How to make your presentations effective Dr. Codruţa Goşa

Aspects to consider and outline of this presentation Your audience Your audience Verbal aspects Verbal aspects Non-verbal aspects Non-verbal aspects Creating a good impression Creating a good impression Resorting to humour Resorting to humour Avoiding mannerisms Avoiding mannerisms The 4 P’s of effective presentations The 4 P’s of effective presentations Dealing with stress and anxiety Dealing with stress and anxiety What can annoy your audience and the signs What can annoy your audience and the signs

Your audience Who they are Who they are What their interests are What their interests are What they know What they know Why they are there Why they are there

Verbal aspects: the content The content of your presentation The content of your presentation Decide on the topic, if the case Decide on the topic, if the case Set your objectives (what you want your audience to think, feel and do) Set your objectives (what you want your audience to think, feel and do) Decide on the means to achieve your objectives Decide on the means to achieve your objectives Create your main (‘take-away’) message Create your main (‘take-away’) message Judge the duration (generally no more than 30 minutes) Judge the duration (generally no more than 30 minutes) Structure your presentation (the overview, the body, the summary) Structure your presentation (the overview, the body, the summary)

Verbal aspects: visual support Visuals: all the materials that can be seen both by you and by your audience Visuals: all the materials that can be seen both by you and by your audience Decide on why you need to use your visuals (clarity, interest, retention, credibility) Decide on why you need to use your visuals (clarity, interest, retention, credibility) Decide on the type of your visual aids (board, handouts, PowerPoint slides, videos, etc.) Decide on the type of your visual aids (board, handouts, PowerPoint slides, videos, etc.) Create user-friendly visual aids Create user-friendly visual aids

Non-verbal aspects Voice Voice Appearance Appearance Eye-contact Eye-contact Body language Body language

Creating a good impression Create an attention grabbing opening Create an attention grabbing opening Give some practical details: how long will your presentation last; when you will be taking questions Give some practical details: how long will your presentation last; when you will be taking questions Round up and thank them for listening to you Round up and thank them for listening to you

Resorting to humour Why? Why? It helps you connect It helps you connect It arouses interest It arouses interest It keeps attention It keeps attention It disarms hostility It disarms hostility It lightens up heavy material It lightens up heavy material It makes you more likeable It makes you more likeable

Resorting to humour But be aware: But be aware: Try not being offensive (culturally, racially, gender or individually) Try not being offensive (culturally, racially, gender or individually) Use it sparingly Use it sparingly It is better to use self-irony (it is the ‘safest’ sort of humour and it shows that you do not take yourself too seriously, feel superior to your audience, or in your case ‘soften’ your audience and provoke empathy) It is better to use self-irony (it is the ‘safest’ sort of humour and it shows that you do not take yourself too seriously, feel superior to your audience, or in your case ‘soften’ your audience and provoke empathy)

Avoiding mannerisms Mannerisms are particular habits, ways of speaking or behaving that people have but are not aware of Mannerisms are particular habits, ways of speaking or behaving that people have but are not aware of Mannerisms can turn out to be not only distracting and annoying, but they can also make the presenter look ‘silly’ Mannerisms can turn out to be not only distracting and annoying, but they can also make the presenter look ‘silly’ Ask friends and colleagues to help you spot them Ask friends and colleagues to help you spot them

The 4 P’s of effective presentations Plan Plan Prepare Prepare Practise Practise Perform Perform

Dealing with stress and anxiety Before the presentation Before the presentation Arrive early Arrive early Use tension-relaxing and deep breathing exercises Use tension-relaxing and deep breathing exercises Sip slowly on a (non-alcoholic drink) Sip slowly on a (non-alcoholic drink) While presenting While presenting Pick up a friendly face Pick up a friendly face Do not fear making mistakes Do not fear making mistakes Make your performance appear relaxed Make your performance appear relaxed

What can annoy your audience Apologising from the start Apologising from the start Lack of preparation Lack of preparation Inappropriate use of visuals Inappropriate use of visuals Inaudibility Inaudibility Bad time management Bad time management Absence of signposting Absence of signposting Deviation from the topic Deviation from the topic Showing off Showing off

What can annoy your audience: the signs Withdrawal of eye-contact Withdrawal of eye-contact Throat clearing, coughing and yawning Throat clearing, coughing and yawning Restlessness Restlessness

Concluding tips Prepare and practise: Prepare and practise: A strong opening A strong opening Know your subject Know your subject Clear key points/messages Clear key points/messages A logical flow A logical flow Credible evidence Credible evidence A memorable close A memorable close Handling your visuals Handling your visuals A clear voice A clear voice Keeping eye-contact Keeping eye-contact Body language Body language

My ‘take away’ message Presenting is like acting: know your part and play it well!

Your assessment portfolio Submission details Submission details By , By , In hard copy: , Time: In hard copy: , Time: Room 422 Room 422 Contents of your port.: Contents of your port.: Table of contents Table of contents Introduction Introduction One chapter of your choice (only for those who write the dissertation in English and do not have to translate the contents page and the intro.) One chapter of your choice (only for those who write the dissertation in English and do not have to translate the contents page and the intro.)

Criterii de evaluare Task achievement (contents): 3 marks Task achievement (contents): 3 marks Style and register: 1 mark Style and register: 1 mark Structure and organization: 1 mark Structure and organization: 1 mark Accuracy: 1 mark Accuracy: 1 mark