Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 1 of 12 Controlling Anxiety  Make time to rehearse  Warm up with tension/relaxation exercises  Begin with a smile  Breathe deeply  Make eye contact  Drink water  Practice, practice, practice

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 2 of 12 Connecting with an Audience  Make frequent eye contact  Use people’s names and refer to their accomplishments  Provide sufficient background and context  Use appropriate vocabulary and examples  Express appreciation

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 3 of 12 Planning a Presentation  Learn about your audience and location  Adapt to your audience  Clarify objectives  Limit and organize content  Create links  Select and prepare visual aids

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 4 of 12 Preparing Speaker’s Notes  Create notes in case you need them  Include main points and information you may forget  Add information needed to answer questions  Make notes big enough to read easily  Fill only top part of page  Leave pages loose  Plan for a lectern or practice holding notes

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 5 of 12 Preparing for Questions  Anticipate questions  Have a practice audience to ask questions  Make a list  Research answers  Decide when you want listeners to ask questions  Practice giving people enough time to start asking questions  Prepare what you’ll say if you don’t know an answer

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 6 of 12 Rehearsing 1.Begin with a walkthrough 2.Rehearse in sections 3.Rehearse using visual aids 4.Rehearse the entire presentation 5.Rehearse with an audience 6.Perfect your timing 7.Prepare psychologically

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 7 of 12 Walk through the Presentation  Describe outline of presentation  Hit the highlights but leave out detail  Pay attention to flow of presentation Is presentation well organized? Is the level of detail appropriate? Are more links or transitions needed? Are more visual aids needed?

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 8 of 12 Rehearse in Sections  Rehearse one section at a time  Focus on content  Practice one part until you’re comfortable  Begin and end with transitions or links

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 9 of 12 Rehearse with Visual Aids  Focus on visual aids Ensure aids are clear and easy to see Ensure aids are free from excess detail  Focus on where to move and how to stand  Focus on directing audience’s attention Practice with a pointer Consider effect of reveal techniques

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 10 of 12 Rehearse Entire Presentation  Complete dry run using visual aids  Pretend you’ve got an audience  Note where you need more practice  Time your rehearsal Take too long? Remove content or cut asides. Speak too quickly? Practice a really slow version. Hesitate? Practice at break-neck speed. Feel awkward? Present in front of a mirror.

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 11 of 12 Rehearse with an Audience!  Rehearse with an audience  Practice maintaining eye contact  If appropriate, practice using notes  Time your presentation  Ask audience for feedback

Stevenson/Whitmore: Strategies for Engineering Communication 12 of 12 Most Important Point Practice, practice, practice The key to a confident, engaging, well-timed presentation