Presentation Skills Bill Barnett Director, Science Community Tools, Indiana University GIR Leadership Institute, 2014

A good presentation is a great experience for you and your audience

Outcome: to handle this…

My goals are for you to: Believe you can give good presentations Practice with these tools and concepts Commit to giving good presentations

A note about my speaking style I use structure in my presentations: The structure gives me a path The structure gives me confidence It helps me focus on the message and on interacting with you I tend to talk too fast when I get nervous

We will look at the following aspects: Communication as Negotiation Developing a Presentation Physical Aspects of Speaking …and we will have activities!

What are these activities, you may ask? Communication as Negotiation How to replace meetings with email Developing a Presentation Convince us of something in 30 seconds Physical Aspects of Speaking Describe something visual

Communication as Negotiation Theme: It’s NOT about YOU I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.

Communication as Negotiation Topics Understand your Audience Develop A Presentation Goal Negotiating

Understand your Audience Respect Your Audience. Who are they and what do they want? How do you think they feel about you? How do you think they will react?

Develop A Presentation Goal ALWAYS have ONE goal Allay hostility or fear? Inform? Persuade? Call to action?

Negotiating Own the stage, but listen Don’t be threatened, but listen Diagnosis – Formulation – Bargaining Use ‘Yes! And…’

Handling Conflict When people are hostile it’s about them – angry, fearful, threatened Don’t bring conflict to the presentation Don’t let them change the subject Extract value

Communication as Negotiation Activity! Communication as Negotiation How to replace meetings with email

Developing a Presentation NO! I SAID YOU SHOULD TRY TO TWITTER! Theme: It’s about the Message

Developing Presentation Topics Rule of 3 (or maybe only 2) Speaking Types and Strategies Presentation Tools and Rules

The Rule of Three (or maybe only two) Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three…

Speaking Types and Strategies Storytelling Selected use of compelling summary data Develop an emotional connection How will you combine them? What Tone will you use?

Presentation Tools Practice and visualize success. And practice. Prepare. Visit the venue and test the podium. Script the beginning. Talk to the audience, not the slides. Humor is good. Silliness is not. Don’t apologize! The TEDx Speakers Guide: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_speaker_guide.pdf

Presentation Rules Turn off your Email, mute your phone Parallel structures stress central messages Simple colors and graphics – NO eye charts! Pictures on LEFT. Consistent graphical structure The Guy Kawasaki 10-20-30 Rule 32 point type Edward Tufte: Envisioning Information and Visual Explanations Jacob Nielsen: Designing Web Usability

Developing a Presentation Activity! Developing a Presentation Convince us of something in 30 seconds

Physical Aspects Theme: You’re just another poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more

Physical Aspects of Speaking Topics Controlling Emotions Preparing to speak Voice, cadence, gestures, timing

Controlling Emotions Did you not Plan Ahead and Practice?? Exercises to loosen your muscles Prepare the first 10 seconds Remember: People are always watching you. No one wants you to fail out there

Preparing to Speak Your appearance is part of your ‘Brand’ Be an enthusiastic presenter! Behind the podium or walking around? Be yourself and connect. End on time.

Voice, Cadence, Gestures, Timing Speak slowly and clearly Facial expressiveness! Good talks have rhythms and structure Props are OK but should have purpose Gestures help relax and communicate

Physical Aspects of Speaking Activity! Physical Aspects of Speaking Describe something visual

The SUCCES strategy for ‘stickiness’ Simple – short and deep messages are the best Unexpected – uncommon sense sticks Concrete – concrete images leave impressions Credible – a true message, not just spin Emotional – help people feel things Stories – mental flight simulation Learn how to tie your shoes…

Thanks! Questions?