Presentation skills

Dr. Jagannath K. Dange

You’re On! Effective Presentation Skills”

Good speakers/presenters are not born, they are developed.

Research has shown that most people would rather die than give a speech.

Giving a presentation is a skill, like driving a car. (video)It can be learned.

A presentation is less formal. Its purpose is to teach something to the audience. It is used in classes, interviews, business meetings, committees or groups.

A presentation is a form of communication with an audience. The object of a presentation is to transmit information and opinion to the audience in your own words, within a limited amount of time.

Consider:

Who are the audience?What points do U want to get across?How much time have U got?What Audio-visual aids are available? Power-point projector? flip chart? Etc.,

GETTING STARTED

Who is your audience? Begin with a reporter’s five questions of: Who, What, When, Where and Why?  

Who will be in the audience? Will they be colleagues, teachers, friends, children, or a mixture? Will they be male or female?

Things to consider when assessing your audience:

Gender,   Age,     Occupation,  Education,  Religion, Hobbies, Political Belief and Attitudes.

 What are the issues or concerns of your audience? How can you address them?,  what is the purpose of your presentation?

When will you be presenting?

In the morning when the audience is alert or after lunch when the audience is full and a little sleepy?--- using a little humor or maybe an activity. Are there other speakers on the agenda? Are you first on the agenda or last? 

Where will you be presenting? In an auditorium, classroom, or outside?

Consider how your audience is feeling. Are they comfortable in cushioned chairs in an auditorium.

Will you be speaking in a noisy area?

Why have they come? What does the audience expect to gain? Information, views or to be entertained?

When planning your presentation, write it so you would want to hear it, if you were in the audience.

HAVE A STRUCTUREHave a beginning, middle and an end.

The Basic presentationIntroduction(opening)

Welcome the audience.Say what your presentation will be about: the aims and objectives.

The introduction should catch the attention. Perhaps a provocative statement or a humorous anecdote(story,tale).

The first thirty seconds are probably the most important.

In that period of time you must grab the attention of the audience.

There are several effective opening techniques:

start with a thought-provoking question, make an interesting or controversial statement, recite a relevant quotation or recount a joke.

Your opening should also indicate your subject (Tell them what you are going to talk about). The opening is about 10% of your presentation.

  Development(Body)

largest part of your presentation, approximately 80%.

The body of the presentation should prove statements made in the opening.  

Formulate a series of points. Organize your points so as to follow one another so each

point builds upon the previous one. limit the main points. State the purpose, then demonstrate, or recapitulate.  

Ways to demonstrate a point:  

Appeal to reason, cite examples,  quote statistics, quote an authority,  draw a comparison

Don't try to say too much content in or you will talk non- stop trying to get all your content and the audience will switch off with information overload long before the end.

   Conclusion(closing)

*It should be approximately 10% of your presentation.*The closing is just as important as the opening. *It should be clever, thought provoking, strong, clear and meaningful. *This is your opportunity to sum it up.

Briefly summarise your main points.Answer any questions.Thank the audience for listening. Look at the audience again, smile and slow down.

The end should be on a strong or positive note –

         

The above has been neatly summarised as 

"Tell them what you will tell them (introduction), tell them

(development), tell them what you told them (conclusion)"

USING AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS-(POWERPOINT, OVERHEAD PROJECTOR OR FLIP CHART, etc.,)

You may be allowed to use any AVA!

then it's wise to try to practice on one beforehand so you know what you are doing!

Check the computer and the lighting: Stand to one side .Face and speak to your audience, not the screen.  All too often the slides are just a security blanket for the speaker, Don't use too many slides: Don't try to write too much on each slide: 30 to 40 words in a large font size is ample for one transparency. The best slides contain just one word.Slides can contain prompts to remind you of, what you will say next.

Use a large (about 24 point) Don't put everything in upper case as this looks crude.

Use colour and bold for emphasis 

Pictures, especially tables, diagrams and charts are good

A little humour can grab the attention of the audience.

Don't get carried away with flashy PowerPoint transition effects as these may distract

attention form the content. 

Write down main points on a postcard sized piece of card as a prompt and also as a backup in case the technology fails!

Too many bullets can machine gun your audience to sleep! 

 

Non-Verbal Delivery

Non-Verbal communication is more powerful than verbal communication.

  “Action Speaks Louder Than Words”

 Body Language is any communication created by your body. Ex: eye contact, gestures, expression, posture, appearance etc.

Eye Contact

“Live Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul”

The eyes can tell you if a person is happy, sad, scared, in pain, etc. They communicate messages.

Facial Expressions

Just like the eyes, facial expressions  communicate messages and emotions.

 Smile before you begin speaking.

A smile will make you audience feel good about you and will help you speak with confidence and ease.

VIDEO

Hand Gestures

Hand gestures can enhance a speech by providing symbols that replace a verbal message, such as the “peace” sign or the symbol for “O.K.”

Be careful when using hand gestures because meanings vary in different cultures.  

Posture

Stand straight. Look like you are happy

to be there. Good posture

communicates confidence.

Appearance – A speaker should dress in

a manner that will effectively communicate your message.

Dress appropriately for the occasion, not too dressy or too casual.

Your appearance can create a positive first impression, and make you more credible and believable.                   

“General Guidelines: Always look professional

 CONQUERING SPEECH ANXIETY

Do you have "Stage Fright?“ Find out here

When you have to speak in public: Yes NoYour hands or legs shake    Your knees give way    You feel sick    You experience a rapid heart beat    Your stomach hurts    You have a hard time breathing    Your voice cracks or shakes    Your mouth becomes dry    You begin to sweat    You experience chest pains    You begin to stutter(stammer)    You start to twitch    You wish you were dead    You forget what you wanted to say    You freeze up    

Nerve prescription:  1.      Admit you have stage fight. A little anxiety is good. It will improve recall, raise energy levels and make for a more focused, dynamic speech.2.      Arrive early or arrange in advance to go to the event location. This will enable you to become familiar with the setting.  3.      Practice, Practice, Practice - Practice in front of family &/or friends, video tape it and review or talk in the mirror.  4.      Practice using your visual aids. Know your equipment.

 5.      Prepare - If you know your material and believe in it you will be more confident and it will show in your speech.  6.      Meet and Greet your audience before the

program begins. Familiarity breeds comfort. 7.      Take a deep breath  8.      Make eye contact with friendly and/or a familiar face, as you become 9.    Leave your notes on the podium. If your hands are shaking there is a chance, you will drop them. 10.   Take care of yourself. Eat well and get plenty of rest.  11.    Don’t eat a heavy meal just before you speak. 12.    Drink plenty of water and remember to go to the rest room before your speech.

Key Secrets of Effective Presentation:

1. Be Prepared 2. Give yourself to the audience 3. Stay Relaxed 4. Add Natural Humour5. Plan your Body and Hand Positions 6. Pay attention to all details 7. Maintain your anxiety- 8. Never Apologize, Confess or make

Excuses9. Give the audience all the enthusiasm

you want back 10.Get the audience involved in your

presentation

 It is very important that you pay attention to even the

smallest details. You can never over plan.  

The person, who fails to plan, is actually planning for a failure

Thank YouDr. Jagannath K. DangeDepartment of EducationKuvempu UniversityShankaraghattaDist: Shimoga

jkdange@gmail.comhttp://jkdange.blogspot.com