Chance are you'll be asked to present information to your reports, peers, or someone higher up the management chain at some point in your career. Stepping up to do a presentation is your opportunity to shine and demonstrate your value to the organization. More importantly, public speaking is a skill you can master with a deep breath, a little effort, and some practice. Here are some basics to get you started.

1. 5 FUNDAMENTALS OF FEARLESS PRESENTATIONS
Polishing Your Presentation Skills

2. ANYONE CAN SPEAK WELL
You can speak well if
your tongue can deliver
the message of your
heart.
~John Ford
Feb. 1, 1894 – Aug. 31, 1973
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3. WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH MY JOB?
• At some point in your career, you’ll be asked to
present information to your reports, peers, or
someone higher up the management chain.
• Maybe as a regular occurrence or perhaps just
the occasional ―dreaded necessity‖.
• Stepping up is your opportunity to shine and
demonstrate value to the organization.
• The good news? It’s a skill you can master with
a deep breath, a little effort, and some practice.
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4. SOME BASICS TO GET YOU STARTED
The 5 Fundamentals of Fearless Presentations
1. Know your audience.
2. Do your homework.
3. Be organized.
4. Plan for success.
5. Practice!
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5. 1: KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
• Be clear about your purpose.
• Analyze your audience.
• Be aware of the occasion.
• Be knowledgeable about and
comfortable with your topic.
• You should know more than
your average audience
member!
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6. 2: DO YOUR HOMEWORK
• Check out the space, layout and equipment
available to you in advance.
• Ensure your content is relevant, accurate, and
current (do your research!).
• Focus the content of your presentation to:
– prevent rambling,
– stay on topic, and
– aim your message toward a specific objective.
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7. 3: BE ORGANIZED
• Plan what you want to say. At minimum,
identify key speaking points in bullet form.
• Be conscious of your language. Use the words
best suited to your audience. Avoid jargon,
unless appropriate (i.e. a fit for your audience).
• Plan for…
– a great opening
– smooth transitions
– a strong close
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8. 3: BE ORGANIZED (OPENING)
Opening: Make the audience look up from their
smart phones and listen. You might try:
• asking a question
• making a strong/controversial statement
• sharing an anecdote or story
• reading a powerful quote
• presenting thought provoking statistics
• using humor appropriate to the event
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9. 3: BE ORGANIZED (EXCEPTIONAL OPENINGS)
We’ve also seen
arrival by
parachute or a
full-face
pratfall work!
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10. 3: BE ORGANIZED (CLOSING)
Closing: Be memorable. The last thing you say
will be remembered best, so give your closing
the respect it deserves.
• Restate the key message in a punchy, well-
written sentence or two.
• Memorize your close. Even if you get a little
off track in the middle, you’ll have a solid
finish.
• If you use slides, tie your final message to a
powerful visual image for added impact.
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11. 3: BE ORGANIZED (TRANSITIONING)
Transitioning: Transition smoothly from one idea
to another. Leave no one lagging or hanging.
• Use transition words like: Therefore, Thus, So
• Use transition phrases and sentences like:
– On the other hand…
– Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
– Now let’s consider this from a different viewpoint.
• Use a variety of transitions
• Avoid ―ahhh‖, ―ummm‖, ―like‖, ―and‖
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12. 4: PLAN FOR SUCCESS (TIMING)
• Know how much time you have and stick to it.
– Note: typically, 4 planned minutes of speaking
takes 5 minutes to deliver—longer with laughter.
• Be natural, don’t memorize (except your close!)
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13. 4: PLAN FOR SUCCESS (CUE CARDS/NOTES)
Use cue cards to keep on track:
• Number your cards just in case!
• Print large so you can read without being obvious
• Use a highlighter on words/points to be
emphasized
• If possible, avoid words
you find hard to pronounce
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14. 4: PLAN FOR SUCCESS (SLIDES)
Use presentation slides like cue cards; include
just enough information to keep you on message.
• Add visuals (charts, photos, videos) for impact.
• Minimize words, numbers and effects.
• Use large fonts
• Use a remote to advance slides
• Download any video in advance to avoid
technology letdown!
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15. 4: PLAN FOR SUCCESS (PRESENCE)
Consider viewing yourself on video before your
presentation so you know how you come across.
• Watch for and work on:
– posture and facial expressions
– any awkward habits, gestures, movements
– volume and pace of your speaking voice
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16. 4: PLAN FOR SUCCESS (PRESENCE)
Have a powerful presence:
• Use your voice and face for
emphasis.
• Incorporate planned gestures
and expressions that help
convey your message.
• Stand straight, feet grounded,
hands at your sides (when not deliberately gesturing).
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17. 4: PLAN FOR SUCCESS (EYE CONTACT)
Maintain good eye contact across your audience.
• Share your eye contact generously
• Avoid rapid, side-to-side scanning.
• Lift your eyes from your notes, cue cards or
slides—they should be prompts only.
• Be careful not to get ―stuck‖ on one person in
the audience or one side of the room.
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18. 5: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
• Familiarize, don’t memorize.
• Play with words to decide on emphasis.
– You did a great job!
– You did a great job!
• Punctuate via your delivery (they can’t see it!)
• Practice/refine as often as possible.
– Ask friends, family, co-workers to be your audience.
– Record yourself (voice or video)
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19. AND YOU TOO WILL TRIUMPH!
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20. TAP INTO AVAILABLE RESOURCES
If developing (or polishing) your presentation
skills is a personal or professional goal, join a
Toastmasters Club for some of the best training,
evaluation and ―stage time‖ available.
To learn more about communications, career
development, and what’s new in social HR,
subscribe to the TribeHR Blog today.
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21. PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
Flikr/creative commons/servantofchaos
Flikr/creative commons/deiby
Flikr/creative commons/US National Guard
Flikr/creative commons/US National Archives
Flikr/creative commons/National Archief
Flikr/creative commons/Library of Congress
Flikr/creative commons/2012 Green Heart Schools
public speaking competition; Brisbane City Council
and
Wikimedia Commons
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