Professional Skills:Presentations

Christian Sinclair, MDJuly 16, 2009

Supporting Documents

• Original Presentation @Slideshare:• http://bit.ly/K0Zb3

• Presentation Preparation Worksheet @Slideshare:

• http://bit.ly/GiYjN • Presentation Notes One Sheet

@Slideshare: http://bit.ly/OL4Pz

Overview

• Preparation

• Speech and delivery

• Visual aides

Preparation

• Type of presentation– Purpose of presentation

• To inform

• To persuade

• To build goodwill

Preparation

• Type of preparation– Know your audience

• Captives

• Pragmatists

• Socially motivated

• Committed

Know Your Audience

• What is the size of the group?

• Age and gender distribution?

• Hierarchy of audience– Within organization– To the speaker

• Motivation & Reactions

• Education

Logistics

• Date and time of presentation

• Pre & post-presentation events

• Length of presentation

• Format– Workshop, didactic, focus group, panel

• Where?

Logistics

• Visual aid options

• Troubleshooting– Who is in charge? – Who can help me?

The Presentation

• What does my audience expect to gain?

• What do they already know?

• What are my key points?

• What materials do I need?

Structure

• Introduction• Statement• Argument• Epilogue

• Introduction• Central theme• Discussion• Conclusion

The Opener

• Set the tone

• Use a hook– Drama– Humor– Quotes

The Middle

• Chronological

• Geographic

• Compare and contrast

• Cause and effect

• Narration

• Problem and solution

• Process

The Close

• Summarize the message

• Repeat key points

• Call for action

• Revisit themes

• Think positive

• Thank audience

• Time for questions

The Pre-Introduction

• Helps create ambience and tone

• Think pre-show entertainment/education

• Start (and end) on-time

Topic Choice

• Try to select your topic

• Challenge your own knowledge

• Narrow your topic

• If a repeated talk– Up to date information– Work on sounding fresh, enthusiastic

Prep Time

• Organize your thoughts– Outline– Mind Map

• Select your references

• Look for real world connections

• Be realistic and reschedule if necessary

Overview

• Preparation

• Speech and delivery

• Visual aides

Speech and Delivery

• Tone

• Build rapport– Show of hands– No carnival tricks– Have audience help demonstrate tasks– Appropriate humor

Use of Humor and Drama

• Humor– Not just jokes– Careful with self-deprecating– Quotes

• Drama– Social math/Creative epidemiology– Voice and pacing– Not always a crisis or sad

Stage Fright

• Practice, practice, practice

• Breathe deeply

• Double-check your equipment

• Avoid reading your speech or slides

Stage Fright

• Stand tall

• Smile naturally

• Don’t rest on the podium

• Hands away from your mouth

Gestures & Facial Expressions

• Ask a friend for observation

• Don’t be afraid of gestures– Make them relate to the speech

• Smile sincerely

• Look in the mirror

Vocalization

• Change volume when appropriate

• Aim for a lower tone

• Aim for a slower speed

• E-nun-ci-ate

Language

• Use the active voice

• Bias-free language– Sexism, racism, ageism, pronouns, assumptions

Answering Questions

• Repeat/summarize the question

• Acknowledge/thank the person

• OK to say, “I don’t know”– But offer some follow-up

• Remain calm

• Tell the truth

• Stick to your topic/expertise

Overview

• Preparation

• Speech and delivery

• Visual aides

Visual Aides

• Show and tell

• Visuals– Can shorten time to convey information– Enhance recall of information– Enhance trust

• Know when and how to use them

Types of Visual Aides

Diversity of Content

PowerPoint

• 5 & 5 rule– Five lines– Five words per line

• Consistency

• Spelling

• Avoid fancy type styles

Flip Charts

• Can increase the energy

• Legibility

• Spelling on the fly

• Talking away from the audience

• Pull up and over

Handouts

• Before, during or after?

• Just a copy of slides

• An edited version of slides

• Fill in the blank version

• Just the highlights

• Facts that you don’t want on paper?

Overview

• Preparation

• Speech and delivery

• Visual aides

References

• Bowman, DP. Presentations. Adams Media Corp. Avon, Massachusetts. 1998.

• Harvard PCEP Program, Billings and Block, 2004

• Websites:– Presentation Zen– Six Minutes: A Public Speaking and Presentati

on Skills Blog