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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?