

Skillful presenter’s qualities

Self-controlPoise – seen as one who has control on the proceedingsAwareness of people, time and spaceTact – no tasteless comments, jokes, etcDecisiveness – process questions quickly and answerPersuasivenessEnthusiasmHonesty and directnessFlexibility

Reason for a GOOD presentation

Very confidentConfidentEnthusiastic about the subjectTime flew byKept the audience involvedIn tune with the audiencePitched at the right levelEasy to understandMade it interesting / came to lifeEntertaining / humorousAppropriate visualsKept in control

Reason for a BAD presentation

NervesInadequate preparationDifficult to followPitched at the wrong levelAlienating the audienceBoringToo longVisual aids wrongThrown by questions

To help stay stimulating

Don’t tell me, show meAvoid using lecterns or podiumsMaintain constant eye contactGlance at your visuals, don’t study themBe yourselfDon’t script your speechUse simple, easy to understand language

Decide what to say

Summarize the themeList the points you could includeSelect the points you must includeEstablish the time allocationsDevelop a sequenceCollect supporting information

Getting audience to your side requires:

Topic relevanceContent and example specificitySpeaker expertise

Project best possible image

People form an opinion about you in the first minute of seeing you on the floorTo project a positive image work on the following factors:

- Dress- Mood- Tone- Expertise

Audience interest / mood

Determines how you present the facts and what you say about the topic:

- When the group members are interested and want to be there, TEACH them through your presentation

- When they are dubious or don’t want to be there, INVOLVE them

- When they are bored, uninterested or haven’t any idea why they are there, ENTERTAIN them

Presentation Tips

At heart, presentation remains a decidedly human eventHone your facilitation skillsKeep up with new trends and techniques; add fresh anecdotes, statistics and insightsOver prepareDon’t just do a mental rehearsal; physically walk through to build confidence and perfect timingDon’t be a slide narrator; don’t put too many points thereKnow why you were asked to make the presentation; get the perspectiveDon’t talk at people; talk with them

Tips

Customize; customize; customize: avoid canned presentationsCreate new concepts, process or applications; you can’t build your credibility on other people’s workContinually work for interactionShow you are passionate about the topic; if you are not neither will the audienceTeach what you love and live the life that showsOpen up. Be authentic, open and vulnerableKeep it simple and to the pointReinforce the learning with theory, research and experiential exercises

Tips

Keep the learning alive with a continuous flow of visual, auditory and kinesthetic learningNever give away the answers: use the knowledge of the audience; audience involvement increases.Don’t read the slides: let them read the slide first before speakingPlan the beginning: success depends on the first 10 minutesDesign presentations from the audience’s perspective: Ask yourself: So what?Remember that the context is powerful: paint the big picture and the details

Tips

Be a provocateur, not a presenter: use questions instead of statementsBe illustrative: use stories and examples, especially from the audienceRemember that timing is importantHave fun, learning and laughter go hand in handMake it relevant: create an action plan to help incorporate learning points.Summarize; provide a summary of learning points and a special closureBegin and end on timeBe available afterwards

Tips

Psych up before the presentation; spend time in the room and get a feel of it; meet the peoplePractice, rehearse and drill: helps control fearEvaluate everything: after every presentation; what was done right or wrongLimit content: don’t put too much informationGet professional help: If people don’t buy the messenger, they will not buy the messageStay at it: the more you present, the more you gain expertiseChange: try new methods, exercises, etc.Concentrate on the process: Be creative in increasing participation

Tips

Rejuvenate your presentation skills: get exposure to well known presenters; listen to audio tapesBe practical; deliver what is neededFocus on performanceFacilitate learning: create a vision; deliver new information each timeEffective listeningCare for each personBe credibleWatch yourself on video and listen to yourself on audioBe yourselfLove what you do

Tips

Remember, you are the presentation:- Move around- Generate and maintain energy- Carry responsibility for the audience’s experience- Modulate your voice, tone: loudly to emphasize, softly

as a contrast