1. Presentation Skills

2. Preparing an Oral
Presentation
Ch. 15, Slide 2

3. Preparing an Oral
Presentation
• Identif y your purpose.
• Decide what you want your audience
to believe, remember, or do when
you finish.
• Aim all parts of your talk toward
your purpose.
Ch. 15, Slide 3

4. Preparing an Oral
Presentation
• Organize the introduction.
• Get the audience involved.
• Capture attention by opening with a
promise, stor y, startling fact,
question, quotation, relevant
problem, or self-effacing stor y.
• Establish your credibility by
identifying your position, expertise,
knowledge, or qualifications.
Ch. 15, Slide 4

5. Preparing an Oral
Presentation
• Organize the
introduction.
• Introduce your topic.
• Preview the main points.
Ch. 15, Slide 5

6. Preparing an Oral
Presentation
• Organize the body.
• Develop two to four main points.
Streamline your topic and summarize
its principal parts.
• Arrange the points logically:
chronologically, from most important
to least important, by comparison
and contrast, or by some other
strategy.
Ch. 15, Slide 6

7. Preparing an Oral
Presentation
• Organize the body.
• Prepare transitions.
• Use “bridge” statements between major
parts (I’ve just discussed three reasons for X;
now I want to move to Y).
• Use verbal signposts (however, for example,
etc.).
• Have extra material ready.
• Be prepared with more information and
visuals if needed.
Ch. 15, Slide 7

8. Preparing an Oral
Presentation
• Organize the conclusion.
• Review your main points.
• Provide a final focus. Tell your
listeners how they can use this
information, why you have spoken,
or what you want them to do.
• Plan a graceful exit.
Ch. 15, Slide 8

9. Preparing an Oral
Presentation
Nine Techniques for Gaining and Keeping
Audience Attention
1. A promise
By the end of this presentation, you will be able to . .
. .
2. Drama
Tell a moving stor y; describe a serious problem.
3. Eye contact
Command attention at the beginning by making eye
contact with as many people as possible.
Ch. 15, Slide 9

10. Preparing an Oral
Presentation
Nine Techniques for Gaining and Keeping
Audience Attention
4. Movement
Leave the lectern area. Move toward the audience.
5. Questions
Ask for a show of hands. Use rhetorical questions.
6. Demonstrations
Include a member of the audience.
Ch. 15, Slide 10

11. Preparing an Oral
Presentation
Nine Techniques for Gaining and Keeping
Audience Attention
7. Samples/gimmicks
Award prizes to volunteer participants; pass out samples.
8. Visuals
Use a variety of visuals.
9. Self-interest
Audience wants to know “ What’s in it for me?”
Ch. 15, Slide 11

12. Designing and Using
Graphics
Ch. 15, Slide 12

13. Designing and Using
Graphics
• Select the medium.
• Consider the size of the audience and
the degree of formality desired.
• Consider cost, ease of preparation,
and potential effectiveness.
Ch. 15, Slide 13

14. Designing and Using
Graphics
• Highlight the main ideas.
• Focus on major concepts only.
• Avoid overkill. Showing too many
graphics reduces effectiveness.
• Keep all visuals simple.
Ch. 15, Slide 14

15. Designing and Using
Graphics
• Ensure visibility.
• Use large type for transparencies and
slides.
• Position the screen high enough to
be seen.
• Be sure all audience members can
see.
Ch. 15, Slide 15

16. Designing and Using
Graphics
• Enhance comprehension.
• Give the audience a moment to study
a visual before discussing it.
• Paraphrase its verbal message; don’t
read it.
Ch. 15, Slide 16

17. Designing and Using
Graphics
• Practice using your visual aids.
• Rehearse your talk, perfecting the
handling of your visual aids.
• Practice talking to the audience and
not to the visual.
Ch. 15, Slide 17

18. Presentation Enhancers
Ch. 15, Slide 18

19. Presentation Enhancers
• Overhead Projector
• Cost: Low
• Audience size: 2-200
• Formality level: Formal or informal
Ch. 15, Slide 19

20. Presentation Enhancers
• Flipchart
• Cost: Low
• Audience size: 2-200
• Formality level: Informal
Ch. 15, Slide 20

21. Presentation Enhancers
• Write-and-wipe Board
• Cost: Medium
• Audience size: 2-200
• Formality level: Informal
Ch. 15, Slide 21

22. Presentation Enhancers
• Slide Projector
• Cost: Medium
• Audience size: 2-500
• Formality level: Formal
Ch. 15, Slide 22

23. Presentation Enhancers
• Computer Presentation Slides
• Cost: Low
• Audience size: 2-200
• Formality level: Formal or informal
Ch. 15, Slide 23

24. Presentation Enhancers
• Handouts
• Cost: Varies
• Audience size: Unlimited
• Formality level: Formal or informal
Ch. 15, Slide 24

25. Overcoming Stage Fright
Ch. 15, Slide 25

26. Overcoming Stage Fright
Symptoms of Stage Fright
• Stomach • Wobbly knees
butterflies • Tied tongue
• Pounding heart
• Shortage of
breath
• Sweaty palms
• Dr y throat
• Unsteady voice
Ch. 15, Slide 26
• Trembling hands

27. Overcoming Stage Fright
Ways to Overcome Stage Fright
• Select a familiar, relevant topic.
Prepare 150 percent.
• Use positive self-talk.
• Convert your fear into anticipation
and enthusiasm.
• Shift the focus from yourself to your
visuals.
Ch. 15, Slide 27

28. Overcoming Stage Fright
Ways to Overcome Stage Fright
• Give yourself permission to make an
occasional mistake.
• Ignore stumbles; keep going. Don’t
apologize.
• Make the listeners your partners. Get
them involved.
• Just before you speak, practice deep
breathing.
Ch. 15, Slide 28

29. Effective Telephone Calls
Ch. 15, Slide 29

30. Effective Telephone Calls
• Making Calls
• Plan a mini agenda.
• Use a three-point introduction:
1. Your name
2. Your affiliation
3. A brief explanation of why you are calling.
• Be cheerful and accurate.
• Bring it to a close.
• Avoid telephone tag.
• Leave complete voice-mail messages.
Ch. 15, Slide 30

31. Effective Telephone Calls
• Receiving Calls
• Identif y yourself immediately.
• Be responsive and helpful.
• Be cautious when answering calls for
others.
• Take messages carefully.
• Explain when transferring calls.
Ch. 15, Slide 31

32. End
Ch. 15, Slide 32