Presentation TipsPresentation Tips

June 23, 2005June 23, 2005

Basic Presentation SkillsBasic Presentation Skills

VoiceVoice

Body LanguageBody Language

AppearanceAppearance

VoiceVoice

VolumeVolume Speak loudly enough for the back end of Speak loudly enough for the back end of

the room.the room. Don’t shout or whisper.Don’t shout or whisper.

SpeedSpeed Speak naturally.Speak naturally. Don’t rush, or speak too slowly.Don’t rush, or speak too slowly.

Breathe.Breathe.

Practice deep breathing.Practice deep breathing.

Breathe slowly and deliberately.Breathe slowly and deliberately.

Deliver a single musical note for as Deliver a single musical note for as long as possible.long as possible.

Study meditation techniques.Study meditation techniques.

Pronounce words clearlyPronounce words clearly Enunciate consonantsEnunciate consonants D-TD-T G-KG-K L-RL-R B-PB-P He stood on the balcony, inexplicably He stood on the balcony, inexplicably

mimicking him hiccuping, while mimicking him hiccuping, while amicably welcoming him in.amicably welcoming him in.

Body LanguageBody Language

Face the audience.Face the audience. If you must turn away, do so briefly.If you must turn away, do so briefly. Don’t hide behind the podium.Don’t hide behind the podium. Keep your body open to the audience.Keep your body open to the audience.

Body language always says Body language always says something.something. Whether you mean it to or not.Whether you mean it to or not. You can look formal.You can look formal. Or casual.Or casual. Or stiff.Or stiff. Or sloppy.Or sloppy. Always look aware and awake.Always look aware and awake.

Hand GesturesHand Gestures

Keep hand gestures clear.Keep hand gestures clear. Point distinctly.Point distinctly. Use clean hand gestures.Use clean hand gestures. Try not to wave your hands Try not to wave your hands

needlessly.needlessly.

AppearanceAppearance

Dress for the occasion.Dress for the occasion. What are others wearing?What are others wearing? What do you feel comfortable in?What do you feel comfortable in? What you wear can effect your attitude.What you wear can effect your attitude. When in doubt, err on the side of over-When in doubt, err on the side of over-

dressing.dressing.

PreparationPreparation

Outline the main objectives of the Outline the main objectives of the presentation.presentation.

Always know your opening line.Always know your opening line.

Follow your outline, don’t read from Follow your outline, don’t read from a script.a script.

Rehearse in front of a mirror.Rehearse in front of a mirror.

Rehearse in front of your peers.Rehearse in front of your peers.

Rehearse in front of anyone who’ll Rehearse in front of anyone who’ll watch.watch. Use feedback constructively.Use feedback constructively.

PowerPoint/Slide PowerPoint/Slide PresentationsPresentations

Useful, but frequently troublesome.Useful, but frequently troublesome.

Use slides to prompt points of Use slides to prompt points of discussion, not as your script.discussion, not as your script.

Don’t cram too much onto one page.Don’t cram too much onto one page. Two or three bullet points per page is Two or three bullet points per page is

more than enough.more than enough.

Use clear graphics.Use clear graphics. Will they make sense to a non-expert?Will they make sense to a non-expert? Are they large enough?Are they large enough? Will they still be clear when projected Will they still be clear when projected

on a screen.on a screen. Do they contain more information than Do they contain more information than

you can cover?you can cover?

Presentation StructurePresentation Structure

Greet the audience.Greet the audience. Introduce yourself.Introduce yourself.

Keep your introduction short.Keep your introduction short. Tell the audience what they need to Tell the audience what they need to

know about you.know about you. Introduce your subject.Introduce your subject.

Tell the audience what you’re going to Tell the audience what you’re going to talk about.talk about.

Then talk about it.Then talk about it.

Be prepared for questions.Be prepared for questions. Answer what you can.Answer what you can. Be honest about what you can’t answer.Be honest about what you can’t answer. Ask friends and colleagues in the Ask friends and colleagues in the

audience to help you out.audience to help you out. When in the audience yourself, help out When in the audience yourself, help out

your friends and colleagues.your friends and colleagues.

Troublesome questionsTroublesome questions If an answer requires a lengthy If an answer requires a lengthy

response, offer to talk after the response, offer to talk after the presentation.presentation.

Be prepared for hostile questions.Be prepared for hostile questions. Maintain your composure.Maintain your composure.

Sometimes the Q&A session turns into Sometimes the Q&A session turns into an opportunity for commentary.an opportunity for commentary. Be respectful of dissenting views.Be respectful of dissenting views. You are the moderator. Control the room.You are the moderator. Control the room.

ContentContent

Frame your message.Frame your message. Especially if it is legally or socially Especially if it is legally or socially

controversial.controversial. Don’t advocate unethical actions.Don’t advocate unethical actions. Be aware of your audience.Be aware of your audience.

But don’t assume too much.But don’t assume too much. Expect unexpected reactions from your Expect unexpected reactions from your

audience.audience.

Selling your idea or product?Selling your idea or product? Address the merits and limitations of Address the merits and limitations of

your subject.your subject. Don’t underestimate your audience.Don’t underestimate your audience.

Can be useful to deliver a point.Can be useful to deliver a point. But can backfire if the joke isn’t funny.But can backfire if the joke isn’t funny.

Choose appropriate material.Choose appropriate material.

Let the audience laugh - don’t cut Let the audience laugh - don’t cut them off.them off. What one group finds funny, the next What one group finds funny, the next

may not.may not.

HumorHumor

Remember:Remember:

Your audience is not a group of Your audience is not a group of professional speakers.professional speakers. They don’t expect you to be perfect.They don’t expect you to be perfect. They can sympathize with any nervousness.They can sympathize with any nervousness. You can correct any minor mistakes as you go You can correct any minor mistakes as you go

along.along.

Check out the space beforehand.Check out the space beforehand. Examine the size, the seating.Examine the size, the seating. Look at the technical equipment. Look at the technical equipment.

Practice.Practice. Practice.Practice. Practice.Practice.

Beyond all else, convey your Beyond all else, convey your message.message.