Presentation Skills: Delivery

1. Presentation Skills: Delivery Tom Atkinson BogaziciUniversity May 27, 2004

2. Agenda • Motivation • Presentation Process • Presentation Techniques • Practice

3. Part 1Motivation

4. A fear worse than death “Speaking is people’s biggest fear. Death is number 2. In other words, you would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy.” - Jerry Seinfeld

5. Causes of Anxiety • Fear of the unknown • Being unprepared • Having no enthusiasm • No focus of attention

6. The secret to success • Be passionate • Prepare • Practice

7. Part 2Presentation Process

8. As with everything, there’s a process • Before the Big Day: • Write the presentation • Know what to expect • Practice

9. Getting Started • Set up 30 minutes prior • Put up title slide 5 minutes prior • Welcome and talk to members of audience: • Helps create a connection • Relaxes you • Tell audience if you want questions during or after

10. Giving it • Give prepared introduction • Keep it short and simple • Speak 2-3 minutes / slide • Too quick, audience gets lost • Too slow, audience gets bored • Give prepared conclusion • Take final questions

11. Use Transitional Sign Posts In summary however • Forecast next idea • Emphasize relationships • Give audience time to digest material • Give speaker time to think about next point finally once again

12. Transition Example Transition “Now that we have some theoretical basis for this research…” Internal Summary “I’d like to discuss the following 3 commercial applications…”

13. Closing guidelines • Summarize the main points • Leave them with the main thought that you want them to remember • Thank the audience

14. Handling Questions If you don’t know the answer: • Acknowledge it is a good question • Indicate you don’t have the answer • Say you will find the answer and get back • DON’T try to bluff • DO get back

15. Handling Questions If one person is asking too many questions: • Give a complete, but short answer • Ask to take the conversation “off-line” • Move on

16. Part 3Presentation Techniques

17. Remember this?“Messages do not reach the receiver due to ‘distortion’ ” Feedback Sender Receiver Distortion

18. Your want to avoid this situation Source: United Behavioral Health

19. Clear the distortion with: • Effective delivery • Natural, engaging body language • Know the equipment • Good knowledge of space

20. 1. Effective Delivery • Be natural • Avoid difficult, technical language • Avoid jargon • Speak a little slower than normal • Be obvious • Do not assume audience understands implications • Avoid “inside jokes” • Be punctual • Finish on time or before

21. Vocal variety • Vary the pitch and volume of your voice. • Use inflections to emphasize critical points • Avoid reading your presentation • Avoid memorizing your entire presentation

22. Common Problems • Verbal fillers • “Um”, “uh”, “like” • Unrelated words or phrases • Swaying, rocking, and pacing • Hands in pockets • Lip smacking • Fidgeting – playing with your pen • Looking away from the audience

23. Caution! • Only use anecdotes that are relevant • Use caution with personal experiences • Stay away from inappropriate humor

24. 2. Natural, Engaging Body Language • Show enthusiasm • S p e a k s l o w l y a n d c l e a r l y • Project to fill the whole room • No Ummm’s or ahhhh’s Pleasant grin Clean-cut, pleasant dress Feet firmly planted, square with shoulders

25. Sources of Noise Don’t distract your audience by: • Wearing a hat • Wearing sunglasses • Chewing gum or tobacco • Using note cards: use the screen instead • Using gender bias or stereotypical terms • Being negative and apologizing

26. 3. Know the Equipment • Using your own laptop • Screen savers • Video and sound output, volume, lighting • Using the school’s computer • PowerPoint may replace bullets and fonts • Demos • May require a certain network, internet, a particular version of an OS, non-standard dll’s, video card settings…

27. 4. Know the Space • Visibility • Movement • Number of seats • Seating arrangement • Distracters

28. Handouts – only if required • Distribute handouts: • At end if possible • At beginning only if audience needs them during presentation • Not during • Print one-sided, with 2, 3 or 6 to a page • Staple beforehand

29. Summary: Your presentation will be great if you make it: • Audience centered • Accomplish your objective • Fun for the audience • Fun for you • Finish within the time frame

30. How do you do this? With…

31. Part 4Practice

32. How to Practice • In front of the mirror • With a friend • In the actual room where you will give the presentation • In front of a video camera, with a friend, in the actual room where you will give the presentation

33. Let’s Practice! Any volunteers?

34. Communications Seminar SummaryWhat do you remember about: • Listening? • Email writing? • Report writing? • Presentation preparation? • Presentation delivery?

35. Thank You!