Presentation skills
Jon Boyes
Curriculum and Work-Related Learning Officer
Presentation skills
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Plan
Pace
Impact
Interact
Presentation skills
Session objectives
• Identify the characteristics of an effective
presentation
• Structure an effective presentation
• Identify techniques for maintaining audience
interest
• Identify techniques for coping with nerves
• Plan and deliver a short presentation
Presentation skills
What makes an effective
presentation?
Put your points into themes:
• Content
• Delivery (behaviour of presenter)
• Resources
Presentation skills
Planning/preparation
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Clear objectives – what do you want to achieve?
Target audience: their needs – format?
Mind map – brainstorm – list content
Structure
• Intro: who you are, purpose of presentation – benefits
to audience. IMPACT!
• Middle: key messages, content arranged in
themes/sections
• Conclusion/summary: take away message/call to
action
Presentation plan with timings
Presentation skills
Body language
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Act confident, feel confident
• Large personal space
• Eye contact with audience
• Open body language
• Standing upright with shoulders back
Use your hands for emphasis but avoid ‘flapping’
Presentation skills
Do...
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Illustrate your key messages, eg.
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a startling statistic or image
a quotation from someone famous that applies to your
message
Use personal stories and easy examples to help
illustrate your points
Involve your audience – interaction
Ask questions to involve, establish rapport and
support your arguments
Practice, Practice, Practice
Presentation skills
Don’t...
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpvgfmEU2Ck
Presentation skills
Don’ts – a recap
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Just read your slides
Script everything
Put too much information on a slide
Go overboard with fancy effects, they distract from
you and your key messages
Presentation skills
Exercise
Prepare and deliver a 3 minute presentation on one
of the following themes:
• The perfect weekend
• The invention that will change your life
• The Exeter University Student
Presentation skills
Coping with nerves
Controlling your environment and handling pressure
• Practice using any equipment
• Plan B if technology fails you – eg. PPT formats
• Recognising adrenalin gives you an edge
• Pace yourself – most people speak too fast if nervous
• The more you practice and run through it, the more
natural it becomes
• Use crib cards with brief notes if you need to
remember lots of information
• Practice under pressure
• Deep breathing
Presentation skills
Summary
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Clear objectives
Structure: Intro - Middle – Summary
Work to a timed plan
Learn from your favourite presenters – what they say
and how they say it
Remember what not to do...
Calm nerves by deep breathing, slowing down,
controlling your environment, having a back up plan
and plenty of PRACTICE