Presentation Skills

Use of Voice Volume Volume Pitch Pitch Speed Speed Pause Pause

Body Language Hands Hands Mannerisms Mannerisms Audience Contact Audience Contact

Nervousness It is quite natural to be nervous, and this can improve your performance. But the fear of making a fool of yourself can make you speak too quickly, and can prevent you from using the pause. It is quite natural to be nervous, and this can improve your performance. But the fear of making a fool of yourself can make you speak too quickly, and can prevent you from using the pause.

Preparation 1.Collection of information Think all round the subject, and note down on a large sheet of paper preferably in pattern form, everything that comes into your head on the subject of your talk. Think all round the subject, and note down on a large sheet of paper preferably in pattern form, everything that comes into your head on the subject of your talk. The advantage of a patterned form is that it aids rather than fights the way our brain operates. The advantage of a patterned form is that it aids rather than fights the way our brain operates.

Preparation 2Selection and rejection Ask yourself these four simple questions : Ask yourself these four simple questions : Who are my audiences? Who are my audiences? How much do they already know? How much do they already know? What do I want to tell them? What do I want to tell them? How much time am I allowed? How much time am I allowed? Clarify your aim. Clarify your aim. Then reject anything which is irrelevant from your initial notes. Then reject anything which is irrelevant from your initial notes. Now decide your headings and subheadings, and put them into logical order. Now decide your headings and subheadings, and put them into logical order. The structure of the talk begins to take shape. The structure of the talk begins to take shape. Remember you will not have time to say all you know about the subject. Remember you will not have time to say all you know about the subject. Use only what is relevant and what can be dealt with in the time at your disposal. Use only what is relevant and what can be dealt with in the time at your disposal.

Preparation 3Notes For these use only postcards. For these use only postcards. Write in large block letters (readable at a distance). Write in large block letters (readable at a distance). Use one card for the INTRODUCTION, one for each theme, and one for the END. Use one card for the INTRODUCTION, one for each theme, and one for the END. Be sure that the whole sequence is logical. Be sure that the whole sequence is logical.

Structure A well-constructed talk always falls into three main sections. A well-constructed talk always falls into three main sections. Beginning/Introduction Beginning/Introduction Middle/Main Body Middle/Main Body Ending/Summing Up Ending/Summing Up

Questions Asking It is better to ask a question to the group generally. It is better to ask a question to the group generally. Then wait a few seconds and pick someone to answer it. Then wait a few seconds and pick someone to answer it. Selecting someone first will make the group switch off mentally, and the person chosen might feel embarrassed. Selecting someone first will make the group switch off mentally, and the person chosen might feel embarrassed.

Questions Answering Remember T-R-A-C-T Remember T-R-A-C-T T-Thank the questioner for his question/say it is a good one. T-Thank the questioner for his question/say it is a good one. R-Rephrase the question to show him you have understood it and to enable everyone else to hear what was asked. R-Rephrase the question to show him you have understood it and to enable everyone else to hear what was asked. A-Answer the question, to the group – not just the questioner. A-Answer the question, to the group – not just the questioner. C – Check with the questioner that you have answered his question to his satisfaction. C – Check with the questioner that you have answered his question to his satisfaction. T – Thank him again for having asked the question in the first place. T – Thank him again for having asked the question in the first place.

Language “ Jargon appeals to the illiterate, plain English to the wise. ” “ Jargon appeals to the illiterate, plain English to the wise. ” Any fool can make things sound complicated. Any fool can make things sound complicated. It ’ s a clever speaker whose audience all understand that talk. It ’ s a clever speaker whose audience all understand that talk. Use a short word rather than a long one if the meaning is the same. Use a short word rather than a long one if the meaning is the same. Do not use technical jargon without explaining it, unless you are 100% sure that 100% of your audience understand its meaning. Do not use technical jargon without explaining it, unless you are 100% sure that 100% of your audience understand its meaning.