Presentation Skills

Preparing an Oral
Presentation

Ch. 15, Slide 2

 Preparing an Oral
Presentation
• Identify 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

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

Ch. 15, Slide 4

 Preparing an Oral
Presentation
• Organize the
introduction.
• Introduce your topic.
• Preview the main
points.

Ch. 15, Slide 5

 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
 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

 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

 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 story; 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

 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
 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
Designing and Using
Graphics

Ch. 15, Slide

12
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
Presentation Enhancers

Ch. 15, Slide

18
Presentation Enhancers
• Overhead Projector
• Cost: Low
• Audience size: 2-200
• Formality level: Formal or informal

Ch. 15, Slide

19
Presentation Enhancers
• Flipchart
• Cost: Low
• Audience size: 2-200
• Formality level: Informal

Ch. 15, Slide

20
Presentation Enhancers
• Write-and-wipe Board
• Cost: Medium
• Audience size: 2-200
• Formality level: Informal

Ch. 15, Slide

21
Presentation Enhancers
• Slide Projector
• Cost: Medium
• Audience size: 2-500
• Formality level: Formal

Ch. 15, Slide

22
Presentation Enhancers
• Computer Presentation Slides
• Cost: Low
• Audience size: 2-200
• Formality level: Formal or informal

Ch. 15, Slide

23
Presentation Enhancers
• Handouts
• Cost: Varies
• Audience size: Unlimited
• Formality level: Formal or informal

Ch. 15, Slide

24
Overcoming Stage Fright

Ch. 15, Slide

25
Overcoming Stage Fright
Symptoms of Stage Fright
• Stomach butterflies • Wobbly knees
• Pounding heart • Tied tongue
• Shortage of breath
• Sweaty palms
• Dry throat
• Unsteady voice
• Trembling hands

Ch. 15, Slide

26
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
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
Effective Telephone
Calls

Ch. 15, Slide

29
 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
 Effective Telephone
Calls
• Receiving Calls
• Identify yourself immediately.
• Be responsive and helpful.
• Be cautious when answering calls for
others.
• Take messages carefully.
• Explain when transferring calls.

Ch. 15, Slide

31
End

Ch. 15, Slide

32