presentation-general.ppt · title: microsoft powerpoint - presentation-general.ppt [compatibility...

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Mohamed A. El-Sharkawi 1

The Art of Effective PresentationMohamed A. El-Sharkawi

Smart Energy Lab (SEL)Department of Electrical EngineeringUniversity of WashingtonSeattle, WA 98195-2500e-mail: [email protected]: http://SmartEnergyLab.com



Popular Myths and Mistakes


Myth 1: Details“Audience wants a lot of in-depth details in order to evaluate the speaker’s ideas.”• Actually, listeners want talks to be

– easily followed– well organized

• Simplifying and repeating the main idea will result in increased attentiveness and retention. “less is more.”

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Myth 2: Style is Unimportant“Content is everything. Style is unimportant and enthusiasm is offensive.”• Actually, audience wants

– effective style, which included better visual assistance– more enthusiasm– Unenthusiastic delivery will ruin a speaker’s effectiveness.

• Keep in mind– Body language and tone of voice together account foras much as 90% of the overall message impact.


Myth 3: Style is Unimportant“The text on the visuals is more important than the speaker.”• Actually:

– Presenters traditionally rely too much on slides.– Often, audiences find slides distracting and boring.

• Speaker is always the focal point of presentation– Visual assistance helps– Pace of the presentation is important.– Flow of the information presented is important.


Myth 4: Strategic Organization is Unimportant“Strategic organization is not critical.

– as long as we supply all the details, the audience is capable of drawing the appropriate conclusions.– jump into the body of the presentation.– the objective of the talk can be at the end of the talk.”

• Actually, speaker must not rely on the audience to fill in gaps and reach appropriate conclusions.• Speaker must understand different types of presentations, organization, and strategies for a particular type of speech.• Don’t leave your audience missing the big picture!


Strategic Planning of Presentation

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Ultimate Goal of a Presentation• Provide highlights of your subject to

1. Stimulate intellectual thought2. Encourage discussions


Successful Presentation • Successful presentation has

– Logical flow of motivation/ideas/results– Fluent language capability – Well prepared visual material

• Practice, practice and practice are essential for skilled presentations

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Before you Start1. Know the purpose of your presentation2. Know your audience (peers vs. general audience)3. Know your time limits• A 30 minutes presentation

• No more than 4-5 main points could be covered adequately• Audience expects only highlights• Use illustrations


Before you Start• Ask yourself questions:

– What kind of approach can best bring your message across?– Will it be better to ‘beat around the bush’ or to be direct?– What kind of support will be most effective?

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Keep in Mind• Don’t waste others’ time; make your points

– Simple– Clear– Sequential– Concise


Presentation Modality


Basic Formulafor Presentation Organization1. Opening – grab attention2. Introduction – “Why bring this topic up?”3. Body – bulk of the presentation

– Every important point that you make must provide support• Statistics, analogies• Testimony• Illustrations• Specific examples• … ...


Basic Formulafor Presentation Organization4. Conclusion – summarize briefly main points5. Close – last strong sentences that leave the audience with something to remember–Must tie to your main idea and should tie to your opening to be effective

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Openings• Purpose

– Grab the audience’s attention so that they will want to hear more– Should be a “grabber” or “attention seeker” – Not only arouse interest, but also suggest the theme of the speech– Openings can be dramatic, emotional, humorous or rhetorical– Give a big picture


Good Openings• Startling question:

– “Can fasting kill you?”• Challenging statement:

– “A great part of world civilization is based on Islamic innovations?”• An appropriate short quotation or illustration• A surprising generalization:

– “Seattleites are coffee addicts”• An exhibit – object, article, picture• Personal story related to the subject


Poor Openings• A long or slow-moving quotation• A self introduction• An apologetic statement• Story or joke which does not connect to the theme• A sour remark


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Closings of Presentation• Purpose

– Stress your objectives– Leave the audience with something to remember– Closing is the “clincher”, ultimately the “result getter”.– Closing can be dramatic, emotional, or humorous– Closing must tie with your opening and your theme– Poor closing can seriously detract from an otherwise excellent presentation– Don’t run out of time and hassle the closing


Good Closings• A call or an appeal for definite action• An appropriate short quotation or illustration• An exhibit – an object, article, picture• A personal challenge


Poor Closings

• An apologetic statement• A stale remark• Hurried out statement


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Harvard Formula ofPersuasive Speeches1. Point of View 2. Reasons3. Examples Evidence4. Point of view restated 5. “You” oriented

