Www.act2act.be acting – consulting - training Presentation Skills Jan Buermans

www.act2act.beacting – consulting - training

Presentation SkillsJan Buermans

http://messagent.telenet.be/optiext/optiextension.dll?ID=2A3lo2CSMYuc222M


You are an author because you make the

presentation,you’re a director

because you decide how to get your message across

and you are an actor because you give the

presentation



GOAL CONTENT

BODY AUDIENCE



APPEAL CONTENT

EXPRESSION RELATION



The appealing aspect

• Determine the goal/objective of your presentation

• What do you want to achieve?



The content

• What it is about ! • Clear language• Excellent structure• To the point



The expressive aspect

• The way you perform your speech• Body language• Credibility



Relationship

• The willingness of the audience to listen

• The impact of your speech



GOAL CONTENT

BODY AUDIENCE



CONTENT



It usually takes more than 3 weeks to prepare a good speech

(Mark Twain)



Basic structure of a presentation

• Introduction : what are you going to do and how

• Core : facts & figures

• Conclusion : based upon the facts & figures



FIRST : the core

• Simplicity in style and words• Simple and short sentences• No written language• Use your own style



Next : the conclusion• Recapitulation• No new information, nor arguments• Introduction & conclusion : best

remembered by the audience • Brief and powerful• Build up to a positive climax • ‘Leave a last impression’



LAST : the introduction

• Introduce the subject : make it specific and appealing

• Mention the goal/objective : ‘why do I want to talk about this’

• Illustrate the importance for the audience to listen to you : ‘what’s in it for them’



GOAL



GOAL CONTENT

BODY AUDIENCE



Goal/objective of a presentation

• As from the start : in the introduction• Clear-cut, explicit and unmistakable• Simple and clear phrasing• The core essence of the presentation in

1 sentence• Very specific



BODY

www.act2act.be

acting – consulting - training



GOAL CONTENT

BODY AUDIENCE



The importance of body language



Body language

Your body language supports the content

Body, intonation and content must be in complete harmony



The body





Nervous moves

Uncertain• scratching ears,

nose, arm, …• glasses• Uncomfortable• Distraction audience



Proper body language

Arms next to the body• Start position to use hands• Gestures = energy• Relaxed perception• Self-confidence




Tennis ball or weatherman• Relaxed perception• Self-confidence• Do not interweave your fingers




Hold something in your hands• Pen, index card, laser pointer, …



Legs & feet

Stable & solid = confidence + persuasiveness

• Legs : 20 cm from each other • Feet : parallel• Feet : both on the floor• Weight equally divided on both feet



Legs & feet

DO NOT • stand with legs wide apart• ‘swing’• cross your feet



Use the room

• Use the available space• Move with a purpose• Don’t walk around all the time• Pause and stand still• Make variations in your movements



The importance of your position

• Your body sends a message• Your body language will help you or kill you• The way you use your body will determine

the credibility of your message



HOW do you do that?

• BE YOURSELF !• BE REAL ! • In contact with yourself• In contact with your audience



Outfit



Outfit

• Dress appropriately : neat and smart• Wear something comfortable that you

really like• Make sure your headset can be

attached



The voice



Frequent problems

• VOLUME• INTONATION• Bad ARTICULATION• Talking too FAST



Volume• Talking with a low voice demands too

much energy from the audience (cf. reading a medical information leaflet)

• Talking with a low voice is losing the attention

• Talk loud and clear from the beginning• Everybody needs to hear you• A loud voice = more ‘colour’



Intonation

Lack of intonation =• boring• sadness• fear• insecurity

Loud voice = more intonation



Articulation

• Audibility • Clarity• Don’t talk between the teeth

Loud voice = better articulation



Tempo

Do not talk too fast : • ‘It kills the public’• Importance of the content disappears• Tiring• Audience pulls out



Tempo

SILENCE (3 - 4 seconds) :• Relaxing for audience • Time for the audience to reflect on the

content• Indicates a new subject• To emphasize an important topic



Stopgaps / fillers

Annoying ! Audience cannot longer focus on the content • Euh• You know• So• I mean• ….



The audience



GOAL CONTENT

BODY AUDIENCE



Reaction of the audience

• Neutral• Not interested• Arms crossed• Whispering• Doing their nails• Sleeping• …



Reaction of the audience

• It does NOT necessarily mean that your presentation is boring !!

• ACCEPT this behaviour• Do not change your presentation• Do not start repeating

• Yelling and throwing tomatoes …… is alarming …..



Expectations



What does the audience expect?

1. That you know what you talk about2. That your speech provides answers to

solve a problem or meets their needs (to learn something)

3. That you perform vividly, enthusiastically en understandably



Questionsjury & public (2 min.)



Questions

• Prepare possible questions • Address the person who asks a question

by turning to him and looking at him• Summarize the essence of the question

addressing to your audience • Answer the question for everybody



• Difficult question : do not panic and allow yourself to think

• Be honest : if you don’t know the answer, just say it

• Do not start talking about other stuff if you don’t know the answer

• After giving the answer ask “OK?” to the questioner

Questions



A good speaker



A good speaker …

• unprotected, open attitude• correct volume• easy tempo• silence gaps• stable and firm position• eye contact with everyone• body language



Key words

• Preparation• Self-confidence• Contact with audience• Variation • And …. practise, practise, practise !



Enjoy your presentations !

Jan Buermans


Documents

Www.act2act.be acting – consulting - training Presentation Skills Jan Buermans