1. WELCOME TO FALMOUTH

2. Presentation Skills & Public Speaking Tips
Jon Christie Careers Consultant

3. Session objectives Why presentation skills are essential
Identifying presentation fears
Characteristics of an effective presentation
How to structure an effective presentation
Techniques for maintaining audience interest
Identifying symptoms of nerves
Techniques for coping with nerves

4. Types of Presentations
Academic
Group / Team – accredited, project report
Solo – Doctoral and Masters viva, oral examination
Extra-curricular
Social networking
Clubs / Societies / Groups – Information, coaching
Career
Job Interviews
Reporting to Staff / Team meetings
Clients pitches / Customer service
Professional Networking
Media

5. How important are Presentation Skills? Exercise……
What situations may require you to use your presentations skills, now and in the future?

6. How do you present yourself?
Many people believe decisions at
job Interviews are made on:
55% body language
38% voice
7% words
First impressions count !

7. What makes an effective presentation?
Group Exercise
Evaluate the following presentation
Put your points into themes:
Content
Delivery (behaviour / body language / tone of voice of presenter(s)
Resources

8. Who likes giving presentations ?
Exercise
What are your fears and reservations about making presentations?
What would you like to improve?
List these individually first
Discuss and collate a list in groups

9. Presentation preparation
Clear objectives – what do you want to achieve?
Tailor your presentation for your audience needs – learning styles and age will effect the format, length and interaction required
List key messages - information you need to include
Know your material
Select your material carefully - pertinent points and supplement with other material if time allows

10. Presentation preparation
Structure Your Presentation
Intro: who you are, purpose of presentation, benefits to audience. IMPACT!
Middle: key messages, arrange content in themes/sections
Conclusion /summary: key message/call to action
Presentation plan with timings – copy of slides with timings and duration of exercise.
Practice, practice, practice!

11. Power Point – what not to do!

12. Tips on Presentation Style
Positive body language – posture, gestures, eye contact
Voice – project to back of room, tone and language
Emphasize key messages in an interesting way
startling statistic or famous quotation
image or video clip
personal stories or anecdotes
Ask questions - involves, establishes rapport, helps support your arguments, gain feedback
Watch and learn from other presenters – replicate what they do well

13. Plan Pace Impact Interaction

14. Who gets nervous giving Presentations?
How do nerves manifest themselves?
What are the symptoms?

15. Coping with nerves 1 Control Uncertainty
Wear comfortable and appropriate clothing
Arrive early to set up
Test technical resources and have contingency plan if technology fails (e.g. access Internet)
Use crib cards with brief notes if you find it difficult to speak to slides
Prepare responses to anticipated questions
Practice under pressure. Confidence will grow with practise – with your material and audiences

16. Coping with nerves 2 Adrenalin – channel the energy positively
Deep breathing - adrenalin causes shallow breathing and voice quivers. Breathing deeply helps your brain get the oxygen it needs. The slower pace will trick your body into believing you’re calmer
Drink water - a dry mouth can lead to getting tongue-tied
Meditation and relaxation techniques
Use visualization techniques – imagine an audience that’s interested, smiling, and reacting positively. Recall this positive image before your presentation

17. Coping with nerves 3
Smile – natural relaxant, sends positive chemicals through body
Before you start talking - pause, make eye contact, smile. Moment of peace, relaxes, gives you time to adjust to being the centre of attention.
Speak slower than you would in a conversation and leave longer pauses between sentences. Slower, calmer, pace - easier to hear at the back of a room
Move around during your presentation - helps to expend nervous energy

18. Practice
Practice

19. Objectives covered Why presentation skills are essential
Identifying presentation fears
Characteristics of an effective presentation
How to structure an effective presentation
Techniques for maintaining audience interest
Identifying symptoms of nerves
Techniques for coping with nerves

20. Resources https://www.ted.com/playlists/226/before_public_speaking
TED – Amy Cuddy – “Your body language may shape who you are”
How Good Are Your Presentation Skills?

21. Questions

22. Extra exercise if needed
The BBC has announced an Award for ‘Best Presenter in the World’
Group Exercise:
Choose a public figure (dead or alive) you admire as a good presenter or public speaker.
Prepare and deliver a 1 minute presentation to justify why your nomination should win the Award to the rest of your group.
Decide the winner in your group based on the strength of the presentation NOT the nominee.

23. Reflect and review your performance
Exercise
Reflect and review your performance
Complete your SWOT - Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, Threats