Presentation skills

1. Plan the structure and format of your presentation

(a) Clarify the aim

· What is the aim (i.e. the exact purpose) of the presentation?

· If you are woolly about the aim, your presentation won't be clear

· Spend time establishing the aim

· What do you need to cover to ensure you fulfil the aim

(b) What do you know about the audience?

· Who are you presenting to?

· Analyse your audience and target your presentation to their knowledge and understanding.

(c) What do you need to cover to ensure you fulfil the aim?

· Ensure that what you are going to say is appropriate to both the aim and the audience

· Prioritise your material. You don't have to say everything.

(d) How much time do you have?

· Don't go over the allotted time and remember to allow time at the end for questions

(e) Venue and equipment

· Where will you be presenting?

· What audio-visual equipment will you require and what is available?

· Check the venue and equipment in advance, if possible.

· If not, then allow yourself enough time on the day to have a look at the set-up.

2. Plan the content

(a) Beginning

· Introduce yourself and the others who are doing the presentation

· Explain and put up the main points you will cover (e.g. as bullet-points)

(b) Middle

· Go though your points logically and in sequence

· Summarise (give sign-posts) as you go along

(c) End

· You could use your original introductory summary of main points to summarise

· Give a conclusion

3. Questions

· Plan for questions; don't be taken by surprise. Be prepared to clarify if someone interrupts during the

presentation.

· Ask for them if none is forthcoming

· If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification

· Don't be afraid to admit you don't know

· Tell them you'll find out and get back to them

· Get back to them!

4. Visual Aids

· Whatever you use, whether it is OHP or computer presentation, keep it simple and clear.

· Visual aids should add to the impact of your presentation.

· Learn to use a software package like Powerpoint that is specifically designed to produce presentation

material (this is useful to produce slides - i.e. even if you are not using a computer presentation on the day).

· Bullet points are most effective - keep to a large font size

· Use 18 - 24 point font size, with up to 32 point for titles

· Choose a clear font style (experiment!)

· Keep diagrams and figures large and simple.

· Where possible, use colour to differentiate elements

· Label graphics, graphs and figures clearly

5. Notes

· You may want to use both notes and the prompts given by your slides etc.

· Prepare a handout to circulate to the audience.

· If you use notes, make them easy to read.

· Use brief notes as an "aide-memoire". Don't read out the text word for word!

· Number the pages and clip them together.

· Don't fiddle with your notes whilst presenting!

6. Presenting

· Vary the tone of your voice and the pace at which you speak (though better slower than too fast).

· Be careful of little verbal tics e.g. "um", "er", and "you know".

· Make eye contact with your audience, not the floor, your notes or the OHP.

· Use pauses. It gives you thinking time and the audience time to reflect.

7. Before the day

· Check that you have everything you need sufficiently far in advance of the presentation to allow you time

to deal with any unforeseen mishaps e.g. mislaid slides or notes.

· PRACTICE your presentation

· Ask you colleagues/peers to be a mock audience

· Ask them to give honest, constructive feed-back

· Revise bits that don't work e.g. add an extra background/explanatory slide

· Practice it again...and again

· And ENJOY yourself!

GOOD LUCK!
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