Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Developing Quality Presentations
Tips and Techniques
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Learning Objectives• Describe the purpose of presentations and common
barriers to being an effective presenter.• Describe techniques that can be utilized to assist you in
preparing for a presentation.• Describe steps you can take as a presenter to get your
audience’s attention and maintain it.• Identify methods to properly use PowerPoint and other
supporting visual aid tools for best impact.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Six myths 1. You need God-given talent to be a good
speaker (and I don't have it) 2. Good speakers probably never had stage fright
like mine 3. Good speakers don't have to work at it (the way
I do)
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Six myths (cont.)4. Experienced people don't get nervous
anymore (and I do, so I must not be meant for this stuff)
5. I could never be a good speaker (so there's no sense trying)
6. I've tried all that and it didn't work (so it's futile)
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Why?• Aiding in the pursuit of new business • Getting backing for growth or image • Reporting status of ongoing projects to customers or
managers• Helping managers stay informed
• Keeping employees involved, informed and current • Communication among peers • Personal interests • Getting hired or promoted • Presentation skills complement professional skills
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010 All rights reserved
Basic Purpose • Persuade/Convince • Inform/Explain • Inspire • Entertain or Preside
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
The 5 W’s • Who/Audience?• What/Subject of Specific Area of
Interest?• Why/Function? • When/Event and Occasion? • Where/Location?
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Type of Talk • Informal Chat • Seminar • Meeting • More Formal? • Class
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Composition of the Audience • General Audience • Specialists • Number of Attendees • Friendly • Antagonistic • Interactive
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
The 4 Whats? • What do they already know about my subject? • What do they want to know about my subject? • What experience do they have regarding my
subject? • What is their attitude about my subject?
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Time Allotted for the talk? • The longer you have the more freedom
you have • Shorter talks need to be more focused • Is question time included? • Are there audience exercises?
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Preparation • Start early • Collect materials which may relate to the
topic from unusual sources, and sleep on these ideas. The final product will be more interesting.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Use big letters and a bold pen, write a clear statement of the problem and its importance, and then pin that statement on the wall above your desk.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
General Organizing Methods • Enumeration
– Five factors.... – Point 1, Point 2, Point 3
• Enumeration combined with alliteration – Five Cs of Marketing – Four Ps of Winning Presentations
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
General Organizing Methods• Repeated theme
– O I have a dream that... – I have a dream
• Plays on popular themes – The Good the Bad and the Ugly
• A presentation often uses different organization patterns for separate sections
Test the outline structure… • Relevance• Independence• Clarity
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Before the day begins, or last thing the night before, run through your talk once more. Use a mirror or visualize standing in front of an audience as you practice.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Hand Position • Avoid:
– Fig Leaf -- both hands gripped together and covering the groin – Reverse fig leaf -- both hands gripped behind the back (at-ease) – Mortician or concert singer -- hands gripped together at the navel – Gunfighter or gorilla -- both hands hanging stiffly away from both
sides – Casual -- hands in pockets – Challenger hands on both hips – Death grip -- hands firmly holding onto lectern, chair, pointer, or
papers – Tightrope walker -- both hands on pointer, which is across the
waist
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
The Moment of Truth
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Nervousness • Psyche yourself up...you have something to say
that others need to hear or else you would not have been asked to make the presentation.
• Remember this...most people in the audience want you to do well...they are on your side
• Visualize success
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Getting Attention
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Tensions• There are 4 tensions that exist in almost
every audience: – Between one audience member and his/her
counterparts– Between the audience and the presenter– Between the audience and the materials– Between the audience and the environment
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
There are three things audience members love…
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Respect their time• Let them know early how long you will be
presenting.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Rapport• Remember people want you to succeed.
Develop rapport by connecting through immediate participation. Share an interesting statistic, ask a proactive question, comment on a newsworthy event or tell a personal story that relates to your subject.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Entertainment• You do not need to be a comedian, but you
should have a sense of humor. Almost everyone enjoys listening to someone who captures attention with humor.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Keeping attention
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Facial and Eye-to-eye communication
• As you present, connect with your audience.• Be sensitive to proper duration of eye
contact.• Look at and face people directly.• Speak to everyone.• Be aware of negative facial expression
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
The Question and Answer slide
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Avoid: • Turning off the projector (you'll just have to
turn it on again) • Projecting a blank white (dazzling) or black
(too dark) slide • Leaving your conclusion slide in place as
you answer questions
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Little things make a big difference.
