POWERPOINT PRESENTATION SKILLS

Prepared by :

MER JAYESH

130210125068

PROD B

GEC BHAVNAGAR

Keys to a Successful Presentation Know your Audience Make it Clear! The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty

Pictures Prepare & Practice Zzzzzz … How You Say it Matters Not Compatible? Closure

Know Your Audience• In your field - can jump in with brief background; non-experts

- need more set-up

• Purpose of your talk (Convince? Update? Teach?)

• Communicate with your audience

* size matters

* formal vs. discussion format

• Convey your enthusiasm about your work

• Don’t talk over their heads; don’t talk down to them

Make it Clear - StructureOUTLINE FIRST!!

Controls number of slides & provides balance

- Budget 2-3 minutes/slide (e.g. 30’ talk = 10-15 slides)

Have one story to tell:

- decide on underlying issue to be addressed

- divide into logical, heirarchical subquestions

- talk should be series of answers to these questions

Zoom-In (intro) and Zoom-Out (closure)

Make it Clear - Concept• Style & format - use color to highlight & organize

- be consistent (audience knows where to look)

• Read through presentation and see if main points stand-out - Heading = WHAT or HOW

- Summary statement = CONCLUSION

• “Speaker Support” - It doesn’t carry you -- you are the focus

- It supports your message

Make it Clear - Don’t Lose ‘em

Frustrate your audience & you lose them!

Science talk vs. murder mystery -- don’t keep you’re audience hanging!

Know the fuzzy borders between experimental evidence and speculation (affects how you formulate your sentences)

One concept per slide - cluster examples rather than moving through series too quickly

Make sure you can be heard!

The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures

• Clear title

• Highlight particular areas/words

• Don’t crowd with too much info

• Give credit where credit due

- reference published data; borrowed figures

The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures

Show bad

showing a lot of unreadable info “for effect” - bad!

if it can’t be read -- it’s a waste & it annoys audience

The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures

Show bad

The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures

GOOD

(some showmanship here)

The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures

GOOD

Use one of Jen’s figure slides color-coded parts, etc.

Prepare & Practice

Timing (how many slides & length of talk)

Memorize intro and first few lines

Beware of overpracticing

* Don’t memorize entire talk -- stiff & BORING!!

* 1X = 10-fold improvement

* 2X = twice as good

* 3X = polish

Zzzzzz …• Talk to your audience (eye

contact, conversational style)

• Engage your audience by asking questions

• Keep it interesting: - share interesting tidbits

- give unique examples/analogies

- humor disturbs slumber

• Tiny type kills (use at least 18 point font ... ?)

If you’re bored, you’re audience is snoring!

How You Say it Matters

VERBAL SKILLS

• Slow down!

• Don’t read your slides - use as cues

• Vary voice tone (conversational)

• Genuine enthusiasm

• SPEAK-UP

BODY LANGUAGE

• Eye contact

• Stand straight - breathe

• Don’t overgesture with pointer, etc.

• Face your audience

Not Compatible?

Ask ahead of time what equipment provided:

- overhead projector vs. Powerpoint

What format used:

- PC vs. Mac?

What type of disk acceptable:

- floppy vs. Zip 100, Zip 250?

Emergency back-ups:

- overheads

- handouts

Closure• Summary of conclusions

• Zoom-out (relevance or application of your work)

• Next steps (if appropriate)

• Acknowledgements

Scientific Talks - Summary

1. Know your audience & their needs

2. Tell them a clear story developing each point upon the previous

3. Show them the evidence (sharp figures)

4. Keep them awake by engaging them

5. Give them great delivery -- prepare, practice & SPEAK-UP!

6. Share your enthusiasm for your work

7. Sell your message with a strong summary of conclusions

Most importantly - Have Fun!

THANK YOU