Presentation Skills

Prof. Sunil Bakshi

Presentation is a fast and potentially effective method of getting things done through other people.

A survey conducted in US asked people what they feared the most. At the top of the list, way ahead of fire, sharks, drowning, snakes or death was

speaking in public.

What A Presentation Does

It puts you on display. It allows you to allow you to raise the issues, present the problems, ask questions and to initiate discussion. They are your chance to speak your mind, to strut your stuff and to tell the people about your ideas.

Presentation Strategy
The Objectives of Comm. is not the transmission but the reception. Therefore: Presentation must be geared not to the speaker but to the audience. Objective is to make your message understood and remembered. Main problem is to reach the audience and to hold the attention long enough to make your point.

Planning The Presentation

Plan your presentation not only upon the facts being presented but also upon the style, pace, tone and ultimately tactics, which should be used. Presentation should depend on: Our Purpose Our Audience Our Resources

4 Ps of Presentation
There are four major steps for an effective presentation. Planning:
Know your audience; Find out why are they there; Know their expectations.

Preparation,
Collect the necessary info; Arrange it in logical order; Know the time allotted to you; Opening & closing.

4 Ps of Presentation
Practice:
Rehearse for max impact; Practice aloud before a live audience; Time your presentation (keep time aside for questions); Practice physical movement (keeping in view the layout, AV equipment); Practice voice modulation, and eye contact; and Try breathing deeply and to relax while speaking.

4 Ps of Presentation
Presentation Techniques:
Use Audio-visual aids; The Delivery should enhance the presentation and not kill it. Five key facets of the human body, deserving attention in presentation are: Eye Contact: Voice Modulation: Expression: Appearance: and Stance.

S S S A P FRAMEWORK
There are some important elements in the framework known as SSSAP Set (the mood of the audience); Support (your presentation with facts, examples and arguments); Sequence (the presentation in the right order); Access (of info by the audience should be easy); Polish (by value additions).

CHAPS
Presentations are a way of communicating ideas and information to a group. A Good presentation has: Content (info people need); Human Element (presenter can sway the results); Audience Orientation (they are your customers); Packaging (well prepared & relevant); and Structure (logical beginning, middle, and end).

Presentation Structure
Presentations should have a definite structure/format otherwise audience have difficulty in following them. Having established the aim of your presentation, you should choose the most appropriate structure to achieve it. However, the structure must not get in the way of the main message.

If it is too complex, too convoluted or simply too noticeable the audience will be distracted. There are several options for structuring the presentation: Timeline - Arranged in sequential order. Climax - The main points are delivered in order of increasing importance.

 Problem/Solution A problem is presented, a solution is suggested, and benefits are then given. Classification All the important points are highlighted. Simple to complex - Ideas are listed from the simplest to the most complex. Can also be done in reverse order.

Some of the structures normally used are: Sequential Argument (a series of linked
statements conclusion); ultimately, leading to a

Hierarchical Decomposition (the main

topic is broken down into sub-topics and each sub-topics into smaller topics, which eventually is broken down into very small basic units); Question Orientated (The format is to introduce the problem and the various solutions to that problem, listing the pro's and con's of each solution in turn);

 Pyramid (the subject is introduced in its

entirety in a catchy first paragraph. The next few paragraphs repeat the same information only giving further details to each point. The next section develops certain themes within each of the subpoints adding more information); and

The Meaty Sandwich (This is the simple

beginning-middle-end format in which the main meat of the exposition is contained in the middle and is preceded by an introduction and followed by a summary and conclusion).

Six Ways To An Effective Presentation

Create a strategy and use it to inform your structure Respect the medium Focus on the introduction and conclusion Polish delivery Use visual aids effectively Prepare for questions

How To Begin
It is imperative to plan your beginning carefully; there are five main elements: Get their attention: Every minute is precious so, from the beginning, make sure they pay attention. Establish a theme: Start the audience thinking about the subject matter of your presentation.

 Present a structure: If you explain briefly at the beginning of a talk how it is to proceed, then the audience will know what to expect. Create a rapport: Plan exactly how you wish to appear to them and use the beginning to establish that relationship.

How To End
The final impression you make on the audience is the one they will remember. Thus it is worth planning your last few sentences with extreme care. As with the beginning, it is necessary first to get their attention, which will have wandered. This requires a change of pace, or perhaps one final culminating idea.

Indeed it is best ending is the one that comes unexpectedly with that final vital phrase left hanging in the air and ringing round their memories. Alternatively the ending can be a flourish, with the pace and voice leading the audience through the final crescendo to the inevitable conclusion.