Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit Speaking professionally... Oral Presentation Skills Adam Warren

Overview aims and objectives audience selection of relevant material using a clear structure prompts and visual aids rehearsal, confidence and delivery venue and technology

Three golden rules 1. preparation 2. preparation 3. preparation

Aims and Objectives why are you are making a presentation? what do you want to achieve? what message do you want the audience to take away? what will they will gain from listening? set yourself a written list of three goals

Advance publicity info for conference programme: –title of talk - make it sound attractive –summary - what are you going to talk about? –objectives - what will people get out of it? –structure - how many people? how will it run? –what resources/equipment will you need? objective is to attract an audience –most conferences run parallel sessions

The Audience to hold their attention, you need to know: –who you are talking to –their level of prior knowledge –roughly how many people will be there how can you grab their attention? how can you interact with them?

Gaining attention make the audience listen to you from the very beginning of your talk –plan the start carefully relate your talk to familiar concepts using: –examples –anecdotes –analogies

Interaction involve your audience to help them learn and remember more –be sensitive to atmosphere –use analogies and anecdotes –get them to do something –ask them direct questions –ask for questions

Selecting material what to choose, what to leave out? –always more material than time available –a limit to how much the audience can absorb select relevant material which: –the audience understands and find interesting –can be explained by a variety of means such as examples, statistics, graphs and analogies

The structure of your talk organise your material into: –the introduction –the main body –the summary or conclusion creating OHP slides can help you do this

The introduction introduce yourself describe (briefly!) what you are going to talk about and its context briefly outline the structure of the talk don’t spend more than 2 minutes on this

The body of your talk cover what the audience –needs to know –wants to know divide material into ‘bite-sized’ chunks provide a logical sequence use examples and visual aids

The summary what message do you want the audience to take away? –summarise main points –ask for and deal with questions –conclude on a high note let the audience know you have finished

Prepare yourself preparation time will reap benefits in the moments before and during your presentation - think about the following: –coping with nerves –using prompts and visual aids –how you will stand and talk

Coping with nerves being nervous is natural - it’s a good sign and shows the adrenaline is flowing make nerves work for you not against you: –rationalise about why you are nervous –take a few deep breaths to calm yourself –rehearse well, time your presentation and know your opening lines by heart

Don’t panic! if you do ‘dry up’, lose track of what you are saying or have a technical problem: –pause - have a drink of water –regain your composure –backtrack if necessary –start when you are ready if you can’t fix technical problems quickly, revert to your contingency plan

Prompts don’t read from a script - it is lifeless and boring to listen to use prompts to keep you on track –use thin card so they don’t rustle –use a large font, so you can read them from a distance –highlight the main points

Using visual aids are they relevant and easy to read? –clear and concise text –clear colours and good contrast –use diagrams –show charts and graphs rather than data practise your talk with the visual aids –mark in your notes when they are to be used

Stand and deliver if you have a choice, make sure: –the audience can see you clearly –you are not surrounded by distractions windows with bright sunshine, passing traffic –you are not disturbed by external noises –all equipment and controls are to hand –there is somewhere to put your notes

Speaking speak clearly - don’t rush project your voice - speak to be heard at the back of the venue have a glass of water available introduce unfamiliar jargon and acronyms keep track of the time relax! talk to your audience, not at them

Posture your gestures, body language and facial expressions should help support what you are saying and help you project a confident image. –stand up straight; a sloppy posture invites a negative reaction from the audience –move around, but don’t sway or pace

Do’s and don’ts –look at the audience, scanning rather than focusing on one person –talk to the audience, not to the floor, ceiling, flip-chart, whiteboard or your notes –use your hands to emphasise a point, but don’t wave them around –don’t put your hands in pockets or grip the podium

Check out the venue if possible, visit the venue beforehand be aware of any danger zones such as wires and steps find out what equipment is present –will you need to organise other resources? will you need to rearrange the furniture? –if so, allow plenty of time before your talk

Test the equipment make sure you know how it works –room lighting? –power sockets for computers and projectors? have a contingency plan in case of technical problems –OHP slides in case of computer problems –handouts which could be photocopied at the last moment

Final preparations rehearse your presentation out loud (in front of others, if possible) pay attention to timing - cut material if you are going to take too long plan your timetable around your presentation to make sure you arrive in plenty of time allow time for delays and hitches

Summary set yourself three objectives don’t include too much material involve your audience prepare and practice check the venue and resources pay attention to timing relax and enjoy yourself!

Resources this presentation and other useful links are on the Web at: OPS/OPSdetails.aspx OPS/OPSdetails.aspx