Presentation Skills

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Presentation Skills Jennifer L. Peel, Ph.D. Director of Education Office of Graduate Medical Education

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While hard work and good ideas are essential to success, your ability to express those ideas and get others to join you is just as important. Much of this verbal expression will be one on one or in small groups, but periodically you will be involved in more formal and public speaking in front of larger numbers. If this thought makes you nervous, you are not alone. Many speakers lack the skills and confidence to make effetcive presentations. We have all been victims of speakers who put us to sleep. Despite knowing how ineffective many speakers are, many of us have found that, despite the best intentions, we haven’t fared much better. We knew the topic and the ideas were written down, but the presentation still didn’t go well. Was it the way you delivered the presentation? Was it because the audience didn’t seem interested?

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“The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished.” -George Bernard Shaw

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What was wrong with that?

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What is your vision of the ideal presenter in our environment?

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+ Δ Self-Assessment

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“I always think a great speaker convinces us not by force of reasoning but because he is visibly enjoying the beliefs he wants us to accept.” -W.B. Yeats

Objectives for Today: 

Objectives for Today By the end of the session, participants will be able to… utilize eye contact, body language and voice to their advantage in a presentation, apply the 3 A’s in preparing content for a presentation, develop visual aids that reflect good instructional design properties, and respond to questions in an effective manner.

General Competencies: 

General Competencies Interpersonal Communication Professionalism Practice-Based Learning & Improvement

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Podium Panic For some people, the thought of giving a presentation is more frightening than falling off a cliff, financial difficulties, snakes and even death.

Dealing with Podium Panic: 

Dealing with Podium Panic Audiences are forgiving Nervousness is usually invisible Be yourself Practice deep breathing/ visualization techniques Begin in your comfort zone

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Check out the room in advance Concentrate on the message Begin with a slow, well prepared intro; have a confident and clear conclusion Be prepared and practice

Eye Contact: 

Never let them out of your sight. Looking them in the eye makes them feel that they are influencing what you say. Eye contact allows the presentation to approximate conversation—the audience feels much more involved. Eye Contact

Body Language: 

Body Language NO-NO’s Lean on or grip the podium Rock or sway in place Stand immobile Use a single gesture repeatedly Examine or bite your fingernails

Body Language: 

Body Language NO-NO’s Cross your arms in front of your chest Use obviously practiced or stilted gestures Chew gum or eat candy Click or tap your pen, pencil or pointer

Body Language: 

Body Language NO-NO’s Lean into the microphone Shuffle your notes unnecessarily Tighten your tie or otherwise play with your clothing Crack your knuckles Jangle change or key in your pocket

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Voice Voice Intelligibility Articulation Pronunciation Vocalized pauses Overuse of stock expressions Substandard grammar Voice Variability Rate of speech Volume Pitch or tone Emphasis

Preparing Content: 

Preparing Content Analyze your AUDIENCE . Define what ACTION you want them to take. Arrange your ARGUMENT to move them. 3 A’s

Analyze Your Audience: 

Analyze Your Audience What are their names, titles, backgrounds, reasons for attending, etc…? What are their big concerns? What are their objectives, fears, hot buttons, and attitudes?

Analyze Your Audience: 

Analyze Your Audience What is their perception of you and your institution? What are their questions likely to be? What is personally at stake for them? How much detail do they need?

Define What Action: 

Define What Action What action do you want the audience to take? Define it in terms of the audience. What will they feel, believe, and do after hearing your talk?

Arranging Your Argument: 

Arranging Your Argument Shake hands with the audience. Get to the point. Present your theme. Tell ‘Em 3 . Develop your agenda point by point. Summarize and recommend.

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Your turn!

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Visual Aids

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Visual Aids (not the stars of the show)

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Design Concepts Big Simple Clear

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Big Should be able to read everything from the back row At least 28 pt, preferably 36 Use the floor test

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Simple No more than 6 lines No more than 7 words per line

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Clear Arial or Helvetica Blue background with yellow text Avoid overuse of red, shadows, animation and transitions Beware of busy backgrounds

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Clear Clip art should add to the content Ditto on sound clips Use a different background only to emphasize one slide

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Visual Aids should be on the speaker’s left.

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Your turn!

Questions & Answers: 

Questions & Answers “Does anyone have any questions for my answers?” -Henry Kissinger

Questions & Answers: 

Questions & Answers Beginning of a whole new interactive presentation Opportunity to make a point Most presentations are won or lost here

Questions & Answers: 

Questions & Answers Anticipate lines of questioning Rehearse Don’t rank questions Keep answers brief Be honest—don’t BS Avoid negative words Don’t repeat negative questions Clarify question Defer to experts Move your eyes off questioner If negative, end your response focused on somebody else

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NEVER argue with a member of the audience. THE RULE

Instead…: 

Look at the questioner. Remain neutral and attentive. Listen to the whole question. Pause before you respond. Address the questioner, then move your eyes to others. Instead…

Easy as A B C: 

Easy as A B C “I can’t A nswer that question B ecause …, but I C an tell you…”

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+ Δ Self-Assessment

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“Better to keep your mouth shut and appear ignorant than open it and remove all doubt.” -Mark Twain

Objectives for Today: 

Objectives for Today By the end of the session, participants will be able to… utilize eye contact, body language and voice to their advantage in a presentation, apply the 3 A’s in preparing content for a presentation, develop visual aids that reflect good instructional design properties, and respond to questions in an effective manner.

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“Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening.” -Dorothy Sarnoff