Developing Effective Presentations

Developing Effective Presentations Katy Miley, R7 OSC

Effective Communication Points • Practice listening skills • Know your information • Do your research • Know your communication objectives • Outline your goals • Know your audience • Speak to their interests • Know your message • Format information and goals for target audience • Know your communication techniques • PPT, Handouts, Flip Charts, Fact Sheets

Pertinent Information • Do your research • Understand past site history • Discuss current activities • Prepare simple data tools • Graphs • Charts • Correlate statistics with real world examples to give perspective • Organize your information • Chronological, spatial, causal, problem/solution, topical • Use pictures

Communication Objectives • Develop a mission statement for your communication objectives • Tailor your presentation to your objectives • What do you want the audience to do? • Understand • Mobilize • Appreciate • Choose • “If you don’t know what you want to achieve in your presentation your audience never will.” - Harvey Diamond

Speak to your Audience • Research your community information • Population demographics • Local politics and area history • Educational backgrounds • Audience agenda • Personal values • Understand community concerns • Environmental • Health based • Financial

Handling Contentious Issues • Keep a consistent message • Say what you know • Anticipate difficult questions • Be honest about what you don’t know • If you offer to follow up…do so • Referral to other resources or staff • Web postings • Emails • Build trust

Communication Techniques • Power Point • Useful to organize your message • Minimize information on each screen • Avoid paragraphs and long sentences • Only list key points • Avoid animation and sounds • Avoid reading from the slides • Use pictures and color • Use big type/clear font

Communication Techniques • Flip Charts • Useful to record audience input • Write neatly/write big • No light colored markers • Pause speaking to write, or use a volunteer • Use handouts instead of flip charts for extensive information

Communication Techniques • Handouts • Useful for take-home message • Provide pertinent handouts as you proceed • Timing is everything • Number your handouts • Direct audience to specific info as needed • EPA fact sheets can be useful handouts

Presentation Tips-Structure • Presentation structure matters • Build a strong open and close • Tell a cohesive story • Use functional building blocks • Case studies • Statistics • Illustrations/pictures • Props • Analogies

Presentation Tips-Delivery • Practice out loud • Collect and use your own stories and anecdotes • Give real examples for perspective • Details make the difference • Don’t apologize • Study other speakers • Be conversational • Audiences respond to a good story

Presentation Tips-Comfort Zone • Fear of public speaking is normal • You know your site best • Prepare and practice • Consider body language • Eye contact is important • Don’t fiddle • Don’t hide behind the podium • Slow down

Quotes • “The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.” ~ George Jessel • The best way to sound like you know what you're talking about is to know what you're talking about. ~Author Unknown

Developing Effective Presentations