presentation skills: delivery tom atkinson bogazici university may 27, 2004

Presentation Skills: Presentation Skills: DeliveryDelivery

Tom AtkinsonTom Atkinson

BogaziciBogazici UniversityUniversity

May 27, 2004May 27, 2004

Bogazici University Tom Atkinson

Agenda Agenda

1.1. MotivationMotivation

2.2. Presentation ProcessPresentation Process

3.3. Presentation TechniquesPresentation Techniques

4.4. PracticePractice

Part 1Part 1

MotivationMotivation


A fear worse than deathA fear worse than death

““Speaking is people’s biggest fear. Speaking is people’s biggest fear. Death is number 2. In other Death is number 2. In other words, you would rather be in the words, you would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy.”coffin than giving the eulogy.”

- Jerry Seinfeld- Jerry Seinfeld


Causes of AnxietyCauses of Anxiety

Fear of the unknownFear of the unknown Being unpreparedBeing unprepared Having no Having no

enthusiasmenthusiasm No focus of No focus of

attentionattention


The secret to successThe secret to success

Be passionateBe passionate PreparePrepare PracticePractice

Part 2Part 2

Presentation ProcessPresentation Process


As with everything, As with everything, there’s a processthere’s a process

Before the Big Day:Before the Big Day: Write the presentationWrite the presentation Know what to expectKnow what to expect PracticePractice


Getting StartedGetting Started

Set up 30 minutes priorSet up 30 minutes prior Put up title slide 5 Put up title slide 5

minutes priorminutes prior Welcome and talk to Welcome and talk to

members of audience:members of audience: Helps create a connectionHelps create a connection Relaxes youRelaxes you

Tell audience if you Tell audience if you want questions during or want questions during or afterafter


Giving itGiving it

Give prepared Give prepared introductionintroduction Keep it short and simpleKeep it short and simple

Speak 2-3 minutes / slideSpeak 2-3 minutes / slide Too quick, audience gets Too quick, audience gets

lostlost Too slow, audience gets Too slow, audience gets

boredbored Give prepared conclusionGive prepared conclusion Take final questionsTake final questions


Use Transitional Sign PostsUse Transitional Sign Posts

Forecast next ideaForecast next idea

Emphasize relationshipsEmphasize relationships

Give audience time to Give audience time to digest materialdigest material

Give speaker time to Give speaker time to think about next pointthink about next point

howeverhowever

once againonce again

In In summarysummary

finallyfinally


Transition ExampleTransition ExampleTransitionTransition

““Now that we have some Now that we have some theoretical basis for this theoretical basis for this

research…”research…”

Internal SummaryInternal Summary

““I’d like to discuss the I’d like to discuss the following 3 commercial following 3 commercial

applications…”applications…”


Closing guidelinesClosing guidelines

Summarize the Summarize the main pointsmain points

Leave them with Leave them with the main thought the main thought that you want them that you want them to rememberto remember

Thank the Thank the audienceaudience


Handling QuestionsHandling Questions

If you don’t know the answer:If you don’t know the answer: Acknowledge it is a good questionAcknowledge it is a good question Indicate you don’t have the answerIndicate you don’t have the answer Say you will find the answer and Say you will find the answer and

get backget back DON’T try to bluffDON’T try to bluff DO get backDO get back


Handling QuestionsHandling Questions

If one person is If one person is asking too many asking too many questions:questions: Give a complete, but Give a complete, but

short answershort answer Ask to take the Ask to take the

conversation “off-conversation “off-line”line”

Move onMove on

Part 3Part 3

Presentation TechniquesPresentation Techniques


Sender Receiver

Feedback

Distortion

Remember this?Remember this?“Messages do not reach the receiver due to “Messages do not reach the receiver due to

‘distortion’ ”‘distortion’ ”

Source: United Behavioral Health

Your want to avoid this situationYour want to avoid this situation


Clear the distortion with:Clear the distortion with:

1.1. Effective deliveryEffective delivery

2.2. Natural, engaging Natural, engaging body languagebody language

3.3. Know the Know the equipmentequipment

4.4. Good knowledge Good knowledge of spaceof space


1. Effective Delivery1. Effective Delivery Be naturalBe natural

Avoid difficult, technical languageAvoid difficult, technical language Avoid jargonAvoid jargon Speak a little slower than normalSpeak a little slower than normal

Be obviousBe obvious Do not assume audience understands Do not assume audience understands

implicationsimplications Avoid “inside jokes”Avoid “inside jokes”

Be punctualBe punctual Finish on time or beforeFinish on time or before


Vocal varietyVocal variety

Vary the pitch and volume of your Vary the pitch and volume of your voice. voice.

