Biotechnology YES – Presentation Skills
The aim of the session is to enable you
to:
be confident when planning, preparing
and presenting a pitch to an audience
....SO THAT YOU CAN WIN!
Who am I?
Jane Nolan MBE
Part time Curriculum Development Officer
Entrepreneur in Residence
MD Venture Coaching and Consulting Ltd
Previously CEO & owner manager of
Shark Group
We will look at:
Planning your presentation
Structure and content
Skills and styles
Handling nerves
Managing the audience
Do you feel like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oez98CDo4Y
Preparing to present
Know what you want to achieve
Know and understand your audience
Prepare to communicate effectively
What do you want to achieve?
To gain investment
To win a competition
To be taken seriously
To justify why you think this will work
To build your network
To change the opinions of the audience
BE CLEAR BEFORE YOU BEGIN!
Are you ready to face the audience?!
Know your audience
Your audience :
will expect you to speak effectively
will expect you to have the authority and ability to
speak on your subject
will listen closely IF you capture their imagination
are easily distracted
respond well to variety
are normally friendly and sympathetic.... at the
beginning!
Audiences...
Hear and forget
See and then remember
Do and then understand
Content – what to include
Introduction : GRAB THEIR ATTENTION!
Core content : 3 – 5 main points
The conclusion: sum up the key points
Introduction
Say something interesting!
Use a quote / anecdote / article / challenge
...or something more outrageous!
Core Content
Take the audience on a logical journey through your story
Use the end to support the beginning
Refer to situations the audience is familiar with
Involve the audience as much as possible – ask questions
Be careful of humour... it can be disastrous
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5R_zB9BKTw
Core Content
Introduction to team and business idea (innovative?)
Engage the audience to your idea and its key selling
points
What evidence do you have of potential success? How
is it different?
Market research
How will you market it?
How much will it cost?
Core Content
How much do you think you’ll sell?
How will your business operate?
What have you already done?
Any barriers/risks?
What is the future of your business?
The Conclusion
Summarise the key points
Refer to where you started
End with a “call to action”
Make sure your take home message
is clear
Have a definite end.
Checklist
Bold statement of the problem (attention
grabber)
Our product is… (simple non-technical
description)
That provides… (key benefit that solves
problem)
For… (target customers)
Who have/are… (compelling reason to buy)
Unlike… (objective analysis of competitors
shortcomings)
© CfEL, Cambridge University, 2006.
Checklist
Our unique selling point is… (main
source of competitive advantage)
We need to raise £… in order to… (why
you need the money)
Call to action (engineer feedback and a
follow-up meeting)
© CfEL, Cambridge University, 2006.
Preparation
Think about:
• Visual aids
• Your notes
• Handouts
• Audience participation
• The room / venue
Visuals
DO
make them easy to understand
space information out
write clearly
allow time for the audience to absorb
carefully use colour
Your notes
If you use them ...
....DO NOT JUST READ FROM THEM!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95TlsHr5T-c
Tackling nerves
To be nervous is normal
Feeling nervous can be useful:
The line to be drawn is between
“acutely self aware and ready to rock”
and
“shivering with apprehension and wanting to go to the loo”
Top tips to tackle nerves
PRACTISE!
Arrive in plenty of time
Check everything first
Breathe deeply
Start slowly, confidently and smile
Relax
What’s the worst that could happen?!
In your teams consider what could go wrong and what
you will do about it.
Think about who will have responsibility for what
Think BIG!
Consider everything but don’t miss out the obvious.
5 mins now – but lots of time later
Key Points to Remember
Please make your
presentation
The audience – who
are they, what do they want
from us? memorable and make
The message – what’s the big thing we want to
sure
you
show
say?
evidence
thattime?
you
How do we effectively
use the
have a well
researched business
idea
PowerPoint presentations
You don’t have to use powerpoint (or any
electronic presentation, but if you do:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Use the slides as a support
Never read a slide to the audience
Avoid design templates, create own visual theme
One idea per slide, limited text/bullets
Not too much animation
High quality images
Use sans-serif fonts
Bad slide!!!
All the technology in the world won’t hide a poor
presentation
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1762603
Remember to……
The more
presenters you
have the more
likely it is
something will
go wrong!!!!
Your style
Be yourself – show your best bits!
Use words and phrases you are
comfortable with
Let your personality show through
Be enthusiastic – it is contagious!
Be empathetic and sincere
Handling the audience
Confused?
Repeat differently without telling
them that is what you are doing
Bored?
Try introducing the
next topic with
“Who can afford
to ignore...”
Change your pitch
and tone
Questions
Decide if you want questions at the end and
say so at the beginning
Say “I would welcome any questions” rather
than, “Does anyone have any questions?”
Questions mean someone is interested
Receive feedback well
Questions
Listen for the real question
Repeat or rephrase the question
Be prepared to be challenged
No one expects you to know everything –
don’t bluster. Think of ways to find out more
for the questioner
Keep an eye on the time
Think about your dress code!
Think about the Time!
Think about eye contact!
Think About the SPACE!
Think professional
Think questions!
Smile
SMILE!!!!
Summary
Know your audience
Plan well
Prepare well
Practise well