Presentation+skills.doc

PRESENTATION SKILLS -

Public Speaking is the most feared activity among business people (greater than the fear of flying) There are no physical limitations; it’s just a mental thing Do it as often as possible to improve STRUCTURE and CONTENT

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Ask the following questions: who, what, where, when and why. Who is your audience (age, demographics, education, affiliation, special interest)? Why are they there to listen to you? What do they want to hear? How will you keep their interest? Where is the event taking place? Are you on a panel of speakers? Topic: start with the end in mind: what is the message or takeaway? Keep the content and language simple and the PowerPoint even simpler Know your audience (so you don’t talk down to them) Everyone in the audience may not be familiar with your language or expressions so be careful not to use jargon and lingo Research, research, research If there are several ideas in your presentation, keep linking back to main topic If using slides, ensure that each slide supports the main idea and should flow naturally What’s in it for me (WIIFM)? This is what’s going through the mind of the audience The cardinal rule for presentations/speeches: Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you’ve told them (Opening, Body, Close) Summarise your main idea at the end and if there is an action required, mention it Ensure the room set up is what works best for your objective Ensure audio-visual equipment is working fine

DELIVERY -

Be relaxed and confident. Do some stretches and breathing exercises before you start Smile a lot (unless this is a sombre occasion) Don’t use humour unless you’re good at it Have a strong opening that gets the audience’s attention: a personal story related to the topic, a rhetorical question that makes them think, etc. Don’t come across as a ‘know-it-all.’ It’s okay not to know everything or have answers for everything State the structure of the session upfront: do you want questions as you go along or want to tackle them at the end? Never put down anybody or dismiss any question as being irrelevant Practice, practice, practice Involve the audience - WIIFM Keep eye contact Speak to the back of the room Vary the tone of voice/modulate delivery People process information differently: auditory, visual and kinaesthetic Avoid awkward movements and distracting clothing Keep it simple – don’t get caught up in fancy techniques Have a strong closing – what will people remember you for? If you've done the Q&A at the end, summarize your talk as a closing

If you have family or friends in the audience, ask for feedback.