Making Presentations

Jennifer PowersISP 499z

January 27, 2003

10 Steps for Powerful Presentations

1. Knowing your listeners2. Identifying your purpose3. Organizing your presentation4. Speaking clearly5. Controlling nervousness

From: Powerful Presentation Skills, Becker and Becker, 1994

10 Steps for Powerful Presentations

6. Choosing language7. Controlling nonverbal behavior8. Using visuals9. Handling questions10. The final touch

1. Knowing your listeners

Why?• Streamline presentation• Simplify preparation• Customize materials• Feel more comfortable• Reduce anxiety

1. Knowing your listeners

How? Listeners checklist (pp. 2–4)• Why am I speaking?• Why are they listening?• What are their attitudes/behaviors

likely to be?• What relationship do we have?• What relationship do they have with

each other?

1. Knowing your listeners

Why, continued• What do they know about this topic?• What would they like to know?• How will they use this information?• What are they doing before and after

I speak?• What are the logistics of the speaking

situation?

2. Identifying your purpose

Five purposes• Persuading• Informing• Motivating• Entertaining• Inspiring

2. Identifying your purpose

Supporting techniques• Persuading through ethos

(reputation/credibility)• Persuading through pathos

(emotions)• Persuading through logos (logic)

2. Identifying your purpose

Supporting techniques, continued• Informing through telling• Informing through teaching• Informing through training

2. Identifying your purpose

Supporting techniques, continued• The motivation matrix

o Motivated by Ethos Pathos Logos

o Motivated for Accomplishment Recognition Power

2. Identifying your purpose

Accomplishment

Recognition Power

Ethos (credibility)

Pathos (emotion)

Logos (logic)

3. Organizing your presentation

Inductive organizationDeductive organizationThe four-step outlineNumerical transition

4. Speaking clearly

AssimilationPlosive soundsRate of speedPaceArticulationInflection

5. Controlling nervousness

ABCs of fearDiaphragmatic breathing10-second relaxer

6. Choosing language

Be clearBe colorfulBe concreteBe conciseBe consistentBe correct

7. Controlling nonverbal behavior

2 golden rules• Be yourself• Don’t do anything that draws

attention to itself

7. Controlling nonverbal behavior

Supporting techniques• Dress• Facial expression• Eye contact• Body movement• Hand and arm gestures• Conditions affecting behavior

8. Using visuals

SynchronizationIntroductionSet-upTalk and do

9. Handling questions

When you don’t want questions…• Submitted in writing• Answered privately• Asked later

9. Handling questions

When you do want questions…• Encouraging questions• Listening to questions• Responding to questions• How to say “I don’t know”

10. The final touch

ClothingDiet and fitnessUsing notesOpeningsPracticing

Making presentations

Be preparedPracticeRelax

Questions?

Refer to Powerful Presentation Skills for more on all of these topics