Making Oral Presentations › Downloads › LAP-CO-025-Scolor Well Said.pdfPCOSP M BA esearch and Curriculum Center® Well Said!5 Brian, an electrical engineer, is scheduled to speak

LAP-CO-025-SP © 2017, MBA Research and Curriculum Center® Well Said! 1

Describe characteristics of effective oral presentations.

Objectives

LAPLeadership, Attitude, Performance...making learning pay!Communication Skills LAP 25 Performance Indicator: CO:025 Student Guide

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Making Oral Presentations

Well Said! The Power of Speech

Demonstrate oral presentation skills.

Time To Talk

Why bother learning about making oral presentations?

What would you do?

Table of Contents

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Donovan hates making presen-tations. In fact, even thinking about giving a presentation in front of his classmates, coworkers, or friends makes his stomach queasy and his hands sweaty. Through the years, his teachers have told him that he needs to develop his speaking skills to be successful in life, but Justin hopes to just avoid anything that re-quires speaking in public.

Recently, when it was time for his soccer team to elect a captain, Justin’s team-mates chose him because they admire the courage and confidence he shows on the field. Justin was flattered, but the thought of giving pre- and post-game talks terrified him, so he turned down the position. At tonight’s game, though, as Justin listened to the team’s new captain give a pep talk, he realized that all of his teachers were right about learning to speak in public. Because he hasn’t listened to them and developed his speaking skills, he missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—to serve as his team’s captain and leader.

The Power of Speech

F.E.A.R. Forget Everything And Run! Is this the reaction you have when you are

asked to deliver an oral presentation? If so, you’re not alone. It is said that most

people fear public speaking more than death. However, what you actually fear is

failure. No, it’s worse than that—you fear failing in front of others!

The fear of failure holds people back from achieving many things in life, and the

fear of public speaking is no different. The fear of speaking in front of others

might prevent you from auditioning for a play, serving as a team leader, or get-

ting involved in student organizations. Fear can severely limit your opportunities

in life. What’s the best way to overcome F.E.A.R.? Face Everything And Rise!

LAP-CO-025-SP © 2017, MBA Research and Curriculum Center®

Learning how to present effectively can increase your self-confidence and help you develop leadership skills.

KatarzynaBialasiewicz/iStock/Thinkstock


iStock/Thinkstock

TedEd’s animation “The science of stage fright” explains the rationale for this irrational fear and how to

overcome it: http://blog.ted.com/required-watching-for-any-ted-speaker-the-science-of-stage-fright/.

Learning how to give effective presentations

will empower you to succeed in class and par-

ticipate in school activities. Possessing the

ability to give presentations with confidence

will help you earn higher grades and triumph in

your student organization’s competitive events.

Imagine how a higher G.P.A. and involvement

in school activities could help you win college

scholarships and gain the respect of your class-

mates, family, and teachers! Donovan Livings-

ton is a great example of success achieved

through the power of speech. His inspirational

2016 Harvard graduation address “Lift Off”

about the importance of knowledge and free-

dom went viral almost immediately: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eUl4gF0ED4.

Taking advantage of opportunities to develop good presentation skills is a smart move that can help you achieve more in the classroom and prepare you for success in the future.

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Good presentation skills can also help you succeed in job interviews—allowing you to share your personal strengths and skills with

confidence. The ability to communicate is highly valued by employers and very important in many careers. While teachers, lawyers,

and sales representatives make frequent presentations, accountants, financial analysts, engineers, and IT employees are also often

required to explain complex material to other coworkers, managers, and owners. Your first job might not require you to explain the

structure of a new building or the benefits of a new computer program, but you might have to share information about products or

services with customers. “Would you like to hear about our specials today?”

Entrepreneurs and business owners need good communication skills to explain ideas to employees, clients, partners, and investors.

Imagine yourself as a successful young business owner explaining the value of your startup at a local chamber of commerce meet-

ing. The Forbes article, “An Entrepreneur Overcomes Paralyzing Stage Fright…” tells the story of Adam Braun, a young man who

developed his speaking skills to achieve his goal of building schools in developing countries: http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegal-

lo/2014/03/28/make-your-life-a-story-worth-telling/#36e780b21a29.

The ability to communicate can help you effectively interact with customers and succeed in your job.

