Effective Presentation Skills

Dr. Leonard M. LyeAssociate Dean (Graduate Studies)Faculty of Engineering and Applied ScienceMemorial University of Newfoundland

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At what times in your career mightyou have to give a presentation?

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You may be required to give a presentation to a class as part of a course requirementaudiences at a technical conferenceexaminers of your thesisclients of a project potential employers about yourselfthe public about why they should elect you

The preparation and delivery of essential information in a logical, succinct manner leading to productive resultTypes:– Persuasive (proposals or sales)– Informative (transfer/sharing information)– Briefing (presenting to higher ups)– Instructional (teaching)– Combination of above (thesis, research paper)

What is a Presentation?

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Trim the “fat”.Deliver the “lean”.

Woodrow Wilson

Presentation Planning Process

Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Presentations (P6)

Six steps:

1. Establish objectives

2. Analyze the audience

3. Create a preliminary plan

4. Select resources

5. Organize and develop material

6. Practice and evaluate

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Step 1: Establish Objectives

Provides focus and answers.

Why are you making this presentation?

What reaction do you want from the audience?

What do you want to happen as a result of your presentation?

Don’t try to cover everything.

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Step 2: Analyze the Audience

Answers the questions:

Who is in the audience?

Why are they listening to you?

What is their level of knowledge of the subject?

What are they interested in hearing?

Do they expect data or concepts?

How do they like to receive information?

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Step 3: Create a Preliminary Plan

A conceptual guide that includes:

Objectives

Audience information

3 to 5 main ideas

Supporting factual information

What you will cover

Level of detail

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Step 4: Select Resources

Resource materials include:

Stories/theories

Charts, graphs, tables

Equations/models

Pictures

Videos

Other information that supports your main ideas

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Step 5: Organize and Develop Material

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OPENING – Briefly state what you will be talking about and why

BODY – Talk details

CONCLUSION – Briefly summarize the key information

Be concrete.(use examples, statistics, reiteration, comparison)

Opening or Introduction

Second most important part of presentation

Information the audience will retain about you

Establish relationship with audience

Include hook

Outline content

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Body - The Hook

Attracts the interest of the audience (WIIFM?)

Introduces the content of presentation

Types– Incentive– Surprise– Curiosity

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Conclusion

Most important part of presentation

Recall the hook

Repeat the message

Transition to action– decision, questions

Stay in control until the end

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Step 6: Practice and Evaluate

Practicing and self-evaluation are key!

Practice out loud at least twice

Don’t memorize

Allow 1 minute per slide on average (e.g. 15 minutes talk, use 15 slides).

STAY ON TIME – leave time for questions

Practice with a trial audience

Practice if possible in the actual venue

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Famous quotes on presentation

If I went back to college again, I'd concentrate ontwo areas: learning to write and to speak before an audience. Nothing in life is more important that theability to communicate effectively.

President Gerald R. Ford

A speaker who is attempting to move people tothought or action must concern himself with Pathos(i.e., their emotion).

Aristotle

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Delivering your presentation – SPEAK

S = Simplify your material – less is more

P = Prepare and practice

E = Enthusiasm

A = Anxiety – channel it

K = Knowledge of your subject

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Enthusiasm

Your most potent weapon

If you do not seem excited by your idea or talk, why should the audience be?

Wakes ‘em up

Makes people dramatically more receptive

Gets you loosened up, breathing, moving around

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Anxiety/Fear/Nervousness

glossophobia (or speech anxiety) the fear ofpublic speaking; from the Greek glōssa, meaningtongue, and phobos, meaning fear or dread.

Source: Wikipedia

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Glossophobia

Symptoms include:

intense anxiety prior to, or simply at the thought of having to verbally communicate with any group,

avoidance of events which focus the group's attention on individuals in attendance,

physical distress, nausea, or feelings of panic in such circumstances (inability to breathe, inability to stand up, inability to operate brain).

