2. EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION SKILLS The medium and the message Public Health Officer training day Monday 6 November 2000 Janet Jones Learning Centre University of Sydney

3. Outline 1. Points for reflection   An Overview of your Presentation   The Delivery Mode   The Defence   Visual Aids 2. The Practice

4. An overview of your presentation Checklist:   why have I chosen this topic?   why is it important / interesting?   what are the consequences of present practice?   what could be the consequences of improved practice?   what was done about this practice in the past?   what has been written about it?   are there any gaps in the research literature about it?

5. Checklist   what are my specific aims / objectives/ hypotheses in this project?   are they realistic? - what can I achieve? what can’t I achieve?   how can I achieve my aims?   has anyone else used the same methodology?   has it any limitations?   could there be any practical problems?   what do I expect my results to show?   are there any issues I can highlight for my audience?   what areas of my topic am I happy to discuss?   what areas of my topic would I prefer NOT to discuss ?

6. The Delivery Mode (1) make yourself comfortable (1) make yourself comfortable (2) make your audience comfortable (2) make your audience comfortable What are the differences between written academic language (the language of your paper) and spoken language?

7. Effective oral presentation skills: The medium and the message PERFORMANCE OR CONTENT  Most (93%) of the impact of your communication is made by your voice and body language.  In preparation and rehearsal we spend most of the time on the remaining 7% i.e. the content. YOU THE PERFORMER  You are probably unaware from the physical and vocal habits that detract from your performance.  You are probably unaware of your strengths as a presenter.  Even when you have identified and acknowledged these habits they are very difficult to change.  The greatest strength you have as a presenter is your individuality.

8. Voice and Body Matters  40% of the impact of communication comes from the quality and power of the voice.  We restrict and constrict our voice in many different parts of the body: toes curl knees lock buttocks tighten hip sockets become rigid stomach muscles pull in and prevent diaphragm from expanding and contracting ribs are held tight shoulder blades stiffen upper chest freezes neck tightens jaw locks tongue bunches forehead clenches

9. Written Text Spoken Text (1)It is generally held that dietary factors can influence the risk of cardiovascular disease and there is a growing perception that such factors may operate not only on blood lipid levels but also on the haemostatic system. However to date, the specific dietary factors and mechanisms are not well understood and opinions conflict. (1) Most people believe that that dietary factors can influence the risk of cardiovascular disease and increasingly, experts believe that such factors may operate not only on blood lipid levels but also on the haemostatic system. But so far, we don’t really understand the specific dietary factors and mechanisms involved and expert opinion is conflicting. (2)Most of us believe that what we eat can influence the risk of heart disease, and increasingly, experts belive that things in our diet may affect not only our blood lipid levels, which are…., but also the haemostatic system, which is….. But so far, we don’t really understand actually, which factors in our diet, and how these work. Also, the experts can’t agree either!

10. Adjust language for talk for   the level of technical language   the complexity of word groups   the level of impersonal language   the level of formal and abstract language

11. What does this mean for your delivery mode? POSITION closest to closest to written text conversation DELIVERYread from speak without MODEwritten paper notes Strategy:  decide where on the line you feel most comfortable  help yourself to relax

12. Strategies for making your audience comfortable   give your audience a plan and follow it   make the main points very clear, use verbal signals and emphasis   get your timing right (practice with a tape recorder and identify some sections that are not vital to your talk towards the end - you can leave them out if you have to. Not the conclusion!   relate to your audience: body language, eye contact, interaction   use appropriate visual aids to support your message

13. The Defence Strategies (1) During your presentation avoid very strong statements or claims ‘The use of seatbelts prevents physical injuries in car accidents.’ ‘According to this study, the use of seatbelts can often reduce the risk of serious physical injuries in many car accidents.’ ‘According to this study, the use of seatbelts can often reduce the risk of serious physical injuries in many car accidents.’ distance yourself from the data use a modaluse a weaker verb limit the frequency not all injuries! not all car accidents!

14. (2) Be open and realistic (yet positive!) about any limitations or problems with your study. ‘Although there were problems with the control of variables, the study showed that this direction of inquiry is capable of revealing some interesting trends....’ (3) Control your audience in the discussion: open and closed questions. ‘Are there any questions?’ you have tiven your audience an open invitation to ask you anything, and they will probably ask the very questions you find most difficult to answer ‘Would you like more information about my sample?’ you feel on safe ground about your sample and you have already noticed signs of enthusiasm in your audience when you mentioned it earlier ‘Probably the most interesting issues coming out of my research are.............. I wonder if anyone would like to comment?’ you are ready for anything in these areas - they are the highlights