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Brian, an electrical engineer, is scheduled to speak at a trade conference about the copper-clad cables that his company produces. His speech is a highlight of the conference because the entire industry anticipates that the cables will eliminate common installa-tion problems.

However, Brian recently discovered an independent study by a consumer group regarding the potential of the cables to pose a fire hazard. Brian is surprised by the group’s research findings because he knows that his company, as well as numerous other orga-nizations, ran extensive tests on the new cable design. The consumer group is well known and respected in his industry, though, and Brian wonders if its researchers discovered a design flaw that his company and others overlooked.

Unfortunately, Brian relied on information from his company and trade association publications to create his speech, and he doesn’t have time to conduct more research before the conference. Should he give his talk as planned? Should he give his talk and mention the consumer report? Should he decline to speak? What’s the most ethical thing to do?


Good communication skills can also help you succeed in your personal life. The ability to explain your thoughts and feelings can help

you develop stronger relationships with coaches, family, and friends. The ability to speak at a friend’s wedding or prepare a eulogy

for a loved one is a skill that is highly respected and appreciated by friends and family members present at those special events.

What’s the Purpose?

Think for a moment about a leadership conference, a career development conference, or any other conference or convention that

you’re familiar with. The conference is likely to include several different types of sessions: an entertaining opening session, informa-

tive lectures, training sessions, etc. Some are for fun, some are designed to teach you something, and some

may even attempt to change your thinking about a certain concept or idea. Why? Because different oral

presentations have different purposes: to inform, to persuade, or to entertain.

• To Inform

Have you ever shared something interesting you learned or helped a friend use new features on his/her smartphone? You were informing! When speakers share knowledge and skills, their purpose is to inform. Teachers and coaches are two professions that often give informative presentations. Effective informative presentations use organization and repetition to help the audience remember the material. Good presentations also incorporate language and examples that the audience can understand. If you’ve ever taught a grandparent how to use a new app, you probably used simple instructions. Melissa Marshall’s TedTalk, “Talk nerdy to me,” explains the importance of sharing complex material with simple, effective examples: https://www.ted.com/talks/melissa_marshall_talk_nerdy_to_me.

Coaches regularly instruct and demonstrate skills to improve their players’ performance.

Well Said! 6Well Said! 6

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https://www.ted.com/talks/melissa_marshall_talk_nerdy_to_me


• To Persuade

Have you ever tried to convince a friend or a relative to quit an unhealthy habit? You were persuading! Persuasion is often used by political candidates to convince voters to accept their views on topics like health care or national security. Persuasion is also frequently used by sales professionals when explaining the benefits of the products and services they offer. When we challenge others to consider and accept new ideas or to take action, we are using persuasion.

• To Entertain

Told your friends a joke or a funny story lately? You’ve been entertaining! Entertaining speeches, given to amuse or inspire, usually occur at special events like weddings or award ceremonies. The best entertaining presentations contain a message, not just unrelated humor and jokes. Speakers are often tempted to “wing it” on special occasions because they know the audience members very well, but that approach often leads to a boring or embarrassing story. It is important to honor the occasion by creating a thoughtful, organized message that all the guests can enjoy. “How to Give a Great Wedding Speech” by Tailored Fit provides tips on how to prepare a celebratory message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r46amqjpWgg.

When a friend prepares a thoughtful message for a special occasion like a wedding, all the guests appreciate his effort.

Creatas/Creatas/Thinkstock


Some presentations have more than one purpose. An informative speech, for instance, may include a joke or funny story to

make a point, and persuasive presenters often provide information to support their arguments. Watch “Underwater astonish-

ments,” one of the most popular TedTalks on the Web, for a great example of a presentation with multiple purposes. How does

the presenter inform us of new discoveries in an entertaining way? https://www.ted.com/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_

astonishments?language=en.

Characteristics of Effective Presentations

Presentations can take place in a variety of different places: in school, in the workplace, or even in social settings—and they can do

many different things, including create curiosity in a subject, teach us how to do something new, or inspire us to think and act dif-

ferently. Regardless of the purpose or situation, though, effective presentations possess certain common characteristics:

• Effective presentations create a positive image.