Use inflections to emphasize critical Use inflections to emphasize critical pointspoints

Avoid reading your presentationAvoid reading your presentation Avoid memorizing your entire Avoid memorizing your entire

presentationpresentation


Common ProblemsCommon Problems Verbal fillersVerbal fillers

““Um”, “uh”, “like”Um”, “uh”, “like” Unrelated words or phrasesUnrelated words or phrases

Swaying, rocking, and pacingSwaying, rocking, and pacing Hands in pocketsHands in pockets Lip smackingLip smacking Fidgeting – playing with your penFidgeting – playing with your pen Looking away from the audienceLooking away from the audience


Caution!Caution!

Only use anecdotes that are relevantOnly use anecdotes that are relevant Use caution with personal Use caution with personal

experiencesexperiences Stay away from inappropriate humorStay away from inappropriate humor


2. Natural, Engaging Body 2. Natural, Engaging Body LanguageLanguage

Show enthusiasmShow enthusiasm S p e a k s l o w l y a n d c l e a r l yS p e a k s l o w l y a n d c l e a r l y Project to fill the whole roomProject to fill the whole room No Ummm’s or ahhhh’sNo Ummm’s or ahhhh’s

Feet firmly planted, square with shoulders

Clean-cut, pleasant dress

Pleasant grin


Sources of NoiseSources of Noise

Don’t distract your audience by:Don’t distract your audience by: Wearing a hatWearing a hat Wearing sunglassesWearing sunglasses Chewing gum or tobaccoChewing gum or tobacco Using note cards: use the screen insteadUsing note cards: use the screen instead Using gender bias or stereotypical termsUsing gender bias or stereotypical terms Being negative and apologizingBeing negative and apologizing


3. Know the Equipment3. Know the Equipment Using your own laptopUsing your own laptop

Screen saversScreen savers Video and sound output, volume, lightingVideo and sound output, volume, lighting

Using the school’s computerUsing the school’s computer PowerPoint may replace bullets and fontsPowerPoint may replace bullets and fonts

DemosDemos May require a certain network, internet, a May require a certain network, internet, a

particular version of an OS, non-standard particular version of an OS, non-standard dll’s, video card settings…dll’s, video card settings…


4. Know the Space4. Know the Space

VisibilityVisibility MovementMovement Number of seatsNumber of seats Seating Seating

arrangementarrangement DistractersDistracters


Handouts – only if requiredHandouts – only if required

Distribute handouts:Distribute handouts: At end if possibleAt end if possible At beginning only if audience needs At beginning only if audience needs

them during presentationthem during presentation Not duringNot during

Print one-sided, with 2, 3 or 6 to a Print one-sided, with 2, 3 or 6 to a pagepage

Staple beforehandStaple beforehand


Summary: Your Summary: Your presentation will be great if presentation will be great if

you make it:you make it: Audience centeredAudience centered Accomplish your objectiveAccomplish your objective Fun for the audienceFun for the audience Fun for youFun for you Finish within the time frameFinish within the time frame


How do you do this? With…How do you do this? With…

Part 4Part 4

PracticePractice


How to PracticeHow to Practice

In front of the mirrorIn front of the mirror With a friendWith a friend In the actual room where you will In the actual room where you will

give the presentationgive the presentation In front of a video camera, with a In front of a video camera, with a

friend, in the actual room where friend, in the actual room where you will give the presentationyou will give the presentation


Let’s Practice!Let’s Practice!

Any volunteers?Any volunteers?


Communications Seminar Communications Seminar SummarySummary

What do you remember about:What do you remember about:

Listening?Listening? Email writing?Email writing? Report writing?Report writing? Presentation Presentation

preparation?preparation? Presentation delivery?Presentation delivery?

Thank You!Thank You!

presentation skills: delivery tom atkinson bogazici university may 27, 2004

Documents

audience time

members of audience

minutes priorput

minutes priorwelcome

presentation skills

speaker time

minutes slidetoo quick

effective deliverynatural