Presentation Skills - Session One
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The document provides guidance on preparing and delivering presentations by addressing common concerns around audience, logistics, purpose, content, organization, credibility, and performance. It acknowledges that public speaking is one of people's biggest fears but offers reassurance that anxiety is normal and often invisible to audiences. The document recommends addressing fears through thorough preparation and practice, using positive self-talk, and channeling nervous energy into the presentation. Presenters are advised to focus on connecting with individuals in the audience rather than seeing them as an intimidating crowd.
Presentation Skills - Session One
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- 2. 1 2 3 AUDIENCE LOGISTICS How will you adapt to your audience? •How do their characteristics – demographics, interests, experience, age – affect the way you present? Why are you speaking? •What do you want people to know, think, believe, or do as a result of hearing your presentation? •How do you focus your efforts to meet this goal? Where and when will you be speaking? •How can you adapt your presentation to the audience size, facilities, equipment, time, etc. PURPOSE
- 3. 4 5 CONTENT ORGANIZATION How should you arrange your content? •Is there a natural order to the ideas and information? •What are the most effective ways to organize the presentation based on your knowledge of the audience, facilities? •How should you begin and end? What ideas and information should you include? • Will the audience be able to relate with the ideas and information? • What kind of supporting material will be needed? • What do they need to know in order to make a decision? 6 CREDIBILITY Are you believable? •How can you become associated with your message in a positive way? •What can you do to demonstrate your expertise and trustworthiness? 7 PERFORMANCE How should you deliver your presentation? •What forms of vocal and physical delivery are appropriate for your purpose, audience, and setting? •What techniques will make your presentation more effective? •How much and what should you practice?
- 4. “The night before my first Superbowl, I stayed up all night playing the game in my head, visualizing what was going to happen and how I was going to deal with it…my stomach was really balled up in a knot. I always had butterflies, though. If you don’t, I don’t think you’re ready to play. - Jerry Rice Everyone gets nervous... “According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” - Jerry Seinfeld
- 5. • Understand the source of your nervousness • Fear of failure • Worrying isn’t going to make it better – and I’m 99.9% sure everyone wants you to do well • Fear of the unknown • Practice…that’s why we’re here • Fear of the spotlight • Yes, everyone is looking at you…but that’s a good thing. • Fear of breaking the rules • Your perception of what a presentation is vs. your comfort level • Fear of fear • Anxiety breeds anxiety
- 6. • Build your confidence • Important to understand two things: 1. Everyone experiences stage fright – so they understand what you’re going through 2. In most cases, anxiety is invisible to your audience
- 7. • Use anxiety-reducing techniques • Prepare • This is critical. Know your topic – if you don’t, they’ll know. • Practice • Practice out loud. Most nervousness occurs right at the start, so consider focusing your efforts there. • Think positively • Don’t talk yourself into being nervous (e.g. “I hate presenting”, “this is going to suck”) • Use your nervous energy to your advantage – get up and move around • Relax • Breath deep • Use small talk • Know that everything is going to be alright • Focus on your audience • Talk to individuals, rather than “the crowd” • Look for and elicit positive responses