PowerPoint and Public Speaking:
What you need to know
Marcy B. Waldinger, MHSA
Aisha T. Langford, MPH
Emerging Leaders Program
Presentation Outline
A.
PowerPoint Tips
B.
Public Speaking Tips
C.
Discussion
PowerPoint Quote
“The audience has come to hear you, not merely to
stare at images tossed onto a screen. Build a strong
PowerPoint program, but make sure that your
spoken remarks are no less compelling.
"PowerPoint doesn't give presentations —
PowerPoint makes slides.”
Matt Thornhill, president of Audience First.
PowerPoint Guidelines
•
Uncluttered slides
•
No more than 5 lines
•
Good text contrast
•
Large enough font
•
Be prepared to improvise in case of technical
difficulties!!!!
PowerPoint Tips
•
Have compelling material
•
Keep it simple
•
Minimize numbers in slides
•
Don't be a parrot
•
Time your remarks
PowerPoint Tips
•
Give it a rest
•
Use vibrant colors
•
Use various images, videos, cartoons, graphics
•
Distribute handouts at the end
•
Edit ruthlessly, then let someone else review
Adequate Color Contrast
Bad
Good
•
Hard to read
•
Much better!
•
Hard to read
•
Much better!
•
Hard to read
•
Much better!
Font
•
Sizes 28 – 32 are easy to read
•
Use plain fonts (e.g. Times New Roman, Arial)
•
Avoid fancy script fonts
-Hard to read
-Harder to read
-I’m dizzy
Avoid Using All CAPS
•
ALL CAPS ARE HARD TO READ
•
ALL CAPS IN E-MAIL = SHOUTING!!!
Vs.
•
All caps are hard to read
•
All caps in e-mail = shouting
Graphics
•
Be thoughtful about CLIP ART graphics
•
Some can appear amateur and unprofessional
Graphics
•
Utilize JeanAnn Davidson, UMHS graphic designer
•
Websites for stock photos
-Jupiter Unlimited (free images): www.jiunlimited.com
-IStock Photo (low cost images): www.istockphoto.com
Sample of a JeanAnn Creation
Sample from IStockPhoto.com
More exciting images
“Normal colon vs. colon with polyp”
Mammogram with cancerous lesion
Graphics
•
Avoid photos as backdrops
•
Text is hard to read
•
Distracting
Keep Charts Simple
Cancer Type
Action Step
Breast Cancer
Mammograms/self-exams
Colon
Colonoscopy (gold standard)
Cervical
Pap Tests/HPV Vaccine
Prostate
PSA Test/Digital Rectal Exam
Lung
Don’t smoke. Quit if you do.
Skin
Wear sunscreen/self-exams
More PowerPoint Tips
•
Animation can be useful, but may crash slide show
•
Don’t use the “auto-advance” slide feature
•
Film clips and music can enhance presentations
•
Make slides into PDF if sharing electronically
•
Cite references
Most Common PowerPoint Complaints
•
Reading slides
•
Text too small
•
Full sentences instead of bullet points
•
Moving/flying text or graphics
Most Common PowerPoint Complaints
•
Annoying sounds
•
Overly complex diagrams or charts
-Give full-page hard copy of charts or
-Break them up
•
Bad color choices
Public Speaking Icebreaker
If you could be any public speaker (famous or not),
who would it be and why?
Public Speaking Guidelines
•
Control fillers like “Uhhmns and Ahhs”
•
Error on the side of brevity vs. length
•
Respect time restraints
•
Pace yourself and speak slowly
•
Enunciate your words and project your voice!
10 Public Speaking Tips
•
Know your audience
•
Know your material
•
Know the room
•
Practice
•
Relax
10 Public Speaking Tips
•
Visualize yourself giving your speech
•
Realize that people want you to succeed
•
Don’t apologize
•
Concentrate on the message – not the medium
•
Gain experience
Public Speaking Tips
•
Keep good eye contact
•
Smile
•
Express emotion
•
Avoid distracting mannerisms (fidgeting, lip biting, etc.)
Public Speaking Tips
•
Create an “elevator speech” for impromptu introductions
* 15 -30 seconds, 100 - 150 words to describe:
1. What the product or service is
2. What it does for the buyer/consumer (e.g. the benefits).
3. Who you are
Public Speaking Tips
•
Tell a story if appropriate
•
Stay true to your personality
•
Make gestures convincing
•
Vary your speaking position
10 Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes
•
Starting with a whimper
•
Attempting to imitate other speakers
•
Failing to “work” the room
•
Failing to use relaxation techniques
•
Reading a speech word for word
10 Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes
•
Using someone else’s stories
•
Speaking without passion
•
Ending a speech with questions and answers
•
Failing to prepare
•
Failing to realize that speaking is an acquired skill
General Issues in Presenting
•
Minimize distractions
-Turn off your cell phone and pager
-Jingling keys
-Change in pocket
-Swaying
•
Dress for credibility
•
Comfort using a podium and microphone
General Issues in Presenting
•
Managing the audience
-Setting expectations about scope of talk
-Fielding questions
-Looking out for side conversations
*If you don’t have an answer, say so, then give an
appropriate resource or promise to get back to them.
General Issues in Presenting
Important Questions to Ask
1.
What AV equipment will be provided?
2.
How much time will I have?
3.
How many people do you expect?
4.
What is the desired theme for the talk?
5.
Who else is presenting on the program?
6.
Will there be a podium?
Remember
•
Prepare
•
Practice
•
Present
Public Speaking Resources
•
Toastmasters International
www.toastmasters.org
Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20
people who meet weekly or bi-weekly for an hour or two.
Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting
role. There is no instructor; instead, each speech and
meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner,
focusing on what was done right and what could be
improved.
Public Speaking Resources
The Toastmasters website has information on:
-Giving a Eulogy
-Toasting Tips
-Presenting an Award
-Accepting an Award
-What You Should Have Said
-Business Presentations
-The 10 Commandments of Communication
Public Speaking Resources
Books
•
In The SpotLight, Overcome Your Fear of Public
Speaking and Performing by Janet E. Esposito
•
Public Speaking (8th Edition) by Michael Osborn,
Suzanne Osborn and Randall Osborn
•
The Exceptional Presenter: A Proven Formula to Open
Up and Own the Room by Timothy J. Koegel
Public Speaking Resources
Books
•
How to Leave Your Audiences Begging for More by
Chris King
•
101 Secrets of Highly Effective Speakers, Caryl Rae
Krannich Ph.D.
•
Great Session Openers, Closers, and Energizers: Quick
Activities for Warming Up Your Audience and Ending
on a High Note by Marlene Caroselli
Public Speaking Resources
•
U-M workshops and classes
•
Center for the Education of Women
•
EMU and Washtenaw colleges
•
Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti District Libraries
•
The Human Face, a BBC documentary narrated by
John Cleese
Presentation Information Sources/References
•
“Presenting with PowerPoint: 10 dos and don'ts”
Microsoft Small Business Center website
•
“10 Tips for Public Speaking” and “10 Biggest Public
Speaking Mistakes”
Toastmasters International website
•
“How to Deliver an Effective Presentation” handout by
Louise August & Jean Waltman
Center for the Education of Women, Ann Arbor