CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – DECEMBER 29, 2021
PRESENTATION SKILLS
Structuring the Information
A great presentation will be crafted in a simple and logical format that allows your audience to keep pace with you and retain key points of your message. Having a natural flow to your presentation will help you remain calm, stay on topic and avoid awkward silence. Keep in mind that the aim of your presentation is to educate and inspire.
When structuring the flow of your presentation, keep in mind the 3 A’s: Audience, Aim, Afterwards
- What do you know about your audience?
- Your audience should determine the content and approach of your presentation
- Find out what they know; use their words and terms
- A group of youth interested in entrepreneurship won’t experience the same presentation as a group of senior entrepreneurs
- Ask yourself this question: “What is the aim of my presentation? What do I want the audience to do after my presentation?”
- Referring to this question as you build your presentation will help you stay on track and focused
- What will they learn?
- Referring to this question as you build your presentation will help you stay on track and focused
- What happens afterwards? What outcomes should be expected?
- What changes in the workplace should occur?
- Who will implement these changes?
- What changes in the workplace should occur?
Researching, Writing, and Editing
Compiling data to create a compelling presentation will require some planning.
Researching: The needs analysis has likely produced much of the supporting content required to build the program. However, if information gaps exist, return to your subject matter experts and ask them questions.
- What are the department needs?
- What are some problems your department is experiencing?
- How long has this been a problem?
- What would indicate to you that the problem has been solved?
Writing: Brainstorming will allow you to organize the information you’ve gathered intoa template so your material is consistent from the beginning. Break each module into reasonably spaced segments based on the total time available for the presentation. When writing, aim for brevity. The more you say, the less the audience remembers.
Make sure to validate your finalized content before you move on to editing.
Editing: As you edit, write for the ear, not for the eyes. If possible, limit the outline to 5 main ideas. Make sure sentences are twenty words or less and only convey one thought. Use simple, familiar words. Make sure that you have provided the definitions of any terms important to the learning experience. Try to be creative with your module titles to capture the audience’s attention.
Presentation – Basic Outline
Much like a well written essay, a well-prepared presentation will flow from one idea to the next. Once you’ve completed the template and established which direction to take your presentation in, you can use the following outline to ensure an engaging, and concise presentation:
- Greeting: Introduce yourself, or have someone else do it. State who you are and your relevant background
- Introduction: Explain the subject matter and the purpose of the presentation:
- Issues and challenges being explored
- Statement of goals and outcomes
- Length of session
- Direct audience when to ask questions (freely or at designated times)
- Provide a presentation agenda or other materials
- Main Body: Here is where you deliver on your promise to cover issues and challenges that need to be addressed
- Break information into segments
- Provide evidence for your argument
- Link each segment so that flow is consistent and understandable
- Conclusion: This is your chance to reinforce the message and clarify the overall purpose of the presentation
- Signal the audience that your presentation is nearly over
- Offer a brief recap of what was covered
- Ask for questions from the audience
- Thank them for their time
