Presentation Techniques

Kim Nolsøe

Christoffer Wenzel Tornøe

Agenda

Introduction

Preparing the presentation

Executing the presentation

Summary

Introduction

”Presentation technique can be explained by a combination of the ability to say something and at the same time to give the audience something to look at.”

How does a good ”presenter” become better.

Preparation

The preparation

How to start preparing the presentation. The Ten Commentments. Present yourself. The setup of a presentation Use of examples. Should you use a manuscript? How is the presentation room? What do you want to distribute to the

participants? Rehearsal

How to start preparing the presentation

Information Sources (library, internet, personal network)

Focus on key messages What are your goals with the presentation

Be realistic What is the form of the presentation

Internal/external meeting Conference Seminar Workshop

The speaker’s 10 commentments

1. Have something to say

2. Know what you want

3. Be prepared – also of the unexpected

4. Be visual

5. Is it relevant

6. Is there enough time

7. Define your audience

8. Think and speak in pictures/examples

9. Is it the appropriate time and place

10. Should you say something at all

Present yourself - Accenture

Kim Nolsøe 32 years old DTU 1999 3 years with Accenture

Agronaut, Sundhed.dk, HTK, Meridia System implementation Back-end

JAVA, VB, Enterprise JAVA beans, DB Front-end

ASP, JSP

Present yourself – Adventure Club

Kim Nolsøe 32 years old Math and Philosophy Travel

Hawaii 1996 Austria 1997 Indonisia 1997,1999 South Africa 1998

Sports Windsurfing Surfing Para-shutting Bungy jump Snowboarding Skiing

Interests Friends and family Reading

How NOT to present yourself

John Doe Education

High School – A average DTU – A average PhD – probably A average

Religion Member of Jehova’s Witnesses – The only right choice

Politics Member of the national Danish Nazi committee

Sports The little silver frog in swimming

Motto Trust me – I’m RIGHT

What can go wrong?

Choice of layout for the presentation Choice of typography and size Too much text Too many animations Too little contrast between the text and the

background Uncritical with respect to the general impression

What to do?

Carefully proofread the presentation Let another person look over the presentation before

it is shown to an audience Look through the presentation on a big screen to

assess the readability of the text Evaluate your own effort after the presentation

Layout

Use as few bullets as possible Use short sentences and words Illustrations are good The presentation should be readable in the

whole room

Typography, colors, and animations

Choose a background that doesn’t steal to much attention

Choose serif fonts with feet Pick colors which go well together (contrast) Don’t be too creative with the animations

Bad example of layoutBad example of layout

• This is not the way a slide should look

• The background steels the attention from the text

• The color of the text is hard to tell from the background

• The animations are disturbing

Use of examples

Why? Personal touch Different angles Illustrate the use of the theory in practice Repeat key messages

How? Short and precise Easy to understand

Should you use a manuscript?

Setting Funeral Scientific speach Business meeting

Form Notes Cue cards Full manuscript

The room

How are the tables positioned in the room? Can everybody see the presentation? Do you have eye contact with the audience?

A B C

The room

How are the tables positioned in the room? Can everybody see the presentation? Do you have eye contact with the audience?

D E FE

What do you want to distribute?

Name tags Participant lists Slides Exercises Note paper Drinks and food

Rehearsal

Don’t learn it by heart

Presentation

The presentation

Precision Equipment Outline of a presentation The presenter’s tasks Body language Do’s and dont’s The participants

Precision

“…Precision is the art of coming so late that one still arrives before the others”

(Monika Peitsch)

Start on time ! End on time !

Equipment

Check that the computer and projector works before the presentation

Is it necessary to use a microphone? Should the light be switched off during the

presentation? Are there enough chairs? Have water ready for the speaker

Outline of a presentation

Present yourself Name, company, background, …

Introduce the topic of the presentation Give an overview of the extent of the speech Present the background Show some good illustrative examples Finish off with the conclusions

The presenter’s tasks

Make the audience: listen think ask questions

Body language

Open attitude Standing

Hands on hips, eye contact with audience Sitting

Sit on the edge of the seat, hands on table/legs with palms down, legs separated

Body language

Defensive attitude Standing

Crossed arms, wrinkled forehead, closed fist Sitting

Sit with legs crossed leaning backwards, crossed ankles, show palms with finger stretched

Body language

Bored/Superior attitude Standing

Look at ceiling, floor, nails, window, Stand on toes Low whistling

Sitting Drum with fingers Look in papers

Do’s and don’ts

Do’s Smile Make eye contact Speak slowly Take a break if the participants are sleeping Stick to your disposition Engage the audience Repeat yourself

Do’s and don’ts

Don’ts Don’t begin with an apology Don’t look at the watch too much Don’t move around too much Don’t look at the floor Don’t take your glasses on and off Try not to bore the audience Don’t say “ehhh” between sentences Avoid speaking with too much of an accent

Participants – What to do with them?

Cantankerous person (kværulant) The witty The envious The silent The talking The boaster

Fatigue signs from the audience

The audience is tired when they rub their eyes scratch their hair are restless look at the watch have an empty look in their face

Summary

The preparation Focus on the topic Be prepared

The presentation Think about your body language Present yourself and the topic Use examples Repeat your key messages And finally evaluate your performance