Presentation SkillsPresentation Skills

Use of VoiceUse of Voice

VolumeVolume PitchPitch SpeedSpeed PausePause

Body LanguageBody Language

HandsHands MannerismsMannerisms Audience ContactAudience Contact

NervousnessNervousness

It is quite natural to be nervous, It is quite natural to be nervous, and this can improve your and this can improve your performance. But the fear of performance. But the fear of making a fool of yourself can make making a fool of yourself can make you speak too quickly, and can you speak too quickly, and can prevent you from using the pause.prevent you from using the pause.

PreparationPreparation

1.1. Collection of informationCollection of information Think all round the subject, and note Think all round the subject, and note

down on a large sheet of paper down on a large sheet of paper preferably in pattern form, preferably in pattern form, everything that comes into your everything that comes into your head on the subject of your talk.head on the subject of your talk.

The advantage of a patterned form is The advantage of a patterned form is that it aids rather than fights the way that it aids rather than fights the way our brain operates.our brain operates.

PreparationPreparation22 Selection and rejectionSelection and rejection Ask yourself these four simple questions :Ask yourself these four simple questions : Who are my audiences?Who are my audiences? How much do they already know?How much do they already know? What do I want to tell them?What do I want to tell them? How much time am I allowed?How much time am I allowed? Clarify your aim.Clarify your aim. Then reject anything which is irrelevant from your initial notes.Then reject anything which is irrelevant from your initial notes. Now decide your headings and subheadings, and put them into Now decide your headings and subheadings, and put them into

logical order.logical order. The structure of the talk begins to take shape.The structure of the talk begins to take shape. Remember you will not have time to say all you know about the Remember you will not have time to say all you know about the

subject.subject. Use only what is relevant and what can be dealt with in the time Use only what is relevant and what can be dealt with in the time

at your disposal.at your disposal.

PreparationPreparation

33 NotesNotes For these use only postcards.For these use only postcards. Write in large block letters (readable Write in large block letters (readable

at a distance).at a distance). Use one card for the INTRODUCTION, Use one card for the INTRODUCTION,

one for each theme, and one for the one for each theme, and one for the END.END.

Be sure that the whole sequence is Be sure that the whole sequence is logical.logical.

Structure Structure

A well-constructed talk always falls A well-constructed talk always falls into three main sections.into three main sections.

Beginning/IntroductionBeginning/Introduction Middle/Main BodyMiddle/Main Body Ending/Summing UpEnding/Summing Up

QuestionsQuestions

AskingAsking It is better to ask a question to the It is better to ask a question to the

group generally.group generally. Then wait a few seconds and pick Then wait a few seconds and pick

someone to answer it.someone to answer it. Selecting someone first will make the Selecting someone first will make the

group switch off mentally, and the group switch off mentally, and the person chosen might feel person chosen might feel embarrassed.embarrassed.

QuestionsQuestions

AnsweringAnswering Remember T-R-A-C-TRemember T-R-A-C-T TT -- Thank the questioner for his question/say Thank the questioner for his question/say

it is a good one.it is a good one. RR -- Rephrase the question to show him you Rephrase the question to show him you

have understood it and to enable everyone else to have understood it and to enable everyone else to hear what was asked.hear what was asked.

AA -- Answer the question, to the group Answer the question, to the group –– not not just the questioner.just the questioner.

CC –– Check with the questioner that you have Check with the questioner that you have answered his question to his satisfaction.answered his question to his satisfaction.

TT –– Thank him again for having asked the Thank him again for having asked the question in the first place.question in the first place.

LanguageLanguage ““Jargon appeals to the illiterate, plain Jargon appeals to the illiterate, plain

English to the wise.English to the wise.”” Any fool can make things sound Any fool can make things sound

complicated.complicated. ItIt’’s a clever speaker whose audience all s a clever speaker whose audience all

understand that talk.understand that talk. Use a short word rather than a long one Use a short word rather than a long one

if the meaning is the same.if the meaning is the same. Do not use technical jargon without Do not use technical jargon without

explaining it, unless you are 100% sure explaining it, unless you are 100% sure that 100% of your audience understand that 100% of your audience understand its meaning.its meaning.