tips for presenters...slide content • tailor your presentation to the audience • content of you...
TRANSCRIPT
For additional assistance and questions on how to present your technical paper please contact: Mike Ressel, [email protected]
This was modified from “Tips for Presenters”, AusIMM - The Minerals Institute, 2019
Tips for Presenters
Tips for a successful presentation
• Plan carefully and well in advance
• Do your research
• Know your audience
• Time your presentation
• Practice your presentation
• Speak comfortably and clearly
Slide Content
• Tailor your presentation to the audience
• Content of you slide should highlight the main points in a succinct fashion
• Limit the number of slides
– A good rule of thumb is 1 to 1.25 slides per minute – so for a 20minute talk, if you have more than 20 slides – LIKELY TOO MANY!
– If your presentation has more than this, reduce the number of slides by focusing content to the key messages – not by increasing the detail on each slide by reducing the font size!
Slide content (cont.)
• Limit the text of each slide– 6 words per line
– 6 lines per slide
• Don’t overuse acronyms and jargon
• Don’t overuse punctuation
• Use the spell checker!
Slide format
• Powerpoint or PDF-from-Powerpoint formats• 16:9 aspect ratio for all slides, landscape• Standard format for all slides
– Use design templates
• Clear background, no ‘noise’
• Text should contrast with background
• Leave plenty of blank space around text andgraphics
Text
• Use one font• Use a sans serif font, e.g. Arial or Tahoma• Not a serif fort, e.g. Times New Roman
– (they’re harder to read)
• Use font sizes between 18-48 points• Larger fonts = more important
information
Colour
• Color can be used to highlight key phrases
• Color can exhibit moods– Green and blue are typically relaxing– Red is urgent– Black is powerful
• But color can have its limitations!
Animation
• Don’t overuse special effects– They’ll clutter your presentation
• Only use text builds to help make a point– They’ll slow your presentation down
• Only use one type of animation– So the audience know what to expect
Graphs
• Use graphs instead of tables
• Too much data, unreadable
Images
• A picture can say a thousand words– Use them to break up the talk
• Images should:– Enhance the text
– Balance the slide
• No more than two graphics per slide
• Use good quality images only
• Simple effective messages
Timing
• Don’t run out of time;– 2 minutes on the INTRODUCTION
– 10 minutes on the DATA/PROCESS
– 3 minutes on the SUMMARY
– 3 minutes on the CONCLUSION
• Allow time for questions
Things that go WRONG!
• Too many SLIDES!
• Slides too BUSY! Keep them clear and simple
• Poor LAYOUT! Graphs not tables, bold colours
Things that go wrong
Too much text on a slide & fonts too small:
Things that go wrong:
Overly complex diagrams
Things that go wrong –
Graphics
• Cluttered maps
Things that go wrong:
Effects
• Make sure sounds and video clips play
• Include the files on one of your 2* copies of the presentation
* Bring at least 2 copies of the presentation along on separate storage medium in case one is compromised
Things that go wrong:
Images
• Blurry Images
• Generic clip art can look amateurish
Format the size of the picture to
ensure it fits within the slide
Passion, Professionalism and Pride
• This is YOUR talk – OWN it, LOVE it, ENJOY it.
• No one in the room KNOWS this like you –remember that as you walk on stage.
• Deliver a PACED and measured talk –don’t rush
• Stand TALL, Speak CLEARLY, Speak UP
How can you be CONFIDENT?•PLAN the talk!
•PRACTICE it – again and again to yourself
Then
• PRESENT it to Peers, Family and the Dog
• LISTEN to their feedback (which is a gift) – what questions come
up?
• MODIFY the talk/your style and practice it more!
• THINK about potential questions you might be asked... What
needs more clarity?
Engage your Audience
• LOOK at them – seek out their eyes for contact and support
• USE the microphone with INTENT – speak INTO it. Don’t turn away when talking.
• Be FUNNY if it works for you – even straight delivery can get a laugh. The audience want entertainment.
• Don’t WANDER the stage unless to reinforce a point
• Don’t apologize!
What’s the MESSAGE?
• Have a clear aim for your talk – say what that is.
• Focus on your talk around the key messages– Keep your messages few and simple
– Tell a story;intro + info + summary + conclusion = message
And Now…
Time to prepare and PRACTICE!
GOOD LUCK