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