Oral Presentation Skills

Four components: 1. Body Language 2. Voice 3. Appearance 4. Oral Content

Body Language Posture Openness Eye contact Movement Stand up straight Do not sit or slouch Demonstrate confidence Openness Face your audience Eye contact Look around, not down, or at one person Movement Stand to the side - Do not block your visuals Use gestures, but do not be distracting If suitable, move through your audience – make sure they can still hear you

Voice Enunciation Pronunciation Projection Tone Volume Speed Improper enunciation will lessen your audience’s understanding of the content Pronunciation Mispronouncing words will detract from your credibility Projection Throw your voice to the back of the room Tone Enthusiasm is contagious – show your interest in your topic Volume Speak to low and you won’t be hear; speak to high and it will distract your audience Speed Pace yourself: speak to slowly and your audience will be bored; speak too quickly and the meaning will be lost Pause and key points

Appearance Professionalism Dress When you look like a professional, it will be more likely you will be seen as one Neat, tidy, and clean Dress Dress appropriately for your audience Casual or Formal wear is dependent on the setting

Oral Content Don’t read off a script Only glance at cue cards as a reminder of your next point Stick to your content – don’t stray off on tangents Repeat key ideas for clarity

Practice, Practice, Practice! When you arrive on presentation day, you should be comfortable enough with the material that you can speak fluently to your audience. Never underestimate the importance of rehearsal time!