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1. Presentation Skills • Presentation Skills are a set of skills focused around interpersonal and communication skills. Typically, these are called “soft skills,” which are completely different than tangible technical skills. • No one ever really masters them all, but it seems some people are just ‘naturals’ while most of us struggle with it. Fear of public speaking has often rated even higher than “Fear of death” on surveys! • First things first: Remember that presentations are basic in their objective: Getting the Message across. • The old adage “Tell them what you are going to tell them; tell them; tell them what you just told them” is it in a nutshell! • The following are a few tips to assist you in preparing an outstanding presentation; there are lots more but we will focus on these for now. • You Don't Need the Perfect Presentation • Get started! Don't freeze expecting perfection. When you think you need to be perfect, this can lead to paralysis. Focus instead on doing the best you can with the time you have to prepare – whether it is thirty minutes or thirty days. Be realistic . Work smart, not frantically. You want to give your Best presentation, not necessarily the Perfect presentation. • Start With an End in Mind (Covey Habit) • Ask yourself, "What do I want to accomplish with my presentation?" Do you want to persuade, entertain, or move the audience to action? Once you have these answers, work to develop your presentation to achieve these goals. Click here to add text Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. • valerie tutor & associates, inc. Page 1

2. Presentation Skills • It's About the Audience • Ask the following questions: • "Who is my audience? • "What does the audience want from my presentation?" (How will it benefit them) • "What is the level of expertise of the audience members?" • Once you have the answers, you can tailor your presentation to meet the audience's needs. • Keep It Simple • Don't be overwhelmed with information overload. Keep your presentation clear and concise by focusing on three main points. This will save you time when collecting your backup information. Research shows that people only remember three things from a presentation anyway. Pick out your three main points. • Make an Outline • Create an outline of your speech. Depending on your own individual thought process, you may want to mind map, a freestyle way of putting ideas together, or outline. Outline your beginning, the body (with your three points), and the ending. • Start and End Strong • Concentrate on knowing the beginning and ending of your presentation. Feel confident in giving the beginning of your presentation, and you will become more comfortable giving the rest of your speech. End on a strong note because your close will be the last thing your audience will remember about your presentation. • Your Presentation Starts in the Mind • Find a few minutes before your presentation; go to a quiet place, if possible; and visualize. Think about the positive results of your presentation. Visualize yourself giving an outstanding presentation and how well the audience is receiving it. Positive visualization works in sports and in goal setting and it will work here, too. Click here to add text Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. • valerie tutor & associates, inc. Page 2

3. Presentation Skills • See the Audience as a Part of the Team – or as your Friends • The audience is not your enemy. Never think of them as such. This isn’t “American Idol. “ Find people throughout the audience to make eye contact with, if it’s a large group. If it is a smaller group, try to make eye contact with each other and smile as if you were looking at another valued team member or friend. • Remember, you have something important to tell them and they want to know it! • SPECIFICS • Use clear language & visual aids that convey the message clearly • Don’t get too technical. Using big words will impress an English professor, maybe. Use visual aids IF they are appropriate and will add to the presentation. Most folks are visual so some aids can help. Don’t go overboard though. • Introduce your Team Members & Areas of Expertise • This can help your audience to feel familiar with you and also give you a chance to brag on your team members. • Know Your Subject Matter & Don’t Make it Too Technical • If you don’t know what you are supposed to be present on – start doing your homework. You can findout all kinds of things on the Internet. Talk to others on your team about the subject. Review the plans, the spec book, whatever you need to get a least somewhat familiar with your subject matter. AND remember to keep it simple. Click here to add text Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. • valerie tutor & associates, inc. Page 3

4. Presentation Skills • SPECIFICS • If You Don’t Know Where You Are Going, You Aren’t Going To Get There • Know your subject. Also – know what it is you want to get across to the audience. What is it you want them to know or to leave with from your presentation. That is “where you are going.” • Maintain Your Composure – Just Move On • Professional piano players often hit wrong notes but most folks don’t know because the performer moves on quickly and hits the right notes. They don’t go back in the piece and correct it – they just move on. It is ok to say “I misspoke” or “I lost my place” - then move on. • OTHER TIPS: ______________________________________________________________________ • ___________________________________________________________________________________ • ___________________________________________________________________________________ • ___________________________________________________________________________________ Click here to add text Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. Click here to add text. • valerie tutor & associates, inc. Page 4