DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION SKILLS

What makes a good presentation?

A good presentation is well-prepared, clearly delivered, audible, engaging, and accompanied, where appropriate, by useful and legible handouts and competent use of supporting materials/equipment (e.g., overheads etc.).

We all hate doing it so why bother?

1. The culture of learning and the importance of presentation skills
   
   
• Presentations are accepted parts of most degree schemes, particularly in arts-related subjects, whether this is at the level of conducting a seminar, presenting a paper, or even taking part in a debate.
  
  
2. Effective presentation as transitional skills
   
   
• Very few of us get through our working lives without the need for presentation skills at some point, e.g., in interviews, team meetings, meetings with clients, making proposals, etc.
  
  
• Develop them early and you will benefit from them in multiple settings throughout your lives.


3. The myth of the critical audience
   
   
• Few people actively welcome the prospect of giving presentations, though some come to enjoy them with practice.



• Most of us experience nervousness, and some anxiety. This is normal. Your audience is therefore generally on your side, especially at university level in the seminar setting.

Preparing a presentation

1. Preparation is everything
   
   
• If you know your subject, if you are well-rehearsed and you are familiar with the equipment you are using, you will feel 100% confident from the outset.
  
  
2. Your notes
   
   
• The notes you have with you should act as prompts.
  
  
• Do not write an essay or a speech, or you will have no option but to read it from beginning to end.
  
  
• If it reassures you to write out what you want to say in full, do so under headings and ubheadings that act as clear reminders at a glance
  
  
• Become familiar with your notes and know where each topic falls on a page
  
  
3. Timing a presentation
   
   
• If you have guidelines on length, stick to them (running over will not win you extra points – in an interview situation it may well count against you)
  
  
• If you have no guidelines, make sure you allow time for discussion/questions etc.
  
  
4. Rehearsal
   
   
• Audio-taping: Record your presentation and play it back to yourself. This will help you memorize the material, slow down your speech, and keep to the time limit.
  
  
• Rehearse with a friend. Ask him/her to time your delivery. Ask them for feedback on your delivery, pace, etc.
  
  
5. Equipment
   
   
• Think about what materials/aids you want to use, check their availability well in advance, book them if necessary, check how they work and if they work!
  
  
6. On the day
   
   
   • Get there in good time, particularly if there is equipment to set up or check, or photocopying to be done.
     
     
   • Being rushed at the last minute is bad news for nerves

Delivery and body language

1. Voice projection
   
   
• Speak up and out towards your audience
  
  
• If you need to refer to your notes, check them, look up and continue speaking
  
  
2. Posture
   
   
• Preferably stand – it sets you apart from your audience both visually (from their perspective), and conceptually (from yours).
  
  
• Standing contributes to the sense of ‘performance’, with a clear beginning and end.
  
  
3. Eye contact
   
   
• Look up and out towards your audience
  
  
• Make eye contact – intermittently at least – with audience members
  
  
• Find a friendly face in the audience (someone who looks interested and not puzzled) and use them for reassurance
  
  
4. Pace
   
   
• Speak slowly!
  
  
• The pace of delivery should be considerably slower than in your usual conversational speech, it might feel odd to you. However, this may not sound too slow to your audience.
  
  
5. Use of prepared notes
   
   DOs
   
   • Keep them to hand (in hand or on a table, etc.)
     
     
   • Freely refer to them, if you need.
     
     
   DON’Ts
   
   
   • Hold them high up in front of you, blocking yourself from your audience
     
     
   • Read aloud from them for any length of time
     
     
6. Tips to overcome nerves
   
   
• Movement is calming and keeps your body relaxed – shift your weight, walk a little if you can (but avoid manic pacing!)
  
  
• Avoid holding your notes if your hands shake – it exaggerates the tremors!
  
  
• If shaking legs are a problem, try leaning ‘casually’ against a table edge or back of a chair etc. This way you can sit on your hands too!
  
  
• The art of distraction: Use overheads/videos etc to direct your audience’s attention away from you. At this point, you provide the voice-over. It also allows you to look away from your audience for a while – all handy if you’re nervous.

 

Handouts