Presentation Tips
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Hockey wrote:
I've never given a presentation, so I'd like to ask, anyone have any good tips?
Join your local branch of Toastmasters International[^] - They are a speaking group and will help you with your presentation skills in a friendly envornoment. You will be told what your are doing well at and how to improve. They also help you improve your listening skills as a side-effect. If you join up they also send you a monthly magazine with great tips on presentation and public speaking in all its forms.
Hockey wrote:
None of which mentioned little things, like for instance, I like to talk...I always talk...which I think makes me a good candidate for a presentation giver (better than being an introvert anyways). However I am also very animated...I use my hands *ALOT* I have very dynamic mannerisms and sounds effects galour.
An introvert can give excellent presentations, while an extrovert can give awful presentations. At my toastmasters group[^] we have a wide range of speakers. Some of the extroverted ones just end up losing the audience because they are full on information overload giving the audience no time to take in the message. On the other hand some of the intorverted need to speak up a little better. And we try and help on all points, small and large.
Hockey wrote:
However I am sure dynamic hand movement isn't appealing to everyone.
If overdone, no it isn't. But, then again, some one standing stock still while giving a presentation isn't good to watch either. There needs to be a happy middle ground.
Hockey wrote:
Anyways, knowing this, can anyone offer advice?
Without seeing you present I can't give you much advice, no one can. Go and find a local Toastmasters club and join it. They will give you all the adivce you need and want taylored to your speaking style. If you are lucky you will find several clubs in your area to choose from. Where I am there are just 4 within a 1 hour drive. But in larger cities you'll find breakfast clubs, dinner clubs, evening clubs, lunchtime clubs, weekend clubs and so on.
> What makes a good presentation? Hard to say. Q: What makes a good political speech? What makes a good book report. What makes a good sermon? What makes a good news story? A: It holds their attention, conveys info at their level of understanding, makes them think, and they remember a few of your key points the next day. Decide what the subject matter and goal of your presentation will be. Try to determine what the main goal of the majority of your audience will be. Analyze both to determine points of common ground. Research the subject, outline a handful of main points, and order them logically. Add supporting info to reinforce your main points. Draw a conclusion. Now go back and create your introduction. In our visual age, just putting WORDS on a slide is no longer enough. And reading those same words to me is even worse. Since the slide area is limited, use only short phrases on the slide. When you speak, your words will give the complete sentences. Find a meaningful way to incorporate charts, graphics, pictures, etc. anything visual into the slides. Research the works of Edward Tufte as he is a master at this. http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/ If feasible, demonstrate the product, or concept. Talking about network switches? Don't just show a picture - hold one up, pass it around. USE PROPS wherever possible, especially to convey a concept. (At a marriage conference, they passed around a 4 inch Diamond replica, rose colored glasses, a mirror, a heavy rope with lots of knots in it, and many other unusual items, to help people get a handle on concepts like Worth, Bias, Forgiveness, etc.). Do anything you can to help the audience tangibly grasp an abstract concept. If you have to give a l-o-n-g presentation, try to arrange for a bio break sometime during. This can be real tricky, and you may lose people, they may straggle back in. Think of a way to get them back in on time - for example, maybe give away a promotional trinket (keyring, etc) to those who come back on time. Be creative. Be classy. I have passed around a bowl of AfterDinner mints during a long session. If you desire feedback, have a form you pass out at the end, and to ensure you get them back provide some incentive (maybe give away a book or gadget to one of the randomly chosen forms). Focus on the goal - which is to have most of your audience REMEMBER a few key points, 24 hours after your presentation. Go get 'em