Presentation Skills Workshop - Effectively Communicate to Any Audience

Presentation Skills

WorkshopFacilitated by Mary Kathryn RobertsManager, Strategic Communications

Office of the Vice-President (Finance and Administration)

Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Take a strategic approach to planning a presentation.

• Communicate your ideas with confidence and authority.

Goal for Today

Prepare and give a one minute presentation.

Need to Know Info1. What is the topic? A notable presentation from this

Supervisory Development Series.

2. When will I be presenting? At the end of this workshop.

3. Who will I be presenting to? Us.

4. Where will I be presenting? Here.

5. What kind of audio-visual is available? Paper to act as slides.

The Plan for TodayPart 1: Planning• Analyse your Audience – The Who• Select your Topic and Exact Purpose – The Why• Structure your Content – The What

Part 2: Presenting• Understand Anxiety• Approach your Presentation with Confidence• Look at things you can do before and during your

presentation• Present

Part 1: Planning

How to take a strategic approach to planning a presentation.

Analyse your AudienceSituational. Learn as much as you can about the speaking situation.

Demographic. Can help to decide topics of interest.

Psychological. Helps to understand what motivates people.

What’s in it for them? What do they care about?

Topic and Exact Purpose

Today’s topic: Your experience in this Supervisory Development Series.

Exact purpose:• To introduce.• To tell a funny story.• To frame it around an object.• To highlight a pet peeve.• To showcase a personal opinion.

Structure your Content

• Introduction – establish rapport, tell them what you’re going to tell them

• Body – key points grouped into sections• Conclusion – tell them what you told them

Body• Include about 3 – 5 main points• Figure out the natural order, organize it well –

know your story/path• Use examples to communicate your points• Get creative – use stories, anecdotes, vivid

language, metaphors or an acronym to help people retain your information

Your audience will only remember 10 – 25% of your presentation. It’s critical for you to try to control what is remembered.

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Practice = Plan1. Start Planning Early

2. Create Clear Goals and Objectives 3. Gather Resources

IntroductionKey is to establish rapport with the audience, to make them want to listen.

• Personal experience (The first time X presented…)• A question (Did you know that X?)• A startling statement (People are more afraid of

public speaking than they are of spiders.)

Conclusion• Summarize your presentation• Reiterate your key point(s) that tie into your exact

purpose• End with a closing statement

Good Slide Bad SlideYour go-to resource: SlideShare

Part 2: PresentingHow to communicate your ideas with

confidence and authority.

Rate your Nervousness

How good a speaker do you consider yourself to be?

Poor | Fair | Average | Good | Excellent

How much personal anxiety do you usually experience when speaking?

None | Little | Some | Moderate | Great

Understand AnxietyTrait Anxiety

Internal anxieties an individual brings to the speaking situation.

Characteristics:• Dissimilarity• Speaking History• Subordinate Status

Situational Anxiety

Factors present in a situation.

For example: • a new audience• your boss• being critiqued/graded

while speaking

Managing Situational Anxiety

1. Prepare.2. Use deep breathing.3. Plan an introduction that will relax you and your

listeners.4. Practice.

Managing Trait Anxiety

1. Use positive imagery.2. Use positive affirmations.

The Speaker I Want to Be

Make a list of speaking characteristics you wish to develop – do this as a group.

Use these as a basis for writing 5 – 10 positive statements that describe you exactly as you want to be – do this on your own.

Break the Umm Habit

• Leave yourself a voicemail or record your voice. 

• Try to overdo a pause. 

• If you project your voice, it's really hard to say "um…" 

Before the Presentation

• Acknowledge your nervousness. • Mentally rehearse your opening.• Arrive early.• Wear comfortable clothing.• Walk around.• Make the room yours.• Have water handy.• Prepare everything well in advance.

During the Presentation

• Breathe.• Pause.• Make eye contact.• Don’t apologize.• Think in ideas, not words.• Remember, it’s not about you.• Smile, relax, and have fun!

I’m not nervous. I’m excited.

Presentation Time!

Wrap UpToday we:• Took a strategic approach to planning a

presentation by analysing our audience, clarifying our exact purpose, and structuring our content.

• Learned how to communicate ideas with confidence and authority by understanding the different types of anxiety, learning tips to overcome anxiety, and reviewing presentation tips.