Effective Presentation Techniques Michael J. Quinn 4 October 2017 Version 2.9

Four Steps to Excellence Structuring presentation Designing slides Pausing techniques Answering questions

Structuring presentation Designing slides Pausing techniques Answering questions

Plan the Goal of the Talk Where audience is at Where you want audience to be Talk

“Tell ‘em” 3 Times Prepare audience Move audience Reflect on journey

Too Many Slides!

Rehearse!

Sign Posts Orient listener Two styles Current topic Progress Intermittent Ever-present

Backing Up First Topic Outline Blah blah A Blah blah B Blah blah C Second topic Third topic

Backing Up First Topic Outline Blah blah A Blah blah B Blah blah C Second topic Third topic

Backing Up Second Topic Outline First Topic Blah blah D Blah blah E Blah blah F Outline First topic Second topic Third topic First Topic Blah blah A Blah blah B Blah blah C

Backing Up Second Topic Outline First Topic Blah blah D Blah blah E Blah blah F Outline First topic Second topic Third topic First Topic Blah blah A Blah blah B Blah blah C

Backing Up Third Topic Second Topic First Topic Outline Blah blah G Blah blah H Blah blah I Second Topic Blah blah D Blah blah E Blah blah F First Topic Blah blah A Blah blah B Blah blah C Outline First topic Second topic Third topic

Duplicate Outline Slide First topic Second topic Third topic Third Topic Blah blah G Blah blah H Blah blah I Second Topic Blah blah D Blah blah E Blah blah F Outline First topic Second topic Third topic Outline First topic Second topic Third topic First Topic Blah blah A Blah blah B Blah blah C

Structuring presentation Designing slides Pausing techniques Answering questions

Presentation Pointers Speaker Blocks Slides Presentation Pointers Structuring your presentation Designing fantastic slides Pausing for emphasis Answering questions

Presentation Pointers Stand Aside Presentation Pointers Structuring your presentation Designing fantastic slides Pausing for emphasis Answering questions

Speaker Reads Slides A speaker may put his entire presentation on his slides. He turns his back to the audience and reads the slides aloud. Perhaps he feels this approach guarantees all the information will get to the audience. The problem is that the visual presentation completely dominates the presenter. The presenter is not adding any value to what is on the slides. This may be the most annoying way to give a presentation. Audience members feel insulted: they already know how to read! They wonder why the lecturer doesn’t simply hand out a copy of the slides.

Acceptable Style #1

Speaker Interprets Slides Slides dominate Provide all content Hold audience’s attention Speaker supports Faces slides Helps audience understand

Unreadable Labels

Respect the Medium Panama

Dense, Static Slides

Keep Making Progress President Academics Facilities Student Services Athletics Finances

Keep Making Progress President Academics Athletics Facilities Student Services Finances

Keep Making Progress President Academics Athletics Facilities Student Services Finances

Keep Making Progress President Academics Athletics Facilities Student Services Finances

Keep Making Progress President Academics Athletics Facilities Student Services Finances

Acceptable Style #2 Key Words

Slides Enhance Speaker Speaker dominates Faces audience Provides content Slides support speaker Reinforce message Orient listeners

Content Purpose Density Complement speaker Talk ≠ technical report 7 lines/page 4 words/line

Mixing Important/ Unimportant Words An effective presenter considers the goal of the presentation and the amount of time that is available The resulting presentation has the proper number of slides and the proper content per slide

Important Words Only Consider Select Presentation goal Available time Slide count Slide content

“Fly In” Fails Could you read this? How about this one? Maybe the third time is the charm!

“Wipe from Left” Works Less distracting Reduces eye movement Increases readability

Hiding Relationships in Bulleted Lists Prereqs to MEGR 2300 (Dynamics) MATH 1334 MATH 1335 PHYS 1210 MEGR 2100

Showing Relationships Aids Understanding Prereqs to MEGR 2300 (Dynamics) MATH 1334 MATH 1335 PHYS 1210 MEGR 2100 MEGR 2300

Typical Eye Movement Z

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Image reproduced from www.allposters.com

Image reproduced from www.allposters.com

Image reproduced from www.allposters.com

Image reproduced from www.allposters.com

Ignoring the “Z” Phase 1 Phase 6 Phase 5 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4

Using the “Z” Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Phase 6

Wall of White Increases glare Causes eyestrain Distracts from speaker

Red/Blue Conflict Red letters on blue background creates “flicker effect” Blue letters on red background just as bad

Low Contrast White on yellow Yellow on white Black on blue Blue on black

Misleading Emphasis 1 2 4 3 5 6

Structuring presentation Designing slides Pausing techniques Answering questions

Pauses Useful Powerful Difficult

Silence Useful Awaiting thought Switching gaze Reading slide Reinforcing point

Structuring presentation Designing slides Pausing techniques Answering questions

Pitfalls Hostile gestures Wandering gaze Body language Missing point Seeking approval Excluding audience

Opportunities Welcoming gestures Focusing gaze Body language Getting point Reinforcing message Including audience

Summary Guide audience gently Design slides carefully Use pauses effectively Answer questions inclusively

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