Presentation skills
Session outline
 Introduction
 Steps in Giving Presentation
 Creating effective visual aids
 Effective presentation techniques
 Summary
Why Give A Presentation?
Three Main Purposes
1. Inform
2. Persuade
3. Educate
Definitions
Presentation
• “Something set forth to an audience for the
attention of the mind “
Effective
• “…producing a desired result”
#1 Fear
• Feared more than death!
• THE FACTS: Shaky hands, blushing cheeks,
memory loss, nausea, and knocking knees
• NORMAL!
“Great speakers aren’t born,
they are trained.”
Presenting is a Skill…
Developed through training and
experience
Steps in Giving Presentation
1. Plan
2. Prepare
3. Practice
4. Present
1. Planning
Questions?
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Who is your audience?
Why are they there?
What is your goal?
How long will it be?
Where will it take place?
Start your Outline
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No Powerpoint
Film with no script
Pencil & Paper
Order your thoughts
Key points
Create interest
“We need to open gaps before we close them.
Our tendency is to tell people the facts. First,
though, they must realize that they need
these facts.”
Structure
Introduction
Main theme
Summary/
Conclusions
Get Attention
Content
Key message
2. Preparation
Preparation
 Outline and sketch slides
 Prepare slides
 Proof read
 Prepare notes brief keywords and phrases,
maybe first couple of paragraphs
except
Preparation - Outline
1 - 2 minutes per slide
Generic 15 min Conference Presentation
Title Slide (1) Title, author, affiliation, acknowledgements
Rationale (1-2) Why this is interesting
Methods (1-2) What you did
Results (2-4) What did you find and what does it mean
Summary (1) One thing you want them to remember
Preparation - Slides
Use Images & Graphics
Minimise text & numbers
Light text on dark background
Avoid distracting backgrounds
Preparation - Slides
Use large fonts
Mixture upper and lower case
Use colour to highlight text
Keep figures simple
Thick lines and large symbols
Be Visible
• Use Sans Serif fonts (fonts without feet)
– e.g. Arial, Tahoma, Trebuchet, Verdana, etc.
• Titles should be 32-44 pt. font size, BOLD
• Text should be as large as possible
– First level 24-32 pt font size
– Second level 20-28 pt font size
– Etc.
• Use color wisely
– Contrasting colors
Red/Blue Conflict
Red letters on blue background
creates “flicker effect”
Blue letters on red background
just as bad
Low Contrast
White on yellow
Yellow on white
Black on blue
Blue on black
Visual Aids
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To make, explain or identify a point
To emphasize, clarify or reinforce a point
To remind, summarize or review a point
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We remember –
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10% of what we read
20% of what we hear
30% of what we see
50% of what we see and hear
Visual Aids
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PowerPoint slides
Overhead transparencies
Graphs/charts
Pictures
Web links (http://www.unh.edu/uacc/unhpathways.html )
Films/video
Flip charts
Sketches
Chalk or white board
3. Practice
Practice
Practice, practice, practice
Get feedback, and use it.
Be ruthless - delete unnecessary information
Practice
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Practice in front of people
In the venue
Fix things that don’t work
Timing
Gets you used to being in front of an
audience.
4. Present
5 Presentation Tips
1. Smile
2. Breathe
3. Water
4. Notes
5. Finish on, or under time
Performance
Don’t Apologise
Speak loudly & clearly
Use short simple sentences
Avoid jargon & abbrev.
Vary pitch, tone, volume, speed and pauses
Performance
Avoid distracting mannerisms
Relax, be enthusiastic
Make eye contact
Keep an eye on the time remaining
Performance
Explain figures, and
point to important aspects
Give a clear and concise summary,
then stop.
Don’t go overtime. Ever.
Dealing with Questions
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Questions show people are listening!
Allow time to deal with them
Decide when to answer them
Try and anticipate
Don’t be afraid to stop and think
What if I don’t know the
answer?
• Open it to the floor
• Take details and answer later
• Repeat the question back if you don’t
understand it
Common Problems
• Verbal fillers
– “Um”, “uh”, “like”, “you guys”
– Any unrelated word or phrase
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Swaying, rocking, and pacing
Hands in pockets
Lip smacking
Fidgeting
Failure to be audience-centered
Closing Summary
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Audience is always attentive at the begining
Somewhat less attentive in the middle
Generally more attentive at the end
Tell them what you are going to say
Then say it
At the end, say it again
Allow time for questions
Effective
Presentation Techniques
Effective Presentations
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Control anxiety – Don’t fight it
Audience centered
Accomplishes objective
Fun for audience
Fun for you
Conducted within time frame
Summary
Guide audience gently
Design slides carefully
Use pauses effectively
Answer questions inclusively