Presentation Skills

• Communication is a critical success factor in any business.
• Some forms of communication are:
  • Graphical
  • Written
  • Oral
• Giving a good presentation is a skill not a talent!
• A newspaper survey reported some years ago that one of the greatest fears of people is speaking in front of an audience.
• Most people are (initially) uncomfortable with giving a speech.
• Most people (initially) get nervous when giving a speech.
• The fear of giving a speech is rooted in a lack of confidence, which is turn is rooted in inadequate preparation.

Preparation

• To eliminate the stress and nervousness associated with giving a speech,
  • Prepare
  • Prepare
  • Prepare
  • Prepare
  • Prepare
  • Prepare

• To prepare for a presentation, understand the following:
  • The subject
  • The visual aids
  • The room
  • The audience
  • The expectations

The Skills

• The skills:
  • Appearance
  • Delivery
  • Diction
  • Material
  • Overall Impact

   

• Appearance
  • Dress

• Appropriate for the occasion
• Tidy
• No distracting features

Stance

• Balanced
• No swaying or rocking
• Not too stiff
• Not solvenly
• Not fidgety

Poise

• Relaxed
• Comfortable
• No indication of tension

 

• Delivery

  Visual Communication

• Maintained
• Definite
• Direct to all parts of audience

Gestures

• Meaningful
• Restricted in use

Mannerisms

• Absent

Use of Visual Aids

• Familiarity with controls
• Smooth introduction of materials
• No loss of audience contact

Use of Microphone

• Familiarity with controls
• No tapping or blowing
• No loss of sound due to head movement

Use of Notes

• Full text not read
• Notes not fumbled
• Notes used only when required
• No serious departures from notes
• Notes held sufficiently high
• No attempt to hide notes

Use of Words

• Fluent
• No unfinished sentences
• No construction changes in mid-sentence
• No false starts

Timing

• As allocated
• Not rushed at end

 

• Diction

Articulation

• Clear
• Not slurred or drawled
• Not over-precise
• Adequate movement of jaw, lips, tongue

Volume

• Adequate
• Not "breathy"
• No fading at end of sentences
• Variations used effectively

Emphasis

• Used effectively
• Stress level sufficient
• No false use
• No excessive use

Pace

• Not too fast or too slow
• Variations used effectively

Pause

• Correct length
• Not lacking in use
• Not used excessively
• Suitable allowance for laughter

Phrasing

• Natural
• Not jerky
• Awareness of meaning

Pitch

• Not too high or low
• Variations used effectively
• No nasal tone

 

• Material

Vocabulary

• Suitable for audience
• Simple where possible
• No clichés
• No jargon
• No repetitive use of particular words

Word groupings

• Short sentences or phrases
• Simple construction

Structure

• Recognizable introduction
• Recognizable body
• Recognizable conclusion

Introduction

• Attention catching
• Unusual opening
• Humorous opening
• Established link with audience
• Set the scene adequately
• Use of a recent event (if available)
• Brief

Presentation Body

• Flowed logically
• Main points clear
• Main points linked
• Not too much information
• Not too much minor detail
• Sufficient periodic recapitulation

Conclusion

• Adequate summary of points
• Ending signaled
• Final message clear
• Final message memorable
• Link with opening
• Brief
• No false ending

 

• Overall Impact
  • Met level of knowledge of audience
  • Met need for knowledge of audience
  • Extent of material adequate
  • Depth of treatment adequate
  • Purpose achieved
  • Enjoyed by audience
  • Audience left wanting more

   

• To avoid nervousness:
  • Become an expert in the subject
  • Realize that the audience wants to hear YOU
  • Meet with members of the audience prior to presentation
  • During the presentation, speak to one person at a time
  • DO NOT drink or use other sedatives
  • Convert your nervous energy to excitement
  • Smile
  • Don’t dwell on errors - the audience forgets them very quickly
  • Don’t apologize for errors - humor them if appropriate
  • Feel assertive