PowerPoint and Public Speaking: What you need to know

Marcy B. Waldinger, MHSA

Aisha T. Langford, MPH

Emerging Leaders Program

Presentation Outline

A. PowerPoint Tips

B. Public Speaking Tips

C. Discussion

PowerPoint Quote

“The audience has come to hear you, not merely to stare at images tossed onto a screen. Build a strong PowerPoint program, but make sure that your spoken remarks are no less compelling. "PowerPoint doesn't give presentations — PowerPoint makes slides.”

Matt Thornhill, president of Audience First.

PowerPoint Guidelines

• Uncluttered slides

• No more than 5 lines

• Good text contrast

• Large enough font

• Be prepared to improvise in case of technical difficulties!!!!

PowerPoint Tips

• Have compelling material

• Keep it simple

• Minimize numbers in slides

• Don't be a parrot

• Time your remarks

PowerPoint Tips

• Give it a rest

• Use vibrant colors

• Use various images, videos, cartoons, graphics

• Distribute handouts at the end

• Edit ruthlessly, then let someone else review

Adequate Color Contrast

Bad

• Hard to read

• Hard to read

• Hard to read

Good

• Much better!

• Much better!

• Much better!

Font

• Sizes 28 – 32 are easy to read

• Use plain fonts (e.g. Times New Roman, Arial)

• Avoid fancy script fonts

-Hard to read

-Harder to read

-I’m dizzy

Avoid Using All CAPS

• ALL CAPS ARE HARD TO READ

• ALL CAPS IN E-MAIL = SHOUTING!!!

Vs.

• All caps are hard to read

• All caps in e-mail = shouting

Graphics

• Be thoughtful about CLIP ART graphics

• Some can appear amateur and unprofessional

Graphics

• Utilize JeanAnn Davidson, UMHS graphic designer

• Websites for stock photos

-Jupiter Unlimited (free images): www.jiunlimited.com

-IStock Photo (low cost images): www.istockphoto.com

Sample of a JeanAnn Creation

Sample from IStockPhoto.com

More exciting images

“Normal colon vs. colon with polyp”

Mammogram with cancerous lesion

Graphics

• Avoid photos as backdrops

• Text is hard to read

• Distracting

Keep Charts Simple

Cancer Type Action Step

Breast Cancer Mammograms/self-exams

Colon Colonoscopy (gold standard)

Cervical Pap Tests/HPV Vaccine

Prostate PSA Test/Digital Rectal Exam

Lung Don’t smoke. Quit if you do.

Skin Wear sunscreen/self-exams

More PowerPoint Tips

• Animation can be useful, but may crash slide show

• Don’t use the “auto-advance” slide feature

• Film clips and music can enhance presentations

• Make slides into PDF if sharing electronically

• Cite references

Most Common PowerPoint Complaints

• Reading slides

• Text too small

• Full sentences instead of bullet points

• Moving/flying text or graphics

Most Common PowerPoint Complaints

• Annoying sounds

• Overly complex diagrams or charts

-Give full-page hard copy of charts or

-Break them up

• Bad color choices

Public Speaking Icebreaker

If you could be any public speaker (famous or not),

who would it be and why?

Public Speaking Guidelines

• Control fillers like “Uhhmns and Ahhs”

• Error on the side of brevity vs. length

• Respect time restraints

• Pace yourself and speak slowly

• Enunciate your words and project your voice!

10 Public Speaking Tips

• Know your audience

• Know your material

• Know the room

• Practice

• Relax

10 Public Speaking Tips

• Visualize yourself giving your speech

• Realize that people want you to succeed

• Don’t apologize

• Concentrate on the message – not the medium

• Gain experience

Public Speaking Tips

• Keep good eye contact

• Smile

• Express emotion

• Avoid distracting mannerisms (fidgeting, lip biting, etc.)

Public Speaking Tips

• Create an “elevator speech” for impromptu introductions

* 15 -30 seconds, 100 - 150 words to describe:

1. What the product or service is

2. What it does for the buyer/consumer (e.g. the benefits).

3. Who you are

Public Speaking Tips

• Tell a story if appropriate

• Stay true to your personality

• Make gestures convincing

• Vary your speaking position

10 Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes

• Starting with a whimper

• Attempting to imitate other speakers

• Failing to “work” the room

• Failing to use relaxation techniques

• Reading a speech word for word

10 Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes

• Using someone else’s stories

• Speaking without passion

• Ending a speech with questions and answers

• Failing to prepare

• Failing to realize that speaking is an acquired skill

General Issues in Presenting

• Minimize distractions

-Turn off your cell phone and pager

-Jingling keys

-Change in pocket

-Swaying

• Dress for credibility

• Comfort using a podium and microphone

General Issues in Presenting

• Managing the audience

-Setting expectations about scope of talk

-Fielding questions

-Looking out for side conversations

*If you don’t have an answer, say so, then give an

appropriate resource or promise to get back to them.

General Issues in Presenting

Important Questions to Ask

1. What AV equipment will be provided?

2. How much time will I have?

3. How many people do you expect?

4. What is the desired theme for the talk?

5. Who else is presenting on the program?

6. Will there be a podium?

Remember

• Prepare

• Practice

• Present

Public Speaking Resources

• Toastmasters International

www.toastmasters.org

Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who meet weekly or bi-weekly for an hour or two. Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role. There is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved.

Public Speaking Resources

The Toastmasters website has information on:

-Giving a Eulogy

-Toasting Tips

-Presenting an Award

-Accepting an Award

-What You Should Have Said

-Business Presentations

-The 10 Commandments of Communication

Public Speaking Resources

Books

• In The SpotLight, Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Performing by Janet E. Esposito

• Public Speaking (8th Edition) by Michael Osborn, Suzanne Osborn and Randall Osborn

• The Exceptional Presenter: A Proven Formula to Open Up and Own the Room by Timothy J. Koegel

Public Speaking Resources

Books

• How to Leave Your Audiences Begging for More by Chris King

• 101 Secrets of Highly Effective Speakers, Caryl Rae Krannich Ph.D.

• Great Session Openers, Closers, and Energizers: Quick Activities for Warming Up Your Audience and Ending on a High Note by Marlene Caroselli

Public Speaking Resources

• U-M workshops and classes

• Center for the Education of Women

• EMU and Washtenaw colleges

• Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti District Libraries

• The Human Face, a BBC documentary narrated by John Cleese

Presentation Information Sources/References

• “Presenting with PowerPoint: 10 dos and don'ts” Microsoft Small Business Center website

• “10 Tips for Public Speaking” and “10 Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes” Toastmasters International website

• “How to Deliver an Effective Presentation” handout by Louise August & Jean Waltman Center for the Education of Women, Ann Arbor