2. Conference September 2011 Guidelines for Presenters 1

3. Presentation And Slide Design Working Out What Needs to be Said Presenting the Message Dos and Don’ts Preparing the Paperwork 2 Conference September 2011

4. Presentation And Slide Design 3 Conference September 2011

5. Public Speaking Much of what is presented here will seem obvious The best ideas often are obvious The rules of public speaking and slide design are made to be broken but only by: –the charismatic and –only then, to a clear purpose (Apologies to those who dislike sucking grannies eggs) 4

6. Objectives of the Presentation There is no single right way to present well You must work in a way that you are comfortable with –This presentation provides some ideas about how to better communicate your ideas –Gives some practical tips on dos and don’ts 5

7. Working Out What Needs to be Said 6 Conference September 2011

8. Planning Your Presentation If your presentation isn’t carefully planned you will be unable to communicate it effectively. You need to think about: 7 Who is the audience? What do they want to know? Plan the content and format? Use the so what test?

9. Designing for Your Audience Who will you be speaking to: –At ASC conferences audiences are about a third Academics and Government Market Research Practitioners (Often statisticians, analysts, fieldwork and data management specialists) Research Clients It is a forum to exchange good practice, new ideas and debate technical problems Presentations are not opportunities for sales pitches 8

10. What Do They Want To Know In general ASC audiences are looking to have: –New concepts of techniques clearly explained –Methods demonstrated (in outline) –Research/ technical issues and problems openly discussed It is unlikely they will want to see the detailed reporting of survey results or data unless this is used to illustrate conceptual or technical issues 9

11. Planning the Content Key issues to decide are: –what is/are the central message(s) to be communicated? –what information is needed to support this? –is illustration required? –how much do the audience know already? Focus on benefits and applications not features Anticipate and handle objections problems etc 10

12. Planning the Format ASC audiences vary from 80-150 for main/plenary sessions 20-50 for ‘workshops’ and parallel streamed presentations You will be making a formal presentation there is little scope for verbal interaction with larger audiences You need to think about –Length: allow about 2 minutes a point / slide if you are going to illustrate or expand on a slide allow up to 5 minutes for it timing is critical and will be enforced 11

13. The So What Test? Always give yourself the ‘so what test’? Who is interested in this piece of information? What does it mean to the audience? Where does it add? “So what if I dropped it?” If in doubt leave it out 12

14. Presenting the Message 13 Conference September 2011

15. Setting Up Ensure you are happy with the layout Make yourself known to the chairperson well ahead of the session Load you slides before the session Make sure –You can you reach everything with ease? –When set up are you facing the audience? –Are you obstructing the audience? –How will you handle transitions between media etc? Don’t start until you are ready 14

16. Movement How you stand and act is very important We are born to follow movement Stand still or move with purpose. Don’t: –shuffle about, –move your feet –fiddle with props or notes –slouch or lean Always face the audience 15

17. Delivery Delivery involves –appearance –body language –voice Voice –practice your start word for word –keep it measured –keep it clear and pitched to the back –ensure that emphasis is in the right place 16

18. Use of Notes Everyone is different –Some use annotated slides - key points –Some use flash cards with abbreviated text –Others produce a complete script Whatever you use –It mustn’t be read –It mustn’t distract you from interacting with your audience 17

19. Persona You must ‘meet’ your audience How to do this varies by size of group. In a mid to large audience: –look but don’t make individual eye contact –speak slightly above people’s heads (that means the top of the back row in banked seating) –be natural –be confident and open –give clear signposts what you will be presenting where you are in the presentation, and … 18

20. Rules for Slides 1 Don’t use –too many colours –inconsistent Capitalisation –too many font styles confusing layout –long complex statements, that people find hard to follow and clutter the page with unnecessary text that gets in the way of communicating the key point you are trying to put across confusing hierarchies less than 16 point 19 Arbitrary Animation

21. Rules for Slides 2 If you can’t read it no one else will be able to People are unlikely to be able to absorb more than about 3*10 numbers - summarise Use graphics to illustrate relationships 20

22. Rules for Slides 3 Even this simple table takes time to absorb don’t include it unless it is a has a clear purpose 21

23. Slide Design Never go below –16 point in text –14/12 point on graphics and tables 10 lines is an absolute maximum No more than about 60 words Consider hierarchy of points and spacing of lines Don’t clutter - if it doesn’t add or ‘do’ leave it out Get to know what PowerPoint can do 22

24. Dos and Don’ts 23 Conference September 2011

25. 10 Don’ts 24 1Don’t start till you are ready 2Disobey the rules in preparing Audio Visual Material 3Don’t talk to the screen, the roof, your notes 4Don’t rush or dawdle 5Don’t mumble 6Don’t distract (fiddle, move about) 7Don’t read 8Don’t indulge, deviate, share insider jokes etc 9Don’t talk faster to get more in - cut early if you are getting behind 10Avoid mannerisms

26. 10 Dos 1Prepare fully - time yourself 2Practice 3Get a friend’s advice - use the ‘so what’ test 4Address your Audience (look at them) 5Keep it clear and simple (illustrate, don’t deviate) 6Stick to the structure you have planned 7Ensure you know your links and ‘lead ins’ 8Match the mood of the event 9Remember the audience don’t know what you meant to say - don’t worry if you miss a point 10Enjoy it! 25

27. Preparing the Paperwork 26 Conference September 2011

28. Accompanying Paperwork Check your abstract –Now you have finished the presentation does the abstract need updating? Check your handouts –Do you want to give the audience handouts? –Have you printed enough copies? 27

29. You and Your Organisation Check you contact details –Do you want delegates to be able to contact you? –Have you supplied the conference chair with your contact details? –Do you want to distribute business cards or brochures? Check your biography. –Have you written a couple of sentences so you can be introduced? –Have you written a paragraph for the website? 28

30. Many thanks for agreeing to present at the ASC Conference 29 Conference September 2011