• Eye contact• Body language • Tonality, word choice, openness• Appearance• Humor, and enthusiasm
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Supporting Materials 1. The material must fit the needs and style of the
audience 2. The material must be relevant to the subject
being discussed 3. The material must be meaningful to the audience 4. The material must be accurate and fairly
presented 5. If it's satire, make sure they know that
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Supporting Materials (cont.)6. The material must be workable
7. The material must prudently balance quantity and variety.
8. The material must be presented smoothly
9. The material must be absolutely appropriate and non-offensive
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Personal Experience
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Humor
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Popular News Items, Cartoons, Columns, and TV Programs
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Quotations, Poems, Sayings
“Public speaking is very easy.”
[Dan Quayle – 1988]
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Audience activity
Statistics
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010 All rights reserved
References
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
BACKUP!
• Number everything! Your 3x5s, handouts, notes can easily slip out of order!
• Create a back-up plan
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
PowerPoint • Can be a wonderful timesaver. The time
invested in learning this program is rewarded by the speed with which a presentation can be created. These tools are good tools for organizing you presentation.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2007, All rights reserved
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2007, All rights reserved
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Four Important Design Concepts
• Make it Big• Make Clear• Keep it Simple• Be Consistent
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Make it Big
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Gettysburg Address• Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation,
conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. • Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so
conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
• But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Font size • Use a sans-serif font • Title size -- 28 to 32 • Bullets -- 20 to 24 • Boxes, legends 14 • Keep all lettering horizontal • Space for readability
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Make it Clear
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Colors • Test on a projector • Use complementary colors • Avoid gray as a background
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Titles • It is appropriate to the occasion • It provides enough information about the subject
so that potential attendees can tell whether this is likely to be of interest to them
• It is succinct and to the point • It piques the interest of the reader or listener
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Developing Quality Presentations
Tips and Techniques
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Keep it Simple • The audience should be able to get the point of
the visual with the first 5 seconds after it appears• During that short period, don't say anything --
allow the audience to absorb the information• A graph is often more effective
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Be Consistent • Don't switch formats. Once you have selected a
general look -- stick to it. • Six-second rule. If you cannot read the material
in six seconds, you have too much information on the slide.
• Each slide should contain no more than six lines of text and each line should contain no more than 40 characters (It really depends – 2010)
• Use both upper case and lower case letters
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Artistic exuberance • Computer graphics are great fun, but
creating an artistic visual may actually reduce that visual's effectiveness – Art work will distract your audience – Artistry doesn't substitute for content
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Don'ts • A common approach is to have the presentation
written out on a series of slides. The speaker then reads each slide to the audience.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Handouts • Organize your handouts to match your
presentation • Provide plenty of space in the handouts for
participants to take notes. • Always prepare 10% more handouts than
you think you are going to need.
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
PowerPoint Tricks• Templates & Master Slides• Animation• Audio• Video
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
Questions
Steve Wilfong, Technology Education Services, DHTSCopyright © 2010, All rights reserved
References1. Andrew, Abela, Ph.D. Advanced Presentations by Design; Creating Communication That Drives Action. San Francisco,
CA: Pfeiffer, 2008.2. Michael Alley. The Craft of Scientific Presentations: Critical Steps to Succeed and Critical Errors to Avoid. Blacksburg,
VA: Springer, 2003.3. Cliff Atkinson. Beyond Bullet Points. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press, 20054. Geetesh Bajaj. Cutting Edge PowerPoint for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publications, Inc., 2004.5. Tom Bunzel. Solving the PowerPoint Predicament: Using Digital Media for Effective Communication. Indianapolis:
Pearson Education, Inc., 2006.6. Tony Buzan. The Mind Map Book. New York: PLUME, 19967. Nancy Duart. slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, Inc.
20088. Tony Jeary. Life is a Series of Presentations. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004.9. Thomas Leech. How to Prepare, Stage, and Deliver Winning Presentations. New York: AMACOM, 2004.10. John Medina. brain rules. Seattle, WA: Pear Press, 2008.11. Nick Morgan. Working the Room: How to Move People to Action through Audience-Centered Speaking. Boston: Harvard
Business School Press, 2003.12. Margaret Rabb, ed. The Presentation Design Book. Chapel Hill, NC: Ventana Press, 1990.13. Jeff Radel. Effective Presentations. Kansas City: Kansas City University Medical Center, 1999. http://
www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/effective.html14. Garr Reynolds. presentationzen. Berleley, CA: 200815. Doug Stevenson. Never Be Boring Again. Colorado Springs: Cornelia Press, 2003.16. Edward R. Tufte. The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint. Chesire, CN: Graphics Press LLC, 2003.17. Edward R. Tufte. Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative. Chesire, CN: Graphics Press
LLC, 1997.