Presentation tips and skills Liz FitzGerald, IET

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Presentation tips and skillsLiz FitzGerald,
IET
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Preparation

• Preparation is key. It will help you
• deliver a more professional presentation
• put you at ease before and during your
  presentation

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Preparation (cont)

• To help you prepare you might want to answer
  these questions
• To whom am I speaking? ___________________________
  _____
• When? ____________________________________________
  ___
• Where? __________________________________________
  ____
• How much time have I got? ________________________
  ______
• Why am I doing this? _____________________________
  ______
• What do I want my audience to do as a result of
  my explanation?
• _________________________________________________
  ___
• What are the 3 key things I want to get across?
• 1. __________________________ 2.
  __________________________ 3. ___________________
  _______
• What is the most effective way of getting these
  things across?
• _________________________________________________
  ___

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Preparation (cont)

• Then
• Make sure that your explanation is broken down
  into logical steps and that you are
  sign-posting where you have been and where you
  are going next as you go along
• Write yourself some prompt-cards if you will
  find this helpful
• Then practise, practise, practise...

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Audience

• (Try to) know your audience!
• Language and culture
• Depth/assumed knowledge
• Expertise, academic, experience (audience
  profiling)
• Expectations
• If in doubt, assume nothing.

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Fundamental Structure

• Tell em what youre going to tell em
• (outline your talk)
• Then tell em
• Then tell em what youve told em
• (summary)

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Handling Questions

• Taking questions is a useful exercise in gaining
  more knowledge
• Make sure you understand what youre being asked
• Be honest

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Tips

• Good introduction (well prepared)
• Target your audience (i.e. using key messages for
  the right group)
• Balance oral/visual communication (using visual
  aids at the right time and use notes rather
  than reading directly from a script)
• Body language (i.e. stationary, mobile)
• Know (and be enthusiastic about) your subject
• Act confident even if you dont feel it
• Speak clearly and (perhaps) more slowly than you
  normally would

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Beginnings

• Make an IMPACT!
• Grab ATTENTION!
• outline structure
• indicate focus
• be explicit whats in it for them?

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Endings

• People often remember the last things they hear
• Leave a clear impression of the main points

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Controlling nerves A brief guide to overcoming
nerves
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What is fear?

• Physiological changes
• Increased adrenaline
• Increased heart-rate
• Sweating
• Pupils dilate
• Muscles tense

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You are not alone
Stephen Fry has established himself as an actor, novelist, comedian and all-round wit. Televisions includes the comedy shows A Bit of Fry Laurie, Blackadder and QI. BUT. Stephen Fry suffers from bouts of stage fright.
Since Paul Weller formed the Jam in 1976 he has been at the leading edge of British music. From the days with the Jam, through The Style Council and into his solo career he has inspired many successful bands and is still respected as an outstanding songwriter and musician. BUT. Paul Weller also suffers from bouts of stage fright.
Mark Twain There are two types of speakers those that are nervous and those that are liars.
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What are your fears around public speaking?

• This may include
• How will I start?
• What if I forget what to say?
• What if I shake visibly?
• How will I cope with questions?
• What if I talk too fast?

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The killer question

• Consider the following question
• What is the worst thing you believe will happen
  to you when you speak to an audience?

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Body language - negative

• Firstly consider negative body language. What
  sort of body language would someone show if they
  felt nervous or fearful?

Slumped posture
Little or no eye contact
Shallow breathing, high in chest
Defensive body language maybe folded arms
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Body language positive, confident

• Contrast this with the body language of someone
  who feels positive, confident and self-assured

Shoulders back
Head held high
Breathing deep into abdomen
Comfortable with eye contact
Clear voice
Open body language
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An exercise in controlling physiology

• Try the following exercise
• Slump forward in your chair.
• Hunch your shoulders.
• Breathe shallowly, high in your chest.
• Think about something sad for about 10 seconds.
• Now sit upright again and breathe normally.
• Smile.

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Exercise continued

• Stand up.
• Take a deep breath into your abdomen (belly).
• Look up.
• Think of a time when you felt great remember
  what you saw, how you felt, who you were
  with, what you heard, etc.
• Make the memory as vivid as possible for 20
  seconds.
• Sit down again.
• Now compare the two experiences. You have just
  proved that you can control your feelings!

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Positive thinking

• Take a minute to think of examples of yourself
  being successful.
• This may involve
• confidence in your work
• feeling in love
• showing someone how to do something
• planning a successful trip
• Allow the positive feelings to wash over you ?

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Preparing a talk

• If you are well prepared for a talk
• You feel confident about your material
• You can handle questions well
• Your passion for the subject comes across
• You can master your nerves
• Pay particular attention to the beginning of the
  talk.
• Prepare the first minute in great detail.
• After that the talk will flow naturally.

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Conclusions

• Fear is common, but it can be overcome
• You can control the way you feel
• Breathe calmly
• Use your body language consciously
• Prepare well especially the first minute