Presentations
Shemesentations
Improving Your Presentation Skills
Computing & Information Technology
Professional Development Group
December 19th, 2013
-Bob Orrange
-UB Career Services
Words of Wisdom
“It usually takes more than three weeks
to prepare a good impromptu speech.”
-- Mark Twain
Words of Wisdom
“…four weeks, if there’s PowerPoint
involved.”
-- Bob Orrange
Words of Wisdom
“…five weeks, if there’s Prezi.”
Some Quick Tips
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Say who you are!
Be yourself!
Use the microphone!!!!
Choose the tools that are best for you and
your information (e.g. PowerPoint vs. Prezi).
Be the best-dressed one in the room!
Talk with the audience beforehand.
Have audience members help you.
Let the audience complete your
sentence!
Some Quick Tips
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Say things like, “These are the keys issues”
and “This is important.”
Don’t speak while the audience is reading or
looking at audio-visuals.
Deliver one thought to one person.
Make sure the audience knows where you are
in the handout or PowerPoint.
Have a backup plan for technology.
Don’t compete with food!
Some Final Tips
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Don’t go over the time limit.
Be sure everyone has a copy before discussing a
handout.
Ask “Who needs one?” Not, “Does everyone have
one?”
And when it is not going well…….
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Do an icebreaker.
Change the topic area.
Move it along!
Ask if there are questions!
So, are there any questions?
Icebreakers
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Learn everyone’s name!
Have audience learn each other’s name.
Have them name an object that represents their
personality and state why.
Ask, “Why did you get the name you got and what is
unique about it?”
Have each state their pet peeve and why.
Ask, “Who is your role model and why?”
Have each person complete, “When I grow up I want
to be a __ .”
Give stuff away!
Icebreakers
1,000
+40
+1,000
+30
+1,000
+20
+1,000
+10
4,100
Common Mistakes of
Presenters
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Not thanking the host/hostess/audience.
Not being genuine.
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Getting off track with a side issue.
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Don’t be a phony.
Don’t be too serious.
Use shorter answers until the end.
Trying to analyze facial expressions.
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People commonly don’t praise in public.
Feel free to prove me wrong today!
Common Mistakes of
Presenters
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Lack of preparation/organization
Not knowing the subject
Saying you’re nervous more than once
Not knowing the audience
Ignoring the occasion
Not knowing the technology
Facing the wrong way!!
Common Mistakes of
Presenters
Lack of proofreading!
 Errors distract from your message and
detract from your credibility.
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Don’t EVER skip words!
Proofread forward & backwards!
Don’t skip the headings!
Your visuals will be judged on grammar,
vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling.
Common Mistakes of
Presenters
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I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd
waht I waas rdanieg. It wis abot the phaonmneal
pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to rscheearch
at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht
oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt
tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit
pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll
raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn
mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the
wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh?
Creating Structure
This basic structure works for a variety of presentations:
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Introduction - Grab Attention!
Credibility - Introduce yourself and state a bit of your
credentials.
Need Step - Give them a reason to listen.
Initial Summary - Tell them what’s coming!
Body/Categories (See next slide)
 XXXX
 XXXX
Final Summary - Tell them what they heard!
Refer to the attention grabbing statement.
Take Questions.
Creating Structure
The Body
These categories are used in “The Body” of many
presentations:
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Chronological Sequencing
Topical Issues
Asking Five Questions
Cause/Effect
Pro/Con
Problem/Solution
Yardstick
Motivational Reasoning
Shake It Up!
Here are some ways to support your
content:
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Facts, Figures, Statistics
Authoritative Sources
Current Events
Quotations
Narratives -Tell a story!
Definitions
Humor - Self-deprecating humor is the safest form
for presenters to use!
Strategies For Giving
Information
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Go from big picture to small picture
back to big picture (The hourglass
approach!).
Tell them what is important. Don’t
expect them to know!
Use a linear progression:
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Past, present, future
Go from a general statement to a
specific example.
Build a bridge back to the key issues.
Hooray! It’s Break Time!
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Take five minutes
Then find a partner
Create an outline
Strategies For Distractions
& Interruptions
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Distractions
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Ignore minor distractions
Acknowledge major distractions
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Focus the attention & then move on!
Interruptions
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Deal with the unexpected professionally
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Think “Serenity Now!”
Call on audience members in turn
Audience members with questions may feel
part of the “show!”
Presentation Aids
Consider:
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Your personal preference
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Setting/Size of the group
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Is it enhancing the presentation?
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Culture of audience/organization
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Attention span of the audience
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THE ATTENTION SPAN OF THE
AUDIENCE !!!
Presentation Aids
PowerPoint
Prezi
Linear in Nature
User Friendly
Endless Possibilities
Hyperlinks
Printouts
Large Files
New (Learning Curve)
Non-linear
Zoom Feature
Sharing Online
Costs
Dizziness
Nausea
Vomiting
Effective PowerPoint Use
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Use short titles
Express one group of thoughts per slide
Four colors per page, maximum
Use no more than two fonts
Use sound and effects with a purpose
6 x 6 Rule
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No more than 6 Words per line & 6 Lines per slide
Except for this presentation, of course!
Effective PowerPoint Use
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Write your presentation first!
Information should be self-contained
and understood by all.
Clearly label charts and graphs.
Information should flow horizontally.
Content should enhance your
presentation not detract from it.
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Don’t try to be too flashy!
Effective PowerPoint Use
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Must have an appropriate purpose.
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Should be large, clear, & visually
appealing.
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Don’t put up data you are not using.
You should not have to say, “I hope you
can read this!”
Don’t clutter the page!
Actual Slide I Saw!!!
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
$3000
$4,000
2,000
.55 (Red)
1,000 Profit
7
6
5
Series 1
Series 2
Series 3
4
3
2
1
0
2005
2006
2007
2008
Effective PowerPoint Use
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For graphics:
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Blue has a solid, conservative feel
Yellow is fun and hopeful
Green is good for social interaction
Purple is mysterious
Avoid red/green contrasts
Use dark to light color sequence – working
from the bottom up
Effective PowerPoint Use
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For text:
 Use black on white background
 Yellow/white on dark
background
 Avoid red for text
 Maintain consistency in your
reveals
Effective PowerPoint Use
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KISS – Keep It Short & Sweet
KILL – Keep It Large & Legible
KIHB – Keep It Horizontal, Baby!
HABUPBYKSWSU –
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Have A Backup Plan Because You Know
Something Will Screw Up!
Don’t fall in love with PowerPoint!
That still make’s me sad, Dorkhead! 
Thank You!
Bob Orrange
UB Career Services &
www.HigherEd Humor.com
Resources
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“Knockout Presentations – How to Deliver Your
Message with Power, Punch, and Pizzazz” by Diane
DiResta, Chandler House Press.
“How To Be a Great Communicator” by Nido R.
Qubein, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
“Guide to Presentations” by Mary Munter & Lynn
Russell, Prentice Hall.
“Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation
Design and Delivery.” 1st edition, by Garr Reynolds,
Random House.
www.public-speaking.org
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_speaking
PowerPoint vs. Prezi by Adam Noar