“Smoking is hazardous for your life”“Smoking causes cancer”“50,000 people die per year from cancer”“If you want a long full life, give up cigarettes”“Take the first step tonight and sign up for ‘no more smoking’ seminar”


Visual Assistance


Visual Assistance• Studies show that people store and access information in three primary ways:

– Visually, auditorially, kinesthetically • Adults absorb, retain and learn:

– 10% of what they read– 20% what they hear– 30% what they read and hear– 50% what they hear and see– 90% what they do


Visuals• Visuals support the speech, they are NOT the primary message

– used to clarify the message• You must practice your main points of the presentation without relying on the visuals• Visuals should assist you in controlling

– Pace of the presentation– Flow of the information

• Important! – When you transition from one visual to the next, introduce the topic area of the next visual before it is revealed.

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Creating Your Visuals• A max of 12 lines per visual

–Do not put too much information within a single visual• A title for each visual

–Title must be meaningful• Simple readable labels

– Labels on charts or graphs should be meaningful, specific and precise


Creating Your Visuals• Readable from the back of the room

–Print size at least 20 points• No more than 3-5 major points

–Each point must be easily identifiable–Use highlights, colors, bullets, different text size


Delivery Techniques


Presentation Delivery• Body language

– Contributes 55% toward message impact• Tone of voice

– Contributes 38% toward message impact• Actual words

– Contributes 7% toward message impact

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Body LanguageEye Contact• Eye contact is a primary and vital part of interpersonal communication• By gazing directly into another’s eyes we establish link/closeness• When speaking to audience, maintain eye contact with audience members; don’t focus on one person• Perception of distrust are created when eye contact is NOT maintained.


Body LanguageLectern or Podium• Try not to stand behind lectern or podium• Have no barrier between you and the audience• Perception of you trying to distance yourself from audience makes your talk cold and detached.


Body LanguageFacial Expression• Speaker must be certain that his/her words and his/her face are communicating the same message. • If not, he/she will leave the audience confused and uncertain of the true message.


Body LanguageGestures• Most expressive part of body language• Speaker uses his hands and arms to illustrate his words• Basic gestures show things such as: weight, shape, direction, importance, comparison, contrast• Don’t fumble with a pencil, watch, or ring while you speak

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Voice: Volume• Speaker should express excitement and enthusiasm for the topic• Volume should be varied in strength and intensity to add emphasis and dramatic impact to your presentations

– Through volume control, the audience can infer the speaker’s message• Many speakers control voice to “sound professional”, but professionals do just the opposite!!


Voice: Consistency• Tendency to talk too loudly or softly

– Common problem is ‘fading voice’. – Deliver presentation in a clear voice at a conversational level – Consider the room where you are speaking


VoiceConvey Life, Color and Melody• Voice should not sound flat or wooden.• A thin high-pitched tone lacks authority and appeal; it is harsh and unpleasant.• Cultivate deeper tones.• “one-note” pitch is also a problem – boring.


Voice: Rate• Fast rate – sense of excitement; rapid sequence of events• Avoid slow rate

– Listeners start daydreaming• Avoid rapid rate

– Listeners become frustrated and “tune out”.• Most effective speaking rate falls within the range of 120-160 words per minute.

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Exercising Your PresentationMuscle• Improvements only happen by practice, Practice, Practice, and practice

– You need to practice good speaking skills by delivering oral presentations on a regular basis• Person with a strong presentation muscle can

– think a problem through– communicate his/her thought more effectively– express his thoughts well enough to persuade others to see his point of view– efficiently instruct others– speak effectively before an audience of any size

• Often job/promotion/salary depends on speaking skills!!!


Practice• Improvements only happen by practice, Practice, Practice, and practice• Your ultimate Goal is to “be effective Communicator in every Situation”• Practice presentations with various time constraints

– 5 minute presentation (a quick summary to your supervisor)– 15 minute presentation (for conference)– 45-50 minute presentation (for job talk, invited talk, keynote)– 55-100 minute presentation (for classroom and thesis defense)

• Practice the art of asking good questions. It is also oral and memorable communication


Conclusion• Good Presentation

– Stimulates intellectual thought– Encourages discussions


Where to get More Info• Watch TED talks; they often have great speakers• Search youtube for “Good presentation skills,” especially the ones developed by academia

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Thank You for Listening

presentation-general.ppt · title: microsoft powerpoint - presentation-general.ppt [compatibility...

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