Presentation Skills

Isabelle Pottinger

Effective Learning Adviser

Effective Learning Service

Think about...

• Why?

• What?

• Who?

• Where?

• How?

Giving a Presentation

• Who are the members of your audience?

• Clarify your task

• Be Positive!

Establish your Aim

• Decide on central theme

• Audience will only hear each point once

• Will remember 3 - 4 points, so…

• Aim must be clear

Collect Ideas - Academic

• Web• Text books• Journals• Lecture notes• Lecturers and other staff

Collect Further Ideas

• Any further ideas? – jot them down• Props or visual aids you want to use?• Lay out ideas in a logical order

or a pattern.

Group under headings that…

• …reflect your aim

• ….correspond to a theme or topic

• …will help to ‘sign-post’ your talk

Order/ reorder

• Get headings in a logical order• Structure talk:–Beginning–Middle– End

• Stick to Structure

Visual reinforcement - Why?

• Attention grabbing• Bold• Concise• Dedicated• Easy to read

Visual reinforcement - How?• Don’t clutter• Words alone are not very visual– Use bullet points– Use keywords– Stick to the theme

• Keep visuals simple– Do you need each one?– What will each one show?– Any important ones missing?

• Ensure visuals are used effectively

Visual reinforcement - Types?

• Black/ white board and/ or flip chart?• Magnetic or Velcro boards?• Samples and/ or models?• Slides, film and/ or video?• PC with data projector?• Overhead transparencies

(OHTs) with overhead projector?

Using OHT/ PowerPoint

• The sequence of slides should tell a story

• Use appropriate typesize

• Use appropriate colour

• Special effects?

Using OHT/ PowerPoint

• Think about how to use the medium to its best advantage

–Don’t talk to the OHT or screen–Don’t reveal the slide too soon–Don’t leave the slide still showing once you

have moved on to your next point

Graphics in oral presentations

• Less time to absorb• Simplify – bold and clear• Say if you will supply paper copy of graphics• Think about how graphics fit

within your presentation

Prepare final notes

• Don’t create word-for-word notes

• Use prompt cards, not sheets

• Highlight key phrases

• Keep contact with your audience

Practice

• Rehearse

• Consider timing

• Consider where props may come in

• Ask a friend to listen

• Tape yourself?

Conclude

• Concisely

• Confidently

• Positively

And next...

Clothes

• You are a young professional-in-training. Dress accordingly.– No offensively-sloganed tee-shirts– No shorts or ripped jeans– No low cut tops on women

• While there is no need for a suit, let your clothes reflect the effort you have put into preparing your presentation.

Voice

• Vary pitch• Vary the speed• Watch volume• Speak clearly• Don’t try to hide

your accent

Mannerisms

• Avoid annoying or distracting habits• Think about your own mannerisms• Review and control– Body language– Expressions– Stance– Movement– Gestures

Humour

• Can backfire – doesn’t always go down well

• May actually upset people

• If you do not feel confident with it, you don’t have to try

Confidence

• Everyone wants you to succeed

• Preparation will help

• You may become more effective as a result of a few nerves

Question technique

• Must allow audience questions• Try to remain calm– Thank/ Acknowledge– Rephrase (if appropriate)– Answer– Check (by body language?)

Contact Details

• Isabelle Pottinger• Effective Learning Adviser• Effective Learning Service

• Ext: 3062• E-mail: I.Pottinger@hw.ac.uk