How Do Oral Presentations Differ from Written Forms
of Communication?
It seems obvious; oral presentations differ from written communication in that
you are talking rather than writing. If you think about it for a moment,
however, you'll realize that there are two critical points that flow from this,
and which have a tremendous influence on how you prepare and deliver your
presentations. If you understand these, you are well on your way to being an
excellent presenter!
There is no written record
Usually there is no complete written record for your audience to consult - you
talk; they (hopefully) listen. This means that simple, direct presentations are
best: otherwise you risk losing your audience's attention. Remind them
periodically about the overall structure of your presentation, and how the
information fits together. In other words, don't just present to your audience,
but rather guide them through your presentation.
You Must Understand and Use Non-verbal Communication (Body
Language)
Remember, you are delivering your message in person, and in front of other
people. This means that your message will not simply be what you are saying,
but how you are saying it. In other words, you must take into account the fact
that that your voice, posture, hand gestures, use of eye contact, and overall
appearance are all sending their own messages, and that these have to fit with
what you are saying. Non-verbal communications (body language) is critically
important; in fact, lots of studies have shown that people pay more attention to
how you present than what you present!
Controlling nervousness
Most people are nervous when they give oral presentations. We've all felt it at
one time or another - the sweaty palms, the butterflies in the stomach - our
bodies seemingly telling us that we should not be here, doing this, in front of
all these people. As a consequence, many of us avoid presentations like the
plague.
Yet, the ability to verbally persuade or inform a group of people - to make
effective oral presentations, in other words - is arguably the single-most
valuable skill in business. Its importance, very simply, cannot be overestimated.
1
BODY LANGUAGE AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Most of us know what "body language" means, and consider ourselves pretty
competent at interpreting it in the people around us.
In one sense, we are all experts in body language, because it (and non-verbal
communication, which is somewhat broader and encompasses things such as
how we use space and time to impart messages to others), is a type of
communication that humans were using long before spoken or written
language existed.
Body language and non-verbal communication play a major role in
determining how effective we are as presenters. The cues and messages that
we send out while we are speaking during our presentations can either
reassure our audience and therefore reinforce our spoken message, or detract
from our credibility and in so doing dramatically reduce our effectiveness.
For example, imagine that that you are watching through a window as
someone does a presentation to a group of people in a room. You can't
actually hear the presenter's voice, but he or she seems to be speaking clearly,
is making eye contact with various people in the room, is emphasizing points
using appropriate hand gestures, appears to be in command of the material,
and exudes enthusiasm. Without even hearing what they are actually saying,
your impression will be one of competence, sincerity, even leadership on the
part of this presenter, and you will have made these determinations on the
basis of body language alone.
On the other hand, imagine that you are watching under similar circumstances
while a second person does a presentation. This time, you notice that the
person avoids direct eye contact with their audience, keeps their hands in their
pockets or at their sides, shifts their weight uncomfortably, and generally
appears unenthusiastic about their topic. On the basis of their body language,
your impression will be one of a lack of professionalism (or worse - boredom)
on the part of the presenter.
What is the moral? Body language and non-verbal cues are perhaps the major
determinant of how your audience perceives you and your presentation. Thus,
keep these simple guidelines in mind as you develop your presentation skills:





dress appropriately; you appearance is part of your (non-verbal) message.
make eye contact with various people in your audience, but don't look at any one
person for too long.
to keep yourself on track, use cue cards with a few key words instead of a
complete text; this will allow you to maintain audience eye contact.
speak naturally, clearly, and in your regular voice.
leave your hands free so that you can emphasize points naturally.
2






when using overheads, don't turn your back to your audience to read the screen.
don't shift your weight back and forth from leg to leg, or pace.
be enthusiastic about your topic; but not unnaturally so (the Tony Little rule)
try to enjoy the experience; people can sense this and it is contagious.
know your topic well; you will be (and will appear) more relaxed.
when using a podium, lectern or table, periodically move out from behind it to
remove the barrier between you and your audience.
How can we overcome our fears so that we can perform to the best of our
abilities? In part, that's why you are taking this course; each of your
instructors will give you what their experience tells them are the necessary
background, techniques and exercises to allow you to overcome your anxiety.
This is essential information on your journey to the mastery of presentation
skills.
The basics steps to overcoming nervousness, however, are really quite simple.
Visit the following sites for a solid overview of the basics.
3