hefferon, debbie_effective presentation and public speaking workshop
TRANSCRIPT
Effective Presentation + Speaking Skills
WH EducationUSA Conference – New Mexico – Sept/Oct 2009
Workshop facilitated by Debbie Hefferon, Consultant, Washington, DC
Workshop Goals To provide opportunities to practice
public speaking in a safe environment To understand the cultural dimension of
effective presentations To focus on the needs of the audience To address concerns of NAFSA and
advisers To practice thinking on your feet To learn ways to engage the audience
Effective presentations
Cultural implications Exercise Determining what “effective”
means – different perspectives
Remember: your purpose in speaking is not about you. It’s about your audience and what they hope to learn from you.
Your Audience - WIIFM
Consider the “take-away” value Who is my audience? What does my audience want/need? What do they want to gain from my
presentation? Handling multicultural audiences Audiences really want to like you.
by David Wallechinsky
The Book of Lists: Fears10. Dogs 9. Loneliness 8. Flying 7. Death 6. Sickness 5. Deep Water 4. Financial Problems 3. Insects and Bugs 2. Heights1. Speaking Before a Group
Tips for Public Speaking Survival
Conquering fear
What’s the worse thing that can happen? Discussion Example: What if my mind goes blank?
Nervousness is a great tool Visualize success Create a great first impression Working with anxiety
Oration skills – Public speaking
Common sense: Smile (cultural implications?) Slow down
Your presentation starts in your mind Get excited about your presentation Convey confidence Don’t eat the microphone
Presentation techniques Make better introductions Getting to the point
numbers Illustrating your ideas Keep it simple (KISS) Make an outline Start and end strong Use clear transitions
Engaging the audience
Skills to get the audience talking Design an effective introduction Gear your content to your listeners’
knowledge, experience, & interests. Help your listeners find their way
through your presentation. Use language that is clear to the ear. Design an effective conclusion.
Helping others learn
What makes people remember?
Grass, Paper, Cat, Knife, Love, Bird, Tree, Desk, Truth, Table, Fork, Pen, Stream, Wisdom, Stream, Flower, Zulu, Radio, Ruler, Blue, Sheep,
Meaning, Field, Pencil, Sky
Helping others learn
What makes people remember?
Tricks of the trade
Practice, practice, practice Backup if you forget Avoid too much material (single,
biggest mistake) Avoid too many visuals
Timing
Keep faith with your audience The chairperson’s responsibilities How to cut down your speech
Anticipate that this can happen What are your main points?
Let’s practice!
Visual supports
The uses and abuses of PowerPoint Don’t narrate your slide show!
Working with notes What to do when technology fails Plan your remarks as remarks,
pretend there are no visuals Let your slides support your
narrative
Thinking on your feet – Q&A
Relax Listen Have the question repeated Use stall tactics Pause to organize
Thinking on your feet – Q&A
If you don’t know the answer Stick to your point Prepare some “what ifs” Practice clear delivery Summarize & Stop (S&S) Dealing with difficult people
Thinking on your feet – impromptu talks
You don’t need the perfect presentation
Start with the end in mind Table topics (Toastmasters) Use research to your advantage
Let’s practice!
Thinking on your feet – explain EducationUSA quickly
Let’s practice!
Continuing your professional development – presentation skills
Pay attention Workbook Grab as many opportunities as you
can Join Toastmasters Videotape yourself
Final words
A presentation is a gift. It is not a data stream. It is one
human speaking to other humans. Tell a story. Tell it simply. Enjoy yourself in the telling.
Resources Extraordinary Oral Presentations, Margaret Ryan,
Scholastic, 2005 How to Run Seminars & Workshops: Presentation
Skills for Consultants, Trainers & Teachers, Robert Jolles, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005
Presentation Basics, Robert J. Rosania, ASTD, 2003
http://presentationcoach.typepad.com/ (a journal about how to be a great public speaker by Scott Rayburn)
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/ThinkingonYourFeet.htm http://www.toastmasters.org/