Mastering Presentations Tips and Techniques

“There are two things that are more difficult than making an after-dinner speech: climbing a wall which is leaning toward you and kissing a girl who is leaning away from you.” - Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister Presenting

Materials in this class are based on the Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK ® Guide) – Fifth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., Project Management Institute (1) “…to advance the practice, science and profession of project management.” “…resources and information available only to members.” A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ® Guide) The Body of Knowledge is the sum of knowledge within the profession of project management. The PMBOK ® Guide is a book that identifies that subset of the Body of Knowledge that is generally recognized as good practice. PMBOK is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc. (1) As defined on the PMI.org website, What is PMI (

Materials in this class are based on the Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK ® Guide) – Fifth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., PMBOK is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Institute “…to advance the practice, science and profession of project management.” “…resources and information available only to members.” As defined on the PMI.org website, What is PMI? (

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ® Guide) The Body of Knowledge is the sum of knowledge within the profession of project management. The PMBOK ® Guide is a book that identifies that subset of the Body of Knowledge that is generally recognized as good practice.

1st Rule of Great Presentations You can be a good presenter if you learn the skills for presentation success.

What Would You Like to Learn? How to present? How to improve your presentations? How to stop being scared?

It’s not a presentation... It’s a conversation. You are sharing information with people that want and/or need that information. They want you to succeed. WE’RE ALL CHEERING FOR YOU! STOP!

“According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” - Jerry Seinfeld, stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer Fear

The fear is irrational. One way to fight it is to do it. Fear

The list of treatments for Glossophobia include:  Behavior therapy  Psychotherapy  Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)  Exposure therapy  Relaxation techniques  Medication Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans. Glossophobia

“A book may give you excellent suggestions on how best to conduct yourself in the water, but sooner or later you must get wet, perhaps even strangle and be half scared to death. There are a great many wetless bathing suits worn at the seashore, but no one ever learns to swim in them. To plunge is the only way.” - Dale Carnegie, The Art of Public Speaking

Why Do a Presentation? “Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.” - John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35 th President of the United States

Make Your Points The Delivery The Room The Material Make Your Points Again!

The Delivery How to Speak Use variety Vary volume and pace Eliminate vocal and visual noise

The Delivery Slow Down! You’re going too fast!!

The Delivery How to Look

Use Your Hands!  It’s more difficult NOT to use them!  Use gestures to emphasize points  Language and gestures are related

The Delivery How to Engage

The Delivery How long do you think you have to make a favorable first impression? Enthusiasm Counts!

The Room Sound check Room setup Seating arrangement Visual aids

Practice, Practice, Practice Test the equipment Practice in different parts of the room Role play Time yourself Videotape yourself As backup, bring: – Your computer – A flash drive – A hard copy

The Material Have confidence! Be honest (it helps to be right…) Be timely and relevant

The Material Miss-Steaks Burn You!

Communicate with Power! Can you communicate with power? Give it a try using this short speech by a grand master of speaking over sixty years ago.

TRY IT! “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never — In nothing great or small, large or petty. Never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” - Winston Churchill

The Material Distractions can be good! Give out something. Pass something around. Timing is everything… Control the distractions.

Be Honest “Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard. And mostly what I need from you.” - Billy Joel, American musician and pianist

Some Rules for Humor Make sure YOU think the joke or lines are funny Be able to repeat the piece confidently and comfortably Be sure your choice is not offensive to anyone (gender, race, age, disability, politics)

Remember… Bad jokes are forgiven if they are short ◦ Eliminate words, but keep what’s needed Practice on various audiences ◦ Change the timing Insulting can be funny…or NOT!

Slides These are all 32pt. font, but… Which is easier to read from a distance? How easy can you read this from a distance? Is this one easier to read from a distance? Now is this a little plain?

Can you read your slides when viewed at 30% zoom?

Give ‘em a break! The average attention span is only about 20 minutes!

Animation  How much should you do?  Is this enough?  Is this too much?  When is it appropriate?  And when is it just annoying?

Good? 1.Initiating (13%) 2.Planning (24%) 3.Executing (30%) 4.Monitoring and Controlling (25%) 5.Closing (8%) Taken from Examination Content Outline. Percentage does not reflect importance but rather proportion of time on that area.

Better? Group% of Exam 1Initiating13 2Planning24 3Executing30 4Monitoring & Controlling25 5Closing8 Taken from Examination Content Outline. Percentage does not reflect importance but rather proportion of time on that area.

Good Information, Bad Delivery

Same Information, Better Delivery Process Groups Knowledge AreaInitiatingPlanningExecuting Monitoring & ControllingClosing Project Procurement Management Plan Procurement Management Conduct Procurements Control Procurements Close Procurements

Pet Peeves And now, let’s dim the lights, so I can show you computer slides and read the exact text of the slides to you.

Omne Trium Perfectum Everything that comes in threes is perfect or Every set of three is complete  The Three Stooges  Three Little Pigs  Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Your Message Make your point Explain it Make it again For example: What 3 main points will you remember from this presentation?

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff When things go wrong… Notice this doesn’t say “IF things go wrong…” How do you react? Do NOT make excuses! Do NOT throw your team under the bus! Do NOT apologize! SIMPLY MOVE ON!!

ALWAYS be ready! Practice speeches that you will never make Be ready to make an impromptu speech Do not miss the opportunity LISTEN!!!

Be Enthusiastic There is no substitute for your excitement Show your passion Act as if this is the most important thing in the world!

Be Yourself Don’t try to imitate others Don’t try to shelter your emotions Don’t be afraid to expose a bit of your humanity

Learn from Great Speech Makers Look for the skills they used and adopt them…

Breathe! “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” - Mark Twain, American author and humorist

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE FOR ANY REASON EVER…

RUN LATE!!

Thank You! Thank the audience Thank the people that set up the event Thank your team

Questions “Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement.” - Ronald Reagan, 40 th President of the United States

Contact Information Lisa Hammer, PMP: (301) David B. Newman, PMP: (240)

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