Making
an Oral Presentation
or
How
I Learned Not to Throw Up on my Audience
Who fears
public speaking?
- More
than 70 % of Americans surveyed
- 44%
rank it as “worst fear”
- Men
are slightly more likely than women to fear it
What makes
public speaking go wrong?
- #1
reason: lack of preparation
- #2
reason: presentation doesn’t suit the audience
- #3
reason: technical difficulties
- #4
reason: nerves
How to make
presentations go well
- Recognize
- Analyze
- Prepare
- Deliver
In other words….The
RAPD (Rapid) Method
Recognize
- What
is the purpose of the presentation—to inform, to persuade, to train, to
create an opportunity, etc.?
- Why
have you been selected to give the presentation—what special qualities
do you bring?
- When,
where, how and for how long will you have to present?
Analyze
- Who
is your audience?
- What
is his/her/their attitude toward your presentation?
- What
pre-knowledge and preconceptions will they bring?
- What
are their expectations?
- What
aren’t they expecting?
- How
can you get them involved?
Prepare
- Investigate
physical setting
- Investigate
technology
- Plan
and organize content
- Determine
delivery strategy
- Prepare
props, handouts, cue cards, slides
- REHEARSE
and REHEARSE and REHEARSE!
Deliver
- Know
how to set up
- Engage
audience early and often
- Use
gesture to reinforce content points
- Don’t
overuse slides, props, handouts
- Anticipate
questions and address them properly
- Use
blueprints to reinforce memory