Effective Oral Presentations:

1. What is your greatest fear in public

speaking?

2. What in your view is more important:

confidence? fluency? or both?

3. What makes a presentation effective?

4. How much of the message is conveyed

through the body language?
Unlock These Seven, Simple & Universal
Steps Today

MAKE YOUR NEXT

PRESENTATION
REMARKABLE.
AND...AGONY FREE.
RIGHT NOW!
Step #1 You’re Not You... You’re Them: The
Audience
Step #2 Make An Up-Front Promise: Right
Up Front
Step #3 Talk Passionately About Your
Passion
Step #4 Work To A Structure That Works
Step #5 Unleash ‘Words That Work’
Step #6 Use PowerPoint Like Chilli Flakes
Step #7 Add Power: Body Language & Tone
Of Voice
Step #1 You’re Not You...
You’re Them: The Audience
With the right understanding of
your audience, you can pitch what
you have to say as helping them
move towards their needs, and/or
away from concerns.
Step #2 Make An Up-Front Promise:
Right Up Front
Did you know that a person’s average
attention span these days is on average a
mere 8 seconds? According to Microsoft
Research conducted in Canada in 2014, it’s
fallen from 12 seconds a few years before to
less than a goldfish’s at 9 seconds. So, you
must grab their attention in an arresting
way, not with your presentation agenda but
communicating the benefit, the payoff, if
people listen right to the bitter end.
3 Talk Passionately About Your Passion
You want to have an affect on people and influence
their feelings. In a Harvard Business Review article
authored by Uri Hasson in May 2010, the clinical
research findings that utilised MRI brain scans
concluded:
“The Finding: In good communication, a listener’s
brain activity begins to mirror the speaker’s brain
activity.”
In the article, Hasson labels the phenomenon
‘brain coupling.’ Other research refers to human
brains having mirror neurons which respond to
emotions displayed by other people by generating
the same emotion in the person observing.
Lots of questions I know, but I have to ask
them and here’s the reason why. Just
because it’s business doesn’t mean you
have to stick just to the facts, the logic, and
the data! People will switch off.
(Remember you’re battling an 8-second
attention span.) Instead, share your
passion on the topic because it’s so, so, so,
persuasive. Passionate people are
emotionally contagious!
 Step #4 Work To A Structure
That Works
A simple structure that I like is
to identify the key points you
want to make and for each one
communicate
The What
The So What
The What Now
Step #5 Unleash ‘Words That Work’
The Ancient Greeks, being the world’s first
democracy, invented the art of public
speaking 2,500 years ago. They studied
what made some speakers more
persuasive than others, codified their
findings, and the art of rhetoric, or, as I
call it, ‘words that work,’ was born.
Rhetorical studies became the foundation
of their education system, and when the
Romans conquered Greece, they adopted
it, too.
Repetition:
I believe this is the most powerful technique you can use if
you use it well. Very simply, it involves repeating a key
word or words. Repetition is used most often at the
beginning of successive sentences, phrases or clauses.
However, it can also be employed in the middle of, or at
the end. It’s effective even when keywords or phrases
separate the repeated words. It’s critical to recognise that
writing a speech - or narrative to a presentation - is
different to writing a document where the repetition of
keywords is, typically, avoided. (Something that we are
taught in school!). In a speech, the use of repetition
increases impact and enhances understanding. It also
makes what is said more easily remembered. What’s more,
repetition gives the spoken word rhythm and cadence,
which makes listening far more appealing for the audience.
Examples: “Victory! Victory at all costs, victory
despite all terror, victory however long and hard the road
may be.” Prime Minister Winston Churchill “I still have a
dream. It is deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a
dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the
true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self-
evident that all men are created equal.” Doctor Martin
Luther King Jnr. Note: ‘ I have a dream’ was repeated eight
times, and the word ‘dream’ eleven times. Repetition-
Rolling Pairs: successive use of things said twice “How do
you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better,
how do you explain when others are able to achieve things
that seem to defy all of the assumptions? Why is it that
Martin Luther King lead the civil rights movement? And,
why is it that the Wright brothers were able to figure out
controlled powered man flight.”
The Rule of Three The ‘rule of three’ is a powerful speech
writing technique that you should learn, practice, and
master. (That’s one right there!)
Forms include single words, phrases/clauses or
sentences. “Go where you cannot go; bring what you
haven’t got; do what you cannot do!” Traditional Irish
Saying “A government of the people, by the people, for the
people.” President Abraham Lincoln
Examples Of Ways To Start Questions Mustn’t;
Shouldn’t; Couldn’t; Can’t; Haven’t; Would’ve etc. Why;
How; What; Where; When; If. Let’s ask ourselves… Isn’t it
time to… Here’s a question I’m often asked… What’s the
difference between... Here’s a simple question... You may
ask…did; have; should etc.
Step #6 Use PowerPoint Like Chilli Flakes
A sprinkling of chill flakes can add that
mouthwatering touch of spice to a dish, but overdo it
and it and the whole meal comes undone
presenters should use PP slides sparingly to add spice
to what they're saying, not as a menu that they read
from. You’ll be far more engaging, interesting and
compelling if you place greater reliance on yourself
writing a narrative that brings your story to life. Write
it out, memorise a big chunk of it - use notes if you
have to – and rehearse your delivery.
Step #7 Add Power: Body Language &
Tone Of Voice
Great words need to be supported with
powerful body language so stand tall, face your
audience heart-to-heart, use open palm hand
gestures and smile. Moreover, hold eye contact
with people long enough to deliver a complete
thought or sentence. It's amazing how this will
connect you with your entire audience. Your
tone of voice needs to reflect the emotional
response you want to stimulate. If you want
people to get excited, then sound excited. If you
want people to get worried, sound worried.
One Final Piece Of Advice...
Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse.
Reading through your presentation
won't be enough to deliver a great
performance. Rehearse every single
Align words, element until it's all
second nature.
Structure of an Oral Presentation
1.
a) Greeting and your introduction
b) Getting attention of the audience
c) Introducing the topic
d) Preview your presentation
2.
a) Summarizing the arguments presented
b) Conclude with the analysis/evaluation/recommendation
c) A strong memorable closing statement which can be a fact, anecdote, food
for thought question etc.
d) Thank the audience for their attention.
3.
a) Ask for questions
b) Properly address the questioner
c) Neutralize the negative questions
d) Be patient with the hostile audience
e) Always tie the answer back to the content of the original presentation.
4.
a) Point-by-point presenting the arguments (informational, explanatory,
persuasive) supported with illustrations and visuals (summarize points in case
of a long presentation especially before starting with the new point/sub topic).
Oral/Poster Presentation
Rubric
Activity 01:
Rubric for Oral Presentation
Carefully read over the rubric
to be used for the peer-
assessment of the oral
presentations. What
questions do you have?