Basic Presentation Skills Workshop

Candice Solomon-Strutz, AITSJune 7, 2019

About Me

• Assistant Director of IT Planning, AITS and 20 years in the field of IT• Women in Technology Leadership Team member• Dynamic and Engaging Presenter and Facilitator

Ground Rules1. We will learn from each other that requires everyone to be active participants.

2. The most valuable item you will take from here will be your notes. Taking notes are encouraged.

3. Provide all participants with a comfortable environment for growth.

Objectives• To review elements of successful presentations and effective presenters, as well as common distractions.• To provide guide lines for using AV equipment• To provide practical experience presenting to groups• To gain experience providing/receiving constructive feedback• To understand importance of preparation and ongoing development• To suggest exercises to overcome presentation bad habits

Let’s do an exercise

Timing Cards

1 minuteleft

30 secondsleft

Time’s Up

Questions for Thought

• What workshops has had the greatest impact on you?• What makes a presentation ‘memorable’? Effective?• How can you get there from here?

10 Points to a Memorable Presentation

Presentation Point #1: Be Prepared

While feeling some apprehension before speaking in public is normal, you can

minimize its effect on your presentations by thoroughly preparing and regularly

practicing what you plan to say.

•Plan•Prepare•Practice•Present

Presentation Point #2: Show enthusiasm

• Your ability to focus your audience and command their attention depends on cultivating a persuasive, believable, sincere, and confident tone.

• Smile and be excited to have the opportunity to present your material.

Presentation Point #3: Use vivid language

Preparation and practice again can influence how much your material “sticks” with your

audience. As you gain confidence, remember to keep the material fresh by being as

descriptive as possible.

…the seats were ‘miles’ from the speaker?

…the speaker talked to a video screen more than to you?

…the noise from the jackhammer outside was deafening?

…the desks seemed made for grade-schoolers?

…the microphone faded in and out?

Have you ever attended a workshop where…

Presentation Point #4: Be heard

• All the colorful language and energetic delivery are lost if you whisper in a room with a noisy air conditioner.

• Use vocal variety appropriate to the environment to make sure your audience can hear.

•Tell’em what you’re going to tell’em (introduction)•Tell’em (present)•Tell’em what you told them (summarize)

Presentation Point #5: Be organized

Even with material you did not write, you have many tools for affecting the

order and delivery of the information to your audience.

Presentation Point #6: Be on time

• Start on time to show your professionalism. End on time and always on a positive note.

• The integrity of your program is reflected in this basic display of respect for your audience.

Presentation Point #7: Use meaningful gestures

• As you know from communication courses, body language accounts for nearly 75% of your message.

• Make sure your movements enhance your presentation.

Presentation Point #8: Interact

Getting the audience involved in your presentation will keep their interest and ensure they pay attention and walk away

with something.Upcoming BPI Facilitation Skills Training

Presentation Point #9: Convey knowledge

• Handling questions is an important opportunity to ‘check in’ for learning.

• You need not be an expert on every aspect of your topic to be an instructive and effective presenter.

Discussion Question

What are some ways to field questions from the audience?

Presentation Point #10: Impact people

•Know where you are taking the audience and do little things to make sure you get them there.

•Find ways to sincerely solicit feedback from your audience.

Ideas for Making an Impact

• Solicit suggestions (oral or written) at the beginning: What do you expect to learn?• Get feedback during breaks on how it is going• Devote time at the end to revisit topics, answer questions• Encourage evaluations afterward, value this feedback

Ten Presentation Points Review

1. Avoid nervous habits2. Show enthusiasm3. Use vivid language4. Be heard5. Be organized

6. Be on time7. Use meaningful

gestures8. Interact9. Convey knowledge10.Impact people

Getting and Giving Feedback

Getting Feedback

•Keep an open mind•Focus on taking notes to think about later•Be appreciative and don’t interrupt/explain

Giving Feedback

•Talk about your experience•How the presentation made you feel•Use “I”s not “you”s

Using Visuals

Points to Ponder On Visuals

–Be certain your host knows your needs–Always have a back up plan–Allow time in your schedule to set up– Practice with all your visuals beforehand– Ensure visibility of text and graphics– Less is better regarding visual content

–Graphics are expected, but…

animation can be distracting!

Points to Ponder On Visuals• Be certain your host knows your needs• Always have a back up plan• Allow time in your schedule to set up• Practice with all your visuals beforehand• Ensure visibility of text and graphics• Less is better regarding visual content• Graphics are expected, but…

animation can be distracting!

How to Use Visuals

•Touch•Turn•Talk

Let’s do an exercise

Timing Cards

1 minuteleft

30 secondsleft

Time’s Up

Importance of Storytelling

Noise ≠ Communication

From “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survey and Others Die” by Chip and Dan Heath, © 2007

Simple

Unexpected

Concrete

Credible

motional

Stories

Skill Building Exercises1. Avoid nervous

habitsDING!

2. MonotoneI Get So Emotional

3. Too Matter of FactFolding the Laundry

4. Audibility The Broken Microphone

5. UnorganizedTell’em

6. Time ManagementMinute Men

7. Stiff Posture Fighting Bees or Standing

Tall

8. Eye Contact Shooting Hands

9. Handling Questions Inquisitive Audience

10.Impact?Feedback

What exercise do you think will be your biggest challenge when doing the practical?

Our last exercise

Timing Cards

1 minuteleft

30 secondsleft

Time’s Up

THANK YOU