Effective Presentation Effective Presentation TechniquesTechniques

Michael J. QuinnMichael J. Quinn5 October 20105 October 2010

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This Talk Has Four This Talk Has Four PartsParts

Structuring presentation

Designing slides

Pausing techniques

Answering questions

Structuring presentation

Designing slides

Pausing techniques

Answering questions

Plan the Goal of the Plan the Goal of the TalkTalk

Where audience

is at

Where you want audience

to beTalk

““Tell ‘em” 3 TimesTell ‘em” 3 Times

Prepare audience

Move audience

Reflect on journey

Too Many Slides!Too Many Slides!

Rehearse!Rehearse!

Sign PostsSign Posts

Orient listenerOrient listener– Current topicCurrent topic– ProgressProgress

Two stylesTwo styles– IntermittentIntermittent– Ever-presentEver-present

Backing UpBacking Up

Outline

• First topic• Second topic• Third topic

First Topic

• Blah blah A• Blah blah B• Blah blah C

Backing UpBacking Up

Outline

• First topic• Second topic• Third topic

First Topic

• Blah blah A• Blah blah B• Blah blah C

Backing UpBacking Up

Outline

• First topic• Second topic• Third topic

First Topic

• Blah blah A• Blah blah B• Blah blah C

Second Topic

• Blah blah D• Blah blah E• Blah blah F

Backing UpBacking Up

Outline

• First topic• Second topic• Third topic

First Topic

• Blah blah A• Blah blah B• Blah blah C

Second Topic

• Blah blah D• Blah blah E• Blah blah F

Backing UpBacking Up

Outline

• First topic• Second topic• Third topic

First Topic

• Blah blah A• Blah blah B• Blah blah C

Second Topic

• Blah blah D• Blah blah E• Blah blah F

Third Topic

• Blah blah G• Blah blah H• Blah blah I

Duplicate Outline SlideDuplicate Outline Slide

Outline

• First topic• Second topic• Third topic

First Topic

• Blah blah A• Blah blah B• Blah blah C

Outline

• First topic• Second topic• Third topic

Second Topic

• Blah blah D• Blah blah E• Blah blah F

Outline

• First topic• Second topic• Third topic

Third Topic

• Blah blah G• Blah blah H• Blah blah I

Structuring presentation

Designing slides

Pausing techniques

Answering questions

Speaker Reads Speaker Reads SlidesSlides

A speaker may put his entire presentation A speaker may put his entire presentation on his slides. He turns his back to the on his slides. He turns his back to the audience and reads the slides aloud. audience and reads the slides aloud. Perhaps he feels this approach guarantees Perhaps he feels this approach guarantees all the information will get to the audience.all the information will get to the audience.

The problem is that the visual presentation The problem is that the visual presentation completely dominates the presenter. The completely dominates the presenter. The presenter is not adding any value to what is presenter is not adding any value to what is on the slides.on the slides.

This may be the most annoying way to give This may be the most annoying way to give a presentation. Audience members feel a presentation. Audience members feel insulted: they already know how to read! insulted: they already know how to read! They wonder why the lecturer doesn’t They wonder why the lecturer doesn’t simply hand out a copy of the slides.simply hand out a copy of the slides.

Acceptable Style #1Acceptable Style #1

Speaker Interprets Speaker Interprets SlidesSlides Slides dominateSlides dominate

– Provide all Provide all contentcontent

– Hold audience’s Hold audience’s attentionattention

Speaker supportsSpeaker supports– Faces slidesFaces slides– Helps audience Helps audience

understandunderstand

Complicated Complicated DerivationDerivation

3/13

41

4/11

11

4

11

4

1

0

1

n

n

n

n

?

