Presentation Skills

Presentation Skills

Preparing an Oral Presentation

Ch. 15, Slide 2

Preparing an Oral Presentation • Identify your purpose. • Decide what you want your audience to believe, remember, or do when you finish. • Aim all parts of your talk toward your purpose.

Ch. 15, Slide 3

Preparing an Oral Presentation • Organize the introduction. • Get the audience involved. • Capture attention by opening with a promise, story, startling fact, question, quotation, relevant problem, or selfeffacing story. • Establish your credibility by identifying your position, expertise, knowledge, or qualifications.

Ch. 15, Slide 4

Preparing an Oral Presentation • Organize the introduction. • Introduce your topic. • Preview the main points.

Ch. 15, Slide 5

Preparing an Oral Presentation • Organize the body. • Develop two to four main points. Streamline your topic and summarize its principal parts. • Arrange the points logically: chronologically, from most important to least important, by comparison and contrast, or by some other strategy. Ch. 15, Slide 6

Preparing an Oral Presentation • Organize the body. • Prepare transitions. • Use “bridge” statements between major parts (I’ve just discussed three reasons for X; now I want to move to Y). • Use verbal signposts (however, for example, etc.).

• Have extra material ready. • Be prepared with more information and visuals if needed. Ch. 15, Slide 7

Preparing an Oral Presentation • Organize the conclusion. • Review your main points. • Provide a final focus. Tell your listeners how they can use this information, why you have spoken, or what you want them to do. • Plan a graceful exit. Ch. 15, Slide 8

Preparing an Oral Presentation Nine Techniques for Gaining and Keeping Audience Attention 1. A promise By the end of this presentation, you will be able to . . . .

2. Drama Tell a moving story; describe a serious problem.

3. Eye contact Command attention at the beginning by making eye contact with as many people as possible. Ch. 15, Slide 9

Preparing an Oral Presentation Nine Techniques for Gaining and Keeping Audience Attention 4. Movement Leave the lectern area. Move toward the audience.

5. Questions Ask for a show of hands. Use rhetorical questions.

6. Demonstrations Include a member of the audience.

Ch. 15, Slide 10

Preparing an Oral Presentation Nine Techniques for Gaining and Keeping Audience Attention 7. Samples/gimmicks Award prizes to volunteer participants; pass out samples.

8. Visuals Use a variety of visuals.

9. Self-interest Audience wants to know “What’s in it for me?” Ch. 15, Slide 11

Designing and Using Graphics

Ch. 15, Slide 12

Designing and Using Graphics • Select the medium. • Consider the size of the audience and the degree of formality desired. • Consider cost, ease of preparation, and potential effectiveness.

Ch. 15, Slide 13

Designing and Using Graphics • Highlight the main ideas. • Focus on major concepts only. • Avoid overkill. Showing too many graphics reduces effectiveness. • Keep all visuals simple.

Ch. 15, Slide 14

Designing and Using Graphics • Ensure visibility. • Use large type for transparencies and slides. • Position the screen high enough to be seen. • Be sure all audience members can see.

Ch. 15, Slide 15

Designing and Using Graphics • Enhance comprehension. • Give the audience a moment to study a visual before discussing it. • Paraphrase its verbal message; don’t read it.

Ch. 15, Slide 16

Designing and Using Graphics • Practice using your visual aids. • Rehearse your talk, perfecting the handling of your visual aids. • Practice talking to the audience and not to the visual.

Ch. 15, Slide 17

Presentation Enhancers

Ch. 15, Slide 18

Presentation Enhancers • Overhead Projector • Cost: Low • Audience size: 2-200 • Formality level: Formal or informal

Ch. 15, Slide 19

Presentation Enhancers • Flipchart • Cost: Low • Audience size: 2-200 • Formality level: Informal

Ch. 15, Slide 20

Presentation Enhancers • Write-and-wipe Board • Cost: Medium • Audience size: 2-200 • Formality level: Informal

Ch. 15, Slide 21

Presentation Enhancers • Slide Projector • Cost: Medium • Audience size: 2-500 • Formality level: Formal

Ch. 15, Slide 22

Presentation Enhancers • Computer Presentation Slides • Cost: Low • Audience size: 2-200 • Formality level: Formal or informal

Ch. 15, Slide 23

Presentation Enhancers • Handouts • Cost: Varies • Audience size: Unlimited • Formality level: Formal or informal

Ch. 15, Slide 24

Overcoming Stage Fright

Ch. 15, Slide 25

Overcoming Stage Fright Symptoms of Stage Fright • Stomach butterflies

• Wobbly knees

• Pounding heart

• Tied tongue

• Shortage of breath • Sweaty palms • Dry throat • Unsteady voice • Trembling hands

Ch. 15, Slide 26

Overcoming Stage Fright Ways to Overcome Stage Fright • Select a familiar, relevant topic. Prepare 150 percent. • Use positive self-talk. • Convert your fear into anticipation and enthusiasm. • Shift the focus from yourself to your visuals. Ch. 15, Slide 27

Overcoming Stage Fright Ways to Overcome Stage Fright • Give yourself permission to make an occasional mistake. • Ignore stumbles; keep going. Don’t apologize. • Make the listeners your partners. Get them involved. • Just before you speak, practice deep breathing. Ch. 15, Slide 28

Effective Telephone Calls

Ch. 15, Slide 29

Effective Telephone Calls

• Making Calls

• Plan a mini agenda. • Use a three-point introduction: 1. Your name 2. Your affiliation 3. A brief explanation of why you are calling.

• Be cheerful and accurate. • Bring it to a close. • Avoid telephone tag. • Leave complete voice-mail messages. Ch. 15, Slide 30

Effective Telephone Calls

• Receiving Calls

• Identify yourself immediately. • Be responsive and helpful. • Be cautious when answering calls for others. • Take messages carefully. • Explain when transferring calls.

Ch. 15, Slide 31

End Ch. 15, Slide 32