1. (and other life-changing tips)
Presentation Skills
&
Speaking Skills
(and other life-changing tips)
Craig Jackson
Professor of Occupational Health Psychology

2. University Undergraduate Students
The following lecture has been approved for
University Undergraduate Students
This lecture may contain information, ideas, concepts and discursive anecdotes that may be thought provoking and challenging
It is not intended for the content or delivery to cause offence
Any issues raised in the lecture may require the viewer to engage in further thought, insight, reflection or critical evaluation

3. Start Strong “Open with your best 3 gags”

4. It’s not a Monologue – it’s a Dialogue!
Interact
Ask questions
Invite comment
Bring people into the conversation
Relate to our audience
Move among them

5. Aims & Outcomes
Aims
Why the talk should be a spectacle worth getting out of bed for.
Techniques for dealing with a wide variety of disruptions.
Finding out what you are afraid of.
Tips on what not to do in class.
Cases, cases, cases.
Outcomes
You will have more confidence dealing with noise and disruption in YOUR talk.
You will run better presentations.
Students will be happier.
You’ll feel great about yourself.

6. Brief Lecturing History
Staff education in NHS ( ) clinicians
University sector 1997 
Qualified professionals
medics, nurses, military, radiographers,
pilots, SLTs, accountants, police, paramedics
Students
medics, nurses, psychology, SLTs, law, criminology, healthcare
Laity
cruise ships of grumpy pensioners

7. A Simple Truth Not every lecturer is a good lecturer
If you believe PowerPoint is enough for audiences, you’re wrong
Students do have favourites / students do dislike poor lecturers*
Audiences vote with their feet. Attendance is a huge clue. Ignore it at your peril
Students deal with consequences (of non-attendance) later
The lecturer and presentation have to be worth getting out of bed for
* look at Mid Module Evaluations

8. Less of this

9. Movement, Poise & Position
It is YOUR lecture. You OWN it. Nobody else will make it a success for you.
Own the space – lights, acoustics, furniture, people
Move things around to suit you
Move around
Be dynamic when needed
Be still when required
Project your voice. Why rely on amplification?

10. Looking and Hearing
Lecturing is a visual performance to some extent
Fourth wall
Showmanship
Make it clear
Reithian Principles: Information
Education
Entertainment
Audiences can forgive many things if the speaker is enthusiastic and passionate

11. Effective Audience Management
EAM is not EAM is
Discriminatory Unbiased
Vindictive Fair
Prejudicial Reasonable
Humiliation Discreet
Punishment Practical
Ego-driven Pro student

12. Conflicts: Disagreeing, Derailing & Sealioning
Minority of students raise points / views that are unpopular / controversial
Often cite personal experience to justify
Lecturer balances allowing speech & debate with preventing problems
Often used by students to amuse selves when lecturer not coping
Acting out inter-student rows
YOU are in control.
Nobody will criticise you for trying to do what you think is best

13. Common Flashpoints – Chitter Chatter
Deal with it
Don’t ignore it
Audiences hate it
Audiences hate it not being dealt with
Do not shy away from confronting it
A quiet word / reminder can work wonders

14. People like to hear what they want to hear
Careful opening
Judge the room
Sense the atmosphere
Tell them what they want . . .
Ride the wave
. . . Then get your message in after

16. Saying “nothing” can be very effective too
“Make America great again”
Building a wall
Emotion-based communication
No details – just desires!

17. Confidence as a Commodity
Should be used more
CVs
UK are very poor at this
Charisma and Charismatics Google it!

19. Confidence isn’t everything
Substance is key
But . . .
Substance lost if communication weak

23. Confident people ≠ Confident speaking
What are they all lacking?

24. Confident Vocabulary Mastery of language Word-power
Thinking on your feet
Use new words
Make your own words
Simple words for simple people
Words are a tool of the trade
“Cluedo-Crime-Reporting”

25. You can change your weaker points
Public speaking is a Skill NOT a Talent
Can be learned and perfected
Unconfident now ≠ Unconfident in future
Evolves

26. “It’s all an Act, dear” Can turn on and off Control it
Use it when needed
Being different “yous” is fine. It’s “Image-management”
Flourish & Verve
Break the 4th wall – post-modernise the talk

27. Poise & Positionality WHERE is your talk? Feng Shui your talk
Awareness of environment
Awareness of people
Awareness of setting and context
Always be “on”
Making an ENTRANCE
WHERE is your talk?
WHAT are you saying? HOW are you saying it?
WHO are you saying it to? WHEN is this all happening?

28. “Less is more” Minimalism Minimalism of style: words movement hands
There’s a time for sparsity of movement
Stillness

36. Positivity & Kindness Lighting up a room
People are pre-disposed towards it
“Mirth-sponges”
“Time-thieves”
People will seek you out for good things

37. Don’t be phased by the unusual
Cameras
Telephones
Audio feedback
Cupboards
Kitchens
Patience

38. Don’t be phased by “Phubbing”
Don’t fight it
Don’t dwell
Nothing personal

39. Know your worth & value
“Pay the writer”

40. Fact-check Errors detract from you Errors detract from message
Message gets lost
Sloppy
Critics focus on the facile things

41. Aesthetics Ugly bias / age bias / gender bias
Can be problem in a shallow-age
Challenge to be overcome
More emphasis needed on message and style

42. Don’t try to please the crowd (too much)
You can’t win everyone
Don’t be swayed
Someone will always find you objectionable
Humour can work but it can fail badly
Swearing rarely works - reduces professionalism

43. Tough times! Rows & disputes Very stressful
Police & Legal issues doubly so
Alone & Isolated
Dissemination of science can be difficult
Social media backlash

44. Some critics can help Find critical friends you can trust
Often in unexpected places
Listen to good feedback
Ignore others

45. Humility (some is good for the soul)
Please and thank-yous go a long way
Use deference when needed
Although you can be a diva too!
(in small doses)

46. Don’t unfairly compare yourself to others
Pointless
Do your own thing well
We’re all struggling / anxious / worried / confused

47. Final Tips Use any stress you’re feeling to motivate YOU
They invited YOU to speak for a reason
The power is not with the audience but YOU
YOU control the environment of the venue