Preparing a Presentation

THINGS TO CONSIDER Oral communication is different from written communication Keep it simple and focus on a few key points Be sensitive to your audience Make the audience want to learn more Handling Q&A is as important as the formal talk itself

Consider Your Audience Make presentation relevant to audience i.e. don’t present all math to a everyday people Think about following questions Who am I addressing? What do I have to say? What do I want my audience to know? What would my audience want to know?

Tell a Story Make a logical structure that is similar to a good story. Beginning: context of presentation Body: develop main points. Conclusion: summarize main points, take home message.

How To Speak Speak slowly and clearly. Take a breath before you move to next point. Take a deep breath before you start. Try not to say so, ummm or other time fillers too often.

Design Don’t use full or wordy sentences. Harder for the audience to follow. Harder for you to use as a reminder.

The Example of Steve Jobs Identify early and use the theme throughout Provides an outline with clear transitions Be passionate and enthusiastic Make numbers and statistics meaningful (set in context) Visual and simple (very little text)