Preparing and Delivering Impactful & Effective Presentations Dr Gita Subrahmanyam, TLC Dr Kate Daubney, Careers Service

Overview Who we are and what we’ll do today Poor & good presentations Getting it right….for you Practice doing it Feedback & discussion What have we learnt?

What makes a presentation poor? What makes a presentation good?

Getting off to a good start – planning Decide on the aim of the presentation Consider your target audience Think about timing Where will you be presenting Plan what you want to say and how you want to say it Will you use visual aids & handouts How will you handle questions?

Constructing your presentation Begin with aims and objectives – what key information do you want to communicate? Ensure a logical structure – from introduction through body and conclusion Tailor to your audience (language, level of content, scope/depth) Use visual aids & handouts Be aware of time allocated for talk

Visual aids & handouts Calculate number of slides on the basis of one slide for every 3 minutes of presentation Don’t over-design your slide template Use handouts for detailed information like tables/graphs to supplement slide

Communicating effectively Don’t just dive into the body of your talk Grab attention - answer the question “why should we listen to you?” Start with a summary – the key information you want them to leave with Most important information first – don’t build up to it Don’t try to cover too much (3-point rule) Summarise key points at the end

Practice Plan, prepare then practice! Timing Using visual aids and other tools Flow Does it achieve what you want it to Front of mirror, practice partner/s, video

Pre-presentation tips Make sure you dress suitably Prepare for contingencies ( , memory stick, OHPs, handouts) Arrive in plenty of time Familiarise yourself with any equipment you’re using Ask for changes to room/equipment if needed

Giving the presentation Introduce yourself Start strong Eye contact Voice - volume, tone and variation Energy but no fidgeting Finish strong

Dealing with nerves Some nerves are good for performance Beyond this – what are your fears? If real – deal If imagined – get real Practice, practice, practice

Handling questions For long multi-part questions jot down key words to remind you what they asked – but LISTEN It is fine to take a moment to make a note to remind you of what to say in response Don’t see questions as criticism. Keep calm, respond positively Try to anticipate (and encourage) questions and prepare for them

Now lets try it! 5-minute presentations and feedback Suggestions ON feedback: –Balance negative with positive comments –Use examples to illustrate points made –Learn lessons from others by personalising feedback from others’ talks

To summarise……. What have we learnt? What will you do to build on this session? Any unanswered questions?