Presentation Skills

Presentation Skills

Presentation Skills

Speed

Effective speakers change their rate of speed to fit their purpose, content, listeners & personal style

Presentation Skills

Pace

• is the speed at which speaker presents different topics or thoughts within a topic

• speaker adjusts pace according to listeners’ and speakers’ interest

Presentation Skills

Tone

• emphasis placed on a word to create meaning

• variation prevents monotonous presentations

Presentation Skills

Volume / Variety / Vocabulary

project your voice

- aim for the back

go faster to excite to gain maximum

attention, say some

words louder repeat important

words

Presentation Skills

go s l o w e r to emphasize major points pause often & look

round audience

give emphasis with voice & body

Volume / Variety / Vocabulary

Presentation Skills

Languageavoid…

acronyms

being too formal

long sentences

try to…

use everyday language

use concrete words

Presentation Skills

1. Dress: be comfortable, respectful, careful

2. Facial Expression: a smile makes listeners feel comfortable

3. Eye Contact: is positive; be aware of cultural norms

4. Body Movement: be yourself, move slowly, control nervous behaviour

Body Language

Presentation Skills

5. Hand & Gestures: gesture above waist, keep fingers straight, gesture to emphasise key points

6. Conditions Affecting Behaviour: (which can you control?)

size of room furniture temperature

lighting, acoustics your reputation use of visuals

other speakers seating arrangements location

Body Language

Presentation Skills

• don’t point at anyone

• don’t move while presenting key points

• don’t stand rooted to the spot

• don’t leave your hands by your sides

• don’t avoid eye contact

Body Language – don’ts

Presentation Skills

• move hands & arms

• move around the room

• move towards audience

• move your eyes around the audience

Body Language - dos

Presentation Skills

• What about your audience?

• What does their body language tell you?

Body Language

Presentation Skills

Using Visuals

“ A picture is worth a

thousand words.”

Chinese Proverb

Presentation Skills

Flip Chart / Projector / Posters / Cards…

• big and bold

• use drawings

• use colours

• face audience, talk, write, talk

• remove when finished

Presentation Skills

Using Visuals: Don’ts

• don’t hide behind your visuals

• don’t let technology or visuals be more interesting than you

• don’t use visuals as detailed notes

Presentation Skills

Using Visuals: Dos

• do let your visuals aid you

• do use visuals to clarify and emphasise

• do make one point per visual

• do introduce each visual before showing

• do practice beforehand

Presentation Skills

Be Careful with PowerPoint

• 4 Colours Max

• Use graphics

• Check how it looks on projector

• Use text sparingly

Presentation Skills

Helpful Attitudes & Values

• My mind-set won’t help them

• Everybody is human, unique with potential

• It’s OK to teach

• No one best way

• People never argue with their own data

• Facilitators can’t win arguments

• Silence is OK

• Don’t push the river

Presentation Skills

Making it Interesting

stories/anecdotes

explain by analogy

involve them

- ask questions

- pause until reply

Presentation Skills