Powerful Presentations (PHT)

POWERFUL PRESENTATIONS

Justin Standfield

Management Development Facilitator

DESIGNING A GREAT PRESENTATION

“The secret of being a bore is to

tell everything”

Voltaire (1694-1778)

Needs of the Audience

• Straightforward information• Historical information• Comparisons• Interview• Education• Entertainment• Sales

Research Your Audience

Before preparing your presentation it can be useful to know:

• The audience’s objectives • The audience’s knowledge of the subject• The history of the relationship between the

audience & you/your department• How the audience like to assimilate

information

STRUCTURING THE PRESENTATION

“Begin at the beginning and go on until you come to the end; then stop”

Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)

Presentation Structure

Introduction

Main body

Close

…….tell ‘em what you’ll tell ‘em

…….tell ‘em

…….tell ‘em what you’ve told ‘em

NB: Consider the primacy & recency effect

The Rule of 3

USING VISUAL AIDS

handouts?

flipchart & pens?

PowerPoint show?

overhead projector & acetates?

what else?

55%38%

7%

Visual

Vocal

Verbal

How we take in information

Source: Albert Mehrabiam, “Silent Messages”

How we take in information…

There are some important conclusions that we can take in from this information…

1.Use visuals (pictures, graphs, tables, props) whenever you can;

2. In a speech you are only using 38% of the communication medium;

3.Ditch the bullet points now & again!

Visual Aids

• Flip charts & marker pens

• Over head projector (OHP) & acetates

• PowerPoint presentation, laptop & digital projector

• Handouts

A few words about PowerPoint…

Making the presentation memorable

Keep the word count down

Try to use only one concept per slide

Avoid lists of bullet points

Use pictures where you can

Finding a picture for your presentation

Purchase images (50p - £1 per image)

www.istockphoto.com

www.picasa.com

Finding a picture for your presentation

Free images (but check copyright!)

www.google.com

www.lycos.com

www.yahoo.com

Finding a picture for your presentation

NHS Photo Library (free for NHS staff only)

www.photolibrary.nhs.uk

YOUR AUDIENCE

“I do not object to people looking at their watches when I am speaking, but I

strongly object when they start shaking them to make sure they are still going”

Lord Birkett (1883-1962)

One size fits all?

The importance of good strong starts

Reading your audience

REHEARSAL

“Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”

Unknown

Plan to rehearse at least 4 times

Rehearse against the clock

• How long do you think it will take?

• How long did it take?

• What if you are cut short?

• Allow time for questions

Record yourself & observe!

Emulate best practice

Memorise your words

• Read it aloud

• Record & listen to it

• Use cue cards

• Create a mind map

Mind mapping

Mind mapping

• Mirrors how the brain looks & works• Makes use of linking• Makes use of different learning styles• Ideas are much easier to recall

Mind mapping

• Stimulates both right & left brain hemispheres

• Saves time, only recording/reviewing key words

• Visual excitement aids memory

• Easy to recreate from memory & check against original

Mind mapping activity

Produce a simple mind map!

Base it on your presentation topic

Use drawings as well as text

Other uses for mind maps

• Revision before exams• Training & teaching• Project planning• Writing reports & essays• Brainstorming sessions• Creativity when problem solving• Taking minutes or making notes

DEALING WITH NERVES

Take action…rehearse!

Rehearse again!

Passion eliminates fear

Nerves & your body

• Loosen your spine• Loosen your neck• Loosen your arms & hands• Relax your facial muscles• Voice exercises

Nerves & eye contact

What’s the worst that could happen…?

First Impressions

What factors make up a good first impression?

Visual – how you look…..55%

Vocal – how you sound…..38%

Verbal – what you say…..7%

55%38%

7%

Visual

Vocal

Verbal

FINAL AMENDMENTS TO YOUR

PRESENTATIONS