GIVING TALKS & PRESENTATIONS Preparation Structure Delivery Concluding & dealing with questions (Source: McClave, 2004)
Developing Good Presentation Skills Create and maintain credibility – key success factors Confidence Competence Preparation Effective delivery (engagement)
Preparation: Identify the audience Who? How many? Age? Knowledge? Expectations? Sympathetic or Resistant?
Preparation: Define your objectives
Preparation: Familiarise yourself with venue
Preparation: Keep to your time
Preparation: Context Time of day Part of a team
Preparation: Research Personal knowledge; reports; books; articles; up-to-date topical info
Preparation: Writing up VS
Preparation: Rehearsal
Preparation: Dress code Assess the occasion; be comfortable
Structure: Introduction Introduce yourself Introduce topic Give brief outline Put subject in context – why it’s important Show benefits Use devices to grab attention – humour, personal anecdote, startling fact
Structure: main body Link thoughts as you move from one area to another Avoid jargon For long presentations, summarise intermittently Avoid too much detail (e.g. statistics)
Structure: conclusion Be persuasive Capture key points of the presentation Keep audience involved (use activities, anecdotes, humorous stories etc.)
Delivery: overcoming stage-fright Nerves are normal and can be harnessed to deliver a good presentation.
Delivery: voice Clarity Volume Pace Pauses Tone Accent – be sure that it does not obscure meaning
Delivery: Eye contact Builds rapport Provides feedback
Delivery: body language Be natural Avoid mannerisms
Delivery: Humour Use sparingly Use with caution If unsure, avoid
Delivery: Presentation aids Less is more Accuracy Substance over style Consistent style
Concluding Summarise points made Be persuasive End on light/memorable note
Dealing with questions