Mastering Effective Public Presentations in Engineering Field

1. Oral Presentations The Good, the Bad, and the Tongue-tied

2. Oral Presentations Studies have shown that the many of people would rather die…

3. Oral Presentations . . . than speak in public!

4. How important is public speaking in the profession of engineering? “Professionals live and die on presentations. It’s as important as being able to turn on your computer.”

5. The Preamble The previous slides did two things: • Introduced the topic (presentations) • Underlined the importance of the topic to the audience – POWER STATEMENT. This helps get the audience’s attention and can be effective “ice breaker” techniques.

6. Elements of a good presentation Preparation 2. Content 3. Delivery Note: This slide previews the 3 main ideas that will be developed in this presentation – provides a “road map for the audience to follow.

7. 1. PREPARATION Check room and equipment • AV • Windows • Seats • Plug ins Know what you will have to work with; avoid surprises

8. Preparation • Check room and equipment • Know your audience • Experts or innocents? • Jargon or plain speech? • Time of day? • Cultural concerns?

9. Preparation • Check room and equipment • Know your audience • Rehearse your talk • Time yourself • Plan pacing • Plan emphasis • Record yourself

10. Preparation • Check room and equipment • Know your audience • Rehearse your talk • Look and Act like a TEAM • Smooth hand-offs (practice) • Consistent dress and tone

11. 2. CONTENT • KNOW your purpose! Know your content! • ORGANIZE your content logically • Introduce your team and state your purpose • Speaker 1: [specific content sections] • Speaker 2: [specific content sections] • Speaker 3: [specific content sections] • Ask for questions; answer them thoughtfully • Suggest additional resources, if relevant • Conclude with a polite “thank you”

12. 3. DELIVERY Don’t rush Speak slowly and clearly

13. Delivery • Don’t rush • Avoid physical distractions Don’t fidget, fiddle with noisy objects, jangle pockets, etc

14. Delivery • Don’t rush • Avoid physical distractions • Avoid verbal distractions Right? You know… Um…. Well… Like…

15. Delivery • Don’t rush • Avoid physical distractions • Avoid verbal distractions • Don’t read from notes! • Speak naturally as you would to a colleague • Vary tone and emphasis so you sound like you are speaking naturally.

16. Delivery • Don’t rush • Avoid physical distractions • Avoid verbal distractions • Don’t read from notes • Make eye contact.

17. Visuals Make sure visual effects such as slides are • Clearly visible • Print color contrasts background • Consistent and readable font type • Minimal use of text • Simply designed • Avoid overly complicated or gratuitous graphics • Use animation sparingly if at all • Keep text to a minimum • Relevant and explicitly referred to in your presentation

18. Note: recap of presentation

19. Presentation Tips (key take-aways) • Arrive on time; be professional • Know what your audience wants and needs. Review assignment criteria to determine the key informational items you are expected to communicate and how much time you will be allotted to present it. • Present as a TEAM. Rehearse your transitions and handoffs. LOOK and ACT like an effective team. • RESEARSE! Know the information you will present. • DON’T READ!

20. In conclusion… Concluding is often the hardest part of the presentation. You should Ask for questions

21. Wrapping Up… Offer additional resources

22. Wrapping Up… If time permits, you might revisit an opening strategy (story, joke, ice breaker, example, etc)

23. Wrapping up… • Be sure to thank your audience. This is a great way to close your presentation as it lets the audience know you are done. • Avoid ending your presentation awkwardly…. with a “well, I guess we’re done….” This shows lack of preparation.

24. Questions?

25. Thank you! I look forward to seeing many engaging and educational presentations.