Presentation Skills

Outline of lecture• Planning• Preparation• Message• Media• Delivery• Elements of delivery• Key points

Planning• Understand the brief.

– Read carefully, discuss and agree on, specifically what, you are being asked to do.

• The objectives of the talk?• The main points you want to make.– A rough draft– Brainstorm

Preparation• Audience - who are the members? How many

will be at the event• Understanding - what is their knowledge about

the topic you will be addressing?• Demographics - what is their age, sex,

educational background, etc.?• Interest - why will they be at this event? Who

asked them to be there?

Preparation Cont.• Environment - where will I stand when I speak? Will

everyone be able to see me?• Needs - what are the listener's needs? What are your

needs as a speaker? • Customized - how can I custom fit my message to this

audience?• Expectations - what do the listeners expect to learn

from me?

MessageThe message refers to EVERYTHING a speaker does or says, both verbally and non-verbally:

• Structure.– An introduction - why are you there.– A body -what message do you want to convey.– A conclusion.

• Style.– Styles can vary from very formal to the very informal.

Media

• Transparencies/slides

• Power point slides

• Video projection/projector handouts

How to Convey Your Message • Visible– Use a reasonable size font and a typeface which will

enlarge well• Clear– Slides should contain the minimum information

necessary• Simple– Visually simplify using design, colour, or overlays

What Are Visuals?• Graphs • Charts • Maps • Photos • Drawings • Images models • Video/film • Objects

Visuals• Keep visuals simple• Consider colour coordination• Use large enough type for audience to read at a

distance• Do not stand in front of the thing you want the

audience to see• Speak to the audience, not the visuals

Delivery• Speak clearly- don't shout or whisper - judge

the acoustics of the room • Say what you are going to say• Say it - remember that "listeners" listen only 25

to 50% of the time • Say what you’ve said - repetition often suggests

importance• Deliberately pause at key points

• Tone of voice• Emphasis• Content• Humour• Speed• Pronunciation and Pitch• Visuals

Elements of Delivery

Tone

Consider the statement “What are you doing”

• It can be said with a harsh tone and sound like a rebuke

• It can be said with a soft tone and sound like a caring query.

Emphasis Consider the statement “What are you doing”Try using emphasis on the bold word:1. What are you doing?2. What are you doing?3. What are you doing?4. What are you doing?

Emphasis

1. Focuses attention on the action2. Implies disbelief/suprise as to what is

being done3. Suggests the person is at fault4. Focuses attention on the action.Combining emphasis and tone makes

messages easily understood

Content

Actual words are important.• Set them at the correct level for the listener• Avoid technical words, particularly if you

are not sure of their meaning• Try to ensure that your words cannot be

misunderstood, no ambiguity

Humour

• Can be a useful way of maintaining the listener’s attention

BUT• Can also risk the loss of credibility• Not everyone has the same sense of

humour• May risk offending someone

SpeedCan be used to aid emphasis and structure• to create anticipation• build up momentum before an important point• a pause can also highlight and aid the listener in

absorbing a point• a pause can infer deliberateness and thought • ‘Um’ and other noises are not pauses

Pronunciation and Pitch

• Read difficult words aloud before you have to speak in public

• Try to avoid using words you are not sure how to pronounce

Pitch is a combination of tone and loudness• it tends to change when people get irritated or

angry• A speech with no change of pitch sounds very

boring

The Presentation

Setting objectives• Consider the requirements of the

audience, what will they gain?• What are your objectives?– Get the audience to agree with your views?– Give information?– Explain something?

Presentation ContentTry to make it• Interesting• To the point• Clearly understood• Appropriate for the audience• Right length for the time available• Achieve your objectives

Before Delivery• Rehearse your presentation.– To yourself at first and then in front of some

colleagues.

Common PowerPoint mistakes1. People tend to put every word they are going

to say on their PowerPoint slides. Although this eliminates the need to memorize your talk, ultimately this makes your slides crowded, wordy and boring. You will loose your audience’s attention before you even reach the bottom of your.....

Continued) ..........first slide.

2. Many people do not run spell cheek before theirs presentation – BIG MISTAK!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing makes you look stupid than spelling errors.

Too many Bullet Points• Avoid• Excessive• Bullet • Pointing• Only • Key• Points• Too• Many

• Bullet Points• And• Your • Key• Messages• Will• Not• Stand• Out

• In fact• Term ‘Bullet Points’• Comes• From • People• Firing• Guns At• Annoying• Presenters

Bad colour schemes• Clashing Background and font colours can lead

to:• Distraction• Confusion• Headache• Vomiting• Nausea• Loss of Bladder Control

Finally ...,

• Enjoy yourself - The audience will be on your side and want to hear what you have to say!