Good Illustration >Good Illustration >Complicated Complicated DerivationDerivation

Good Illustration >Good Illustration >Complicated Complicated DerivationDerivation

Good Illustration >Good Illustration >Complicated Complicated DerivationDerivation

Good Illustration >Good Illustration >Complicated Complicated DerivationDerivation

Good Illustration >Good Illustration >Complicated Complicated DerivationDerivation

Dense, Static Dense, Static SlidesSlides

Keep Making ProgressKeep Making Progress

President

Academics FacilitiesStudentServices

Athletics Finances

Keep Making ProgressKeep Making Progress

President

Academics FacilitiesStudentServices

Athletics Finances

Keep Making ProgressKeep Making Progress

President

Academics FacilitiesStudentServices

Athletics Finances

Keep Making ProgressKeep Making Progress

President

Academics FacilitiesStudentServices

Athletics Finances

Keep Making ProgressKeep Making Progress

President

Academics FacilitiesStudentServices

Athletics Finances

Key Words

Acceptable Style #2Acceptable Style #2

Slides Enhance Slides Enhance SpeakerSpeaker Speaker dominatesSpeaker dominates

– Faces audienceFaces audience– Provides contentProvides content

Slides support speakerSlides support speaker– Reinforce messageReinforce message– Orient listenersOrient listeners

ContentContent

PurposePurpose– Complement speakerComplement speaker– Talk ≠ technical reportTalk ≠ technical report

DensityDensity– 7 lines/page7 lines/page– 4 words/line4 words/line

Mixing Important/ Mixing Important/ Unimportant Unimportant WordsWords

An effective presenter considers An effective presenter considers the goal of the presentation and the goal of the presentation and the amount of time that is the amount of time that is availableavailable

The resulting presentation has The resulting presentation has the proper number of slides and the proper number of slides and the proper content per slidethe proper content per slide

Important Words OnlyImportant Words Only

ConsiderConsider– Presentation goalPresentation goal– Available timeAvailable time

SelectSelect– Slide countSlide count– Slide contentSlide content

““Fly In” FailsFly In” Fails

Could you read this?Could you read this? How about this one?How about this one? Maybe the third time is the charm!Maybe the third time is the charm!

““Wipe from Left” Wipe from Left” WorksWorks Less distractingLess distracting Reduces eye movementReduces eye movement Increases readabilityIncreases readability

Hiding Hiding Relationships in Relationships in Bulleted ListsBulleted Lists

Prereqs to MEGR 230 (Dynamics)

• MATH 134• MATH 135• PHYS 121• MEGR 210

Showing Relationships Showing Relationships Aids UnderstandingAids Understanding

Prereqs to MEGR 230 (Dynamics)

MATH 134

MEGR 230

MEGR 210

MATH 135

PHYS 121

Typical Eye MovementTypical Eye Movement

Upper leftUpper left Upper rightUpper right Lower leftLower left Lower right Lower right

Image reproduced from www.animationalley.com

Image reproduced from www.allposters.com

Image reproduced from www.allposters.com

Wall of WhiteWall of White

Increases glareIncreases glare Causes eyestrainCauses eyestrain Distracts from speakerDistracts from speaker

Red/Blue ConflictRed/Blue Conflict

Red letters on blue backgroundcreates “flicker effect”

Blue letters on red backgroundjust as bad

Low ContrastLow Contrast

White on yellow Yellow on white

Black on blue Blue on black

Misleading Misleading EmphasisEmphasis

1

3

5

2

6

4

Structuring presentation

Designing slides

Pausing techniques

Answering questions

PausesPauses

UsefulUseful PowerfulPowerful DifficultDifficult

Silence UsefulSilence Useful

Awaiting thoughtAwaiting thought Switching gazeSwitching gaze Reading slideReading slide Reinforcing pointReinforcing point

Structuring presentation

Designing slides

Pausing techniques

Answering questions

PitfallsPitfalls

Hostile gesturesHostile gestures Wandering gazeWandering gaze Body languageBody language Missing pointMissing point Seeking approvalSeeking approval Excluding audienceExcluding audience

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Welcoming gesturesWelcoming gestures Focusing gazeFocusing gaze Body languageBody language Getting pointGetting point Reinforcing messageReinforcing message Including audienceIncluding audience

SummarySummary

Guide audience gently

Design slides carefully

Use pauses effectively

Answer questions inclusively