Effective Presentation Skills

Dr. Punyashree Panda Assistant Professor IIT Bhubaneswar

The Ten worst fears we have:

1. Speaking before a group 2. Heights 3. Insects / bugs 4. Financial problems 5. Deep water 6. Sickness 7. Death 8. Flying 9. Loneliness 10. Dogs
Source: David Wallechinsky, The Book of Lists.internet resource.

Presentation Opportunities
For Students: Classroom assignments, Student Seminars, Talks, Debates, Impromptu Talk etc. For Business Professionals: Reports, Surveys, Client Meetings, In-House Discussions, Training etc.

Why Present?
To Inform To Persuade To Motivate To Entertain

The How of Presentation

An Effective Presentation is a combination of Arts, Science, and Commerce: It involves the art of speaking. It needs the ruthlessness of science. It requires the power to sell an idea.

Essential Elements of Effective Presentations

Formulate a strategy. Develop a clear structure. Know your Audience. Support your ideas with evidences and examples. Use audio-visual aids appropriately. Create a presentation style best suited to convey your ideas. Supplement it with clear, confident responses to questions and challenges.

What the body tells

Stage fright is NORMAL. Shaking hands, memory loss, nausea, sweating in an AC hall, goose bumps in the stomach, jelly knees are NORMAL. Use these as performance enhancers not spoilers. Be positive in your gestures. Keep a smile on your face. It always helps.

Audience Analysis
Age Education Sex/Gender Personal Beliefs Religious affiliation Attitude towards the subject.

Audience Analysis
Ethnic Origins Socio-economic Status Knowledge of your topic. Whats in it for them?

The four Ps and a Q of Presentation.

Planning Preparation Practice Performance Questions

Positive Speaking Styles

Warm Friendly Interesting Organized Confident Open

Positive Speaking Styles

Honest Exciting Knowledgeable Creative Inspiring Authentic

Negative Speaking Styles

Pompous Unenergized Patronizing Formal Stuffy Closed

Negative Speaking Styles

Vague Complex Unsure Irrelevant Monotonous Nervous

Select a Delivery Approach

Memorized Manuscripted Extemporaneous Impromptu

Presentation Openers
Unusual Fact Personal Experience Quotation Citing of an Authority Anecdote Rhetorical Question Relevant joke Visual aid Story An unusual definition

Introduction
Provide definitions, limits, vocabulary, and background material for the audience. Introduce and qualify yourself, if necessary. Blueprint your speech for the audience.

The Body: Pattern of Organization

Chronological Topical Cause and Effect Problem-solution Spatial Geographic

Why use Visuals?

People are accustomed to visual stimulation. 70% of people prefer to receive information visually. Visuals help receivers get the message. Audiences remember up to twice as much when they both see and hear it.

But Remember You are the Star here!!

Use visuals only to enhance your message. Plan visuals based on audience needs. Create consistent visuals. Avoid over-complicating your visuals. Check your presentation visuals before your presentation. Do not go overboard.

Conclusions

Prepare people for the end of your speech. Restate your thesis, main points, or principal contention. Are either: descriptive -- explaining what you've just said to your audience, or prescriptive -- exhorting the audience to action, telling them what you want them to do. Leave absolutely no doubt about when the speech is over.

After the End

Questions, questions, questions. Answer questions with intellectual honesty. Treat hecklers with respect and never attack them. Ask the opinion of those you respect on your talk. Never ever go overtime.

References:
Taylor, Shirley. Communication for Business: A Practical Approach. 4th ed. New Delhi: Pearson Education, 2006. Raman,Meenakshi and Prakash Singh. Business Communication. New Delhi: OUP, 2006 ORourke IV, James S. and Anubha Singh. Management Communication: A Case Analysis Approach. 2nd Ed. New Delhi: Pearson India, 2006. Whetten, David A. and Kim S. Cameron. Developing Management Skills. New Delhi: Pearson Education, 2007. Adams, Rhonda. Winning Presentations in a Day. New Delhi: Prentice Hall, 2005.

Thank You