PRESENTATION SKILLS
and
EXPECTATIONS
Whitney Wiltshire, Ph.D.
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Emergency Medicine Resident Lecture
July 15, 2008
Adapted from McDougal University
Learner Objectives
At
the conclusion of this presentation, participants:
will
be able to describe strategies for effective presentations
will
be able to identify departmental presentation expectations
Know your presentation style!
Verbal Presentation Style
Speak
to the audience
Slow
down
Speak up
Don’t read your slides (use as cues)
Vary voice tone (conversational)
Genuine enthusiasm
Non-Verbal Presentation Style
Appearance
Dress
appropriately for public speaking
Tie/jacket or dress is encouraged
Body
Language
Use
a comfortable, confident style of presentation
Do not speak to the screen/monitor/ceiling
Do not overuse the laser pointer
Face the audience
Stand Straight
Eye
Contact
Common Problems
Verbal
fillers
 Um”, “hmmm”, “ah, “uh”, “like”
Any unrelated word or phrase
Swaying,
rocking, and pacing
Hands in pockets
Fidgeting
Failure to be audience-centered
Know your audience
In
your field - can jump in with brief background;
non-experts - need more set-up
Purpose
of your talk (Convince? Update? Teach?)
Convey
enthusiasm about your work
Don’t
talk over their heads; don’t talk down to them
Presentation Clarity
Style
& format
 use color to highlight & organize
 be consistent (audience knows where to look)
Read
through presentation and see if main points
stand-out
 Heading = WHAT or HOW
 Summary statement = CONCLUSION
5 easy presentation tips

Smile

Breathe

Water

Notes

Finish On Or Under Time
Keep it simple and clear
If
you understand it - you should be able to
explain it in simple terms.
It
is not enough to know it - you have to explain
it clearly.
More
information  more learning
Managing Fear
Be
prepared
know your presentation
Rehearse (but don’t over rehearse!)
Talk
with audience beforehand
Provide
Turn
Ask
Handouts
your nervousness into energy
questions
Planning
• Who are you talking to?
• Why are you talking to them?
• How long do you have to talk?
• What main points do you want to convey?
Preparation
• Outline and sketch slides
•
• Prepare slides
• Proof read
• Prepare notes
• brief keywords and phrases, except maybe first few paragraphs
Like most things,
the best way to learn is to do
Preparation - Outline
EM Department Grand Rounds Standards / Expectations
• Introduction (1 slide)
• Learning Objectives (1-2 slides)
• Background/Clinical Importance (5-10 slides)
• Pathophysiology (10-15 slides)
• Differential diagnosis (2-3 slides)
• Treatment options (5-10 slides)
• Evidence based medicine summary (5-10 slides)
• References – 5 non-textbook references (1 slide)
Preparation - Slides
Use Images & Graphics
Preparation - Slides
Use Images & Graphics
Minimize text & numbers
Preparation - Slides
Use Images & Graphics
Minimize text & numbers
Light text on dark background
Preparation - Slides
Use Images & Graphics
Minimize text & numbers
Light text on dark background
Avoid distracting backgrounds
Preparation - Slides
Use Images & Graphics
Minimize text & numbers
Light text on dark background
Avoid distracting backgrounds
24 pt is minimum, 32
pt, or even 36 pt is better
If it can’t be read –
it’s a waste & it annoys the audience
Preparation - Slides
Use Images & Graphics
Minimize text & numbers
Light text on dark background
Avoid distracting backgrounds
Mix upper and lower case
Preparation - Slides
Use Images & Graphics
Minimize text & numbers
Light text on dark background
Avoid distracting backgrounds
Mix upper and lower case
Use color to highlight text
Use high contrast colors for important lines, symbols or
text, and lower contrast colors for less important lines,
symbols or text. But use a limited number of colors
Preparation - Slides
Use Images & Graphics
Minimize text & numbers
Light text on dark background
Avoid distracting backgrounds
Mixture upper and lower case
Use color to highlight text
Keep figures simple
Preparation - Slides
Use Images & Graphics
Minimize text & numbers
Light text on dark background
Avoid distracting backgrounds
Mixture upper and lower case
Use color to highlight text
Keep figures simple
Thick lines and large symbols
Show means, sd, effect size statistics, but not test statistics
Y axis (units)
80
*
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
Condition
6
7
8
Performance
 Don’t
Apologize

Speak loudly & clearly

Use short simple sentences

Avoid unfamiliar jargon & abbreviations

Vary pitch, tone, volume, speed and pauses
Performance

Avoid distracting mannerisms

Relax, be enthusiastic

Make eye contact

Be aware of the time remaining
Performance
Explain figures, and point to important aspects
Visual Aids
should:
Supplement
presentation
Outline main points
Serve audience’s needs, not speaker’s
Simple and clear
Vs.
Questions
Paraphrase questions
1. so that other people hear the question
Questions
Paraphrase questions from the audience
1. so that others hear the questions
2. to make sure you understand the questions
Questions
Paraphrase questions from the audience
1. so that others hear the questions
2. to make sure you understand the questions
3. to stall while you think about an answer
Questions
If you don’t know the answer, say so.
Offer to find out. Ask the audience.
Extra preparation hints
Ask ahead of time what equipment provided:
- overhead projector vs. Powerpoint
What format used:
- PC vs. Mac?
CD / Memory Stick (flash drive) / Zip?
Emergency back-ups:
- overheads
- handouts
Learner Objectives
Name
two strategies for an effective presentation
Name
two departmental presentation expectations
Questions?