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Candi Frazier, Senior Associate Director, West Virginia University JoAnn Ross, Director, West Virginia State University WVASFAA 2 Developing Your Presentation Style

Facts & Figures WVASFAA 3 #1 fear – 75% have speech anxiety Longest & deadliest inaugural speech – William Henry Harrison Shortest inaugural speech – George Washington Long speech on record – Ajay Shesh from May , 2015 – 60 hours and 29 minutes

Fearful speaker strategies  End speech as soon as possible or hurrying through the content  Hurrying interferes with breathing  Breathing in short, shallow manner  Holding your breath  Avoid any pauses or interruptions  Avoid eye contact with the audience  Prevents speaker from noticing any audience reactions  Unable to identify when someone has a question  Decreases the ability to connect  Speaker will then focus on his/herself and his/her thoughts are generally more negative and unrealistic WVASFAA 4

5 STRATEGIES, TACTICS & TIPS

IMAGINE YOU ARE THE AUDIENCE WVASFAA 6

Don’t Imagine this….. WVASFAA 7

Or this….. WVASFAA 8

Instead….. ◦What would grab and keep your attention? ◦What would stimulate your thoughts? ◦What would develop and enhance your understanding of the subject matter? WVASFAA 9

BECOME AN EXPERT IN THE SUBJECT ◦Knowledge is key – credible source ◦Stay up to date and current The best way to sound like you know what you're talking about is to know what you're talking about. ~Author Unknown WVASFAA 10

WVASFAA 11 DELIVERY Engage with audience members beforehand Relax – don’t clinch the podium Shaky knees? Bend one knee

WVASFAA 12 DELIVERY  For heaven’s sake ---breathe!!!! Take a few deep breaths before you start Build in pauses  Use verbal and non-verbal communication Pitch, volume, pace and enunciation Use gestures - open and “drawing in” Visual aids

DELIVERY Make initial verbal contact Be enthusiastic Try to relate to your audience WVASFAA 13

WVASFAA 14 DELIVERY Make eye contact Avoid reading Use humor when appropriate

WVASFAA 15 DELIVERY Move around Allow time for interaction Ask questions – ones that require audience feedback and rhetorical ones Do breakouts when appropriate

WVASFAA 16 WHAT IF YOU MESS UP?  It happens to everyone  Don’t be hard on yourself  Prepare when it does  Have sayings that give you an opportunity to get back on track:  “Not sure where that came from”  “Give me a moment to gain my thoughts”  “I’ve lost my place….

WVASFAA 17 PRACTICE  Increases comfort level  Hearing your voice filling a room  Pronunciations of words  Test different volumes, pitches and paces  Helps you avoid drifting off

WVASFAA 18 RECORD YOURSELF  Identify ways to improve  Involuntary nervous stressors Twirlers Ummmmers Drinkers Pacers Tickers You know what I meaners

WVASFAA 19 IMITATE A MODEL PRESENTER  Write down words said that peaked your interest  How do they engage their audience?  How do they handle body language?  How do they handle blunders?

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WVASFAA 21 QUESTIONS? There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave. - Dale Carnegie