Making a Making a Successful Successful

PresentationPresentation

M.R. Layton

What is a Presentation?

• A presentation is the A presentation is the act of introducing or act of introducing or bringing to peoplebringing to people something of something of importanceimportance

• The The objective objective is to get the audience to do is to get the audience to do somethingsomething

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation

1. Determine your objectives1. Determine your objectives

2. Know your audience2. Know your audience

3. Check out the setting for your 3. Check out the setting for your presentationpresentation

4. Know your content4. Know your content

5. Select appropriate visual aids5. Select appropriate visual aids

6. Rehearse6. Rehearse

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation

1. Determine your objectives:1. Determine your objectives:• To convinceTo convince• To teachTo teach• To explainTo explain• To reportTo report• To proposeTo propose• To sellTo sell

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation

2. Know your audience:2. Know your audience:

• Who are the audience? ->Who are the audience? ->

– How should I dress – How should I dress – formally or informally? formally or informally? BUT BUT professionally!professionally!

– How should I say - the How should I say - the tone of voice & choice tone of voice & choice of words?of words?

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation2. Know your audience by:2. Know your audience by:• Speaking Speaking with other presenters who had with other presenters who had

experiences with the audienceexperiences with the audience• Evaluating previous presentationsEvaluating previous presentations with this with this

audience by looking at the pre vs. post-audience by looking at the pre vs. post-presentation evaluation formspresentation evaluation forms

• InterviewingInterviewing a sample of your prospective a sample of your prospective audienceaudience

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation

3. Check out the setting for your 3. Check out the setting for your presentation:presentation:

• Room size and seat settingRoom size and seat setting

• Audio visual aidsAudio visual aids

• Other facilitiesOther facilities

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation

4. Know your content:4. Know your content:• Content, not style, is Content, not style, is

the the heart of a heart of a presentationpresentation. However, . However, it is supported by it is supported by effective delivery and effective delivery and audiovisual aidsaudiovisual aids

• Match the audienceMatch the audience and your objectives and your objectives with the suitable type of with the suitable type of style and vocabularystyle and vocabulary

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation

4. Know your content:4. Know your content:

• Aware of the audience retentionAware of the audience retention

• Use notes to keep you on trackUse notes to keep you on track– Preparation of Preparation of note cardsnote cards

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation

5. Select appropriate visual aids to:5. Select appropriate visual aids to:• Save timeSave time• Clarify the objectivesClarify the objectives• Define the termsDefine the terms• Prove your pointsProve your points• Increase attentionIncrease attention• Increase retentionIncrease retention

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation

5. Select appropriate visual 5. Select appropriate visual aids because:aids because:

• We learn <10% from what We learn <10% from what we taste, smell, and hear we taste, smell, and hear BUT BUT ~83% from what we ~83% from what we SEE!SEE!

Things to Consider for Selecting Visual Aids:

• Number of people Number of people attendingattending

• Audio visual aids availableAudio visual aids available• Budget & time limitationsBudget & time limitations• Advantages vs. Advantages vs.

disadvantagesdisadvantages

Guidelines for Using Visual Aids:

• Sound factual not misleadingSound factual not misleading• Look neat & professionalLook neat & professional• Support your idea/pointSupport your idea/point• One aid should convey one ideaOne aid should convey one idea• Never read directly from an aidNever read directly from an aid• Give the audience a chance to read Give the audience a chance to read

your aid before you start talkingyour aid before you start talking

Guidelines for Using Visual Aids:

• Remember, you will Remember, you will MAKEMAKE or or BREAKBREAK your presentation by your presentation by how well you use your visual how well you use your visual aidsaids

• Practice, practice & practice Practice, practice & practice using your aidsusing your aids

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation

6. The Value of Rehearsal includes:6. The Value of Rehearsal includes:

• To help To help identify anyidentify any glitchesglitches – – small faults small faults that hinder the success in your that hinder the success in your presentationpresentation

• To give you a chance to run through the To give you a chance to run through the use of your visual aidsuse of your visual aids

6 Steps of Planning a Successful Presentation

6. The Value of Rehearsal includes:6. The Value of Rehearsal includes:

• To give you To give you self-confidenceself-confidence and a and a better better understandingunderstanding of your materials of your materials

• To make you appear more To make you appear more natural natural to the to the audienceaudience

Handling Questions

• During presentation:During presentation:

“ “ Before I go on, are there any questions about Before I go on, are there any questions about the material I have covered so far?”the material I have covered so far?”

• After presentation:After presentation:

“ “ I would appreciate it if you would hold I would appreciate it if you would hold questions until the end of the presentation.”questions until the end of the presentation.”

Hints to Improve the Question-and-Answer Period

• Do not be defensiveDo not be defensive

• Always give an answer Always give an answer even if it’s “ I don’t know.” even if it’s “ I don’t know.” BUTBUT I will get back to you I will get back to you with an answer!with an answer!

Hints to Improve the Question-and-Answer Period

• Do not be distractedDo not be distracted from your main points from your main points

• Do not argueDo not argue with the members of the with the members of the audience. Try to answer briefly and then audience. Try to answer briefly and then take question from another member of the take question from another member of the audienceaudience

Hints to Improve the Question-and-Answer Period

• Do not give snap answersDo not give snap answers

• Repeat the questionsRepeat the questions

• Prepare for questionsPrepare for questions in advance in advance

Hints to Improve the Presentation Skills

• Look at the evaluation formsLook at the evaluation forms

• Ask some members of the audience Ask some members of the audience to critique using the keys to effective to critique using the keys to effective speakingspeaking

• Practice makes perfect!Practice makes perfect!

Conclusion

• The audience is looking The audience is looking into your mind --> this into your mind --> this may mean the brilliant may mean the brilliant progress in your career! progress in your career! Therefore, you must Therefore, you must speak clearly, confidently, speak clearly, confidently, and distinctly!and distinctly!

Presentation: The Best of Me

• Introducing yourself including the Introducing yourself including the following topics:following topics:– Background: Birthplace, family Background: Birthplace, family

life, school activities, etc. life, school activities, etc. – Interests: Things you like to Interests: Things you like to

do or talk aboutdo or talk about– Your strengths & weaknessesYour strengths & weaknesses– Your goals: Your 1 year plan Your goals: Your 1 year plan

from nowfrom now

eLearning Modules

• English Business Writing – Module I English Business Writing – Module I

• How to do a successful presentation How to do a successful presentation in English – Module IIin English – Module II