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Dealing with Anxiety

Nervousness: Nothing wrong with having butterflies; but you want to have them fly in formation. Accept it, and live with it.

Harness your nervousness, make it work for you instead of against you.

Deep breathing while waiting your turn. Take a few deep breaths before speaking.

Start with a neutral, easy-to-say phrase e.g. good afternoon [no brain required]

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Move around, use large gestures, wave your arms,stand on chairs.

Go to the washroom first

SMILE and maintain a positive attitude.

Maintain good posture – stand tall, chest out.

You are not a wimp. Everyone feels this way.

Good news: Nobody has died by giving a presentation yet!

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Pre-presentation Strategies

Arrive early

Check media equipment

Locate and check light and temperature controls

Review your notes

Use the loo, toilet, washroom, or WC

Do deep breathing (4-8-4-8-4-8)

Relax and stay calm

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Verbal Communication Techniques

How you say something isjust as important as what you say.

Project your voice – don’t mumble

Maintain an appropriate pace – don’t rush

Use familiar words e.g. facilitate = help

Use clear, correct, and concise words

Make smooth transitions – first, as a result, on the other hand, next, etc.

Avoid the use of fillers…umms, ahs, ...

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Non-verbal Communication Techniques

DO NOT speak to the screen, floor, back wall, ceiling, or anywhere other than the audience.

Find a friendly face in multiple locations around the room. Make eye contact.

Identify a nodder, and speak to him or her (better still, more than one)

Make each person in the audience think you are talking to her or him personally

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Introducing Your Presentation

Capture your audience attention

Prepare your audience

Review your presentation objectives

Be optimistic

Make positive comments

Show confidence

SMILE – helps to relax you

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Introduction Techniques

Six methods:

Ask a rhetorical question. – What is considered an effective presentation?

Ask for a show of hands.– How many of you love public speaking?

Use an interesting or famous quotation.– If you haven't struck oil in five minutes, stop boring.

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Introduction Techniques

Define a term– What is glossophobia?

Share a personal experience– At my first conference talk, one of the most famous people

in my field was in the audience. Oh S____!

Tell a joke… be sensitive [some people have no sense of humour!]– Once you get people laughing, they're listening and you

can tell them almost anything - Herb GardnerE.g., Speeches are like babies; easy to conceive but hard to deliver.

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Finishing

FINISH ON TIME!

Audiences essentially stop listening when your time is up.

Simply truncate and conclude.

Leave time for questions.

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Dealing with Questions (Hard)

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Dealing with Questions (Easy)

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Handling Questions

Expect questions – opportunity to connect with your audience.

Prepare yourself by thinking of questions you might have if you heard your presentation.

Be prepared to not know the answer to a question.

Nothing is wrong with saying “I don’t know”.

Wait for the question – jot it down if possible.

Repeat the question – to make sure you understand it.

Answer the question.

Clarify question, if needed.

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Remember!

Keep it Short and Sweet (KISS)Don’t let technology dominate your message– Use plain background– Use common fonts– Use simple graphs and tables– Don’t clutter up your page– Limit use of colour

Plan to uncover rather than to cover

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Concluding Remarks

You don’t have to be outstanding to stand out.You will attend 50x as many talks as you give.Watch other people’s talks, and pick up ideas for what to do and what not to do.

The greatest ideas are worthlessif you keep them to yourself.

Just do it!

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References and Resources

Course website: www.engr.mun.ca/~llye/Seminar

www.youtube.com– Search: effective presentation, public speaking, humorous

speechesCheck out the local Toastmasters chapter– www.toastmasters.org– Great tips, hints, advice, etc.

TED Talks: www.ted.com– Best site for excellent presentations on all kinds of topics

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Acknowledgement

• Ms. Allyson Hajek, Instructional Development Office, for making great suggestions and tidying these slides.

• Dr. John Quaicoe, for sharing some of his material on giving presentations.

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Comments, discussion, questions?