Successful presenters make a positive impression by showing respect for the audience and occasion. One element of creating this positive image is dressing appropriately for the event. For example, if you’re asked to speak at your school’s graduation ceremony, you should wear business, professional-looking attire. Plus, dressing well can increase a speaker’s personal confidence—if s/he looks good, s/he probably feels good, too. Another aspect of creating a positive image includes preparing a thoughtful, timely message that interests the audience. After all, would you listen to a presenter who is using outdated material or reading from his/her notes or slides? Lastly, successful presenters create a positive image by arriving prepared. Speakers who plan their presentations are more confident and much less likely to make a mistake while on the stage. The Forbes’s article “How Steve Jobs Made Presentations Look Effortless” describes the tremendous time Jobs spent preparing his famous talks: http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2015/03/26/how-steve-jobs-made-presentations-look-effortless/#18fcb24a458a.

https://www.ted.com/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments?language=en

http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2015/03/26/how-steve-jobs-made-presentations-look-effortless/#18fcb24a458a


• Effective presentations present a clear message.

Effective presentations contain an organized message that is audible and easily understood. The purpose of the presentation should be clear to the audience. For example, is information being presented? Is the speaker sharing a view or opinion for the audience to consider? Or is the message simply an entertaining one to be enjoyed? Every part of the presentation should support the message and complement each other. In addition, presenters should provide examples and logical arguments to express and support their main ideas.

Asking and encouraging questions is a great way for a speaker to connect with audience members and keep them engaged in the message being shared.

• Effective presentations engage and connect with the audience.

Effective presenters create interest in their message by speaking with confidence and energy—in short, by demonstrating passion! Effective speakers create curiosity and interest by asking the audience questions and explaining how the information will benefit them. Speakers who share personal experiences that the audience can relate to also create an audience connection that leads to trust—trust that the speaker knows what s/he is talking about. For a great example of a speaker engaging an audience, watch JD Schramm’s TedTalk, “Break the silence for suicide attempt survivors”: http://www.ted.com/talks/jd_schramm?language=en.

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LAP-CO-025-SP © 2017, MBA Research and Curriculum Center® Well Said! 10Well Said! 10

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• Effective presentations have great beginnings and endings.

The best presentations have irresistible openings that excite the audience and create curiosity about the subject. Interesting stories, shocking statistics, thoughtful questions, and inspirational quotes are just a few ways a speaker can gain her/his audience’s attention. An introduction is also a great place to identify the main topics that will be covered.

Great presentations also have dynamic endings. The presenter might conclude by summarizing the main points covered, finishing a story s/he began with, or leaving the audience with a thought-provoking remark inspiring listeners to act or think differently. The Cambridge University Press video “How to open and close presentations” offers tips on how to bookend your talk with a strong opening and closing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl_FJAOcFgQ.

• Effective presentations include impactful nonverbal communication.

Effective speakers demonstrate confidence with a relaxed posture, and they engage the audience by establishing eye contact. They use facial expressions and gestures to visually express ideas, feelings, and attitudes, along with well-placed pauses that give listeners time to reflect on the information being shared. Lastly, they use purposeful movement toward the audience and to different areas of the room or stage to maintain their audience’s attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl_FJAOcFgQ


• Effective presentations incorporate visual aids that complement the message.

Visual aids or props should be eye catching and add value to a presentation, but they should not detract from the speaker or the message. For example, a speaker talking about bizarre fashions and wearing an outrageous outfit might be too distracting to the audience! Charts, graphs, and other visual aids should be simple and only shown when the speaker is presenting related information. PowerPoint slides are a popular visual aid choice, although creating a slideshow that supports rather than undermines your presentation can sometimes be a challenge. Another option available to you are photographs, which can engage an audience visually and evoke strong emotions. When describing a hurricane, for instance, a presenter could share images of the storm to emphasize its power and destructive force.

David Phillip’s TedTalk, “How to avoid death by Power-Point,” explains techniques for creating effective slides and avoiding information overload and boredom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwpi1Lm6dFo.

Effective speakers show visual aids when sharing related information and keep their focus on the audience.

Purestock/Thinkstock


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwpi1Lm6dFo


Summary

Learning how to give effective presentations can help you to succeed in

class; participate in school activities; do well in job interviews; and explain

things clearly to customers, employees, clients, partners, and investors. A

presentation’s purpose can be to inform, persuade, or entertain. Effective

presentations create a positive image, present a clear message, engage

and connect with the audience, have great beginnings and endings, include

impactful nonverbal communication, and incorporate visual aids that

complement the message.

1. Why are oral presentation skills important to develop?

2. What are the three main purposes of oral presentations?

3. Describe three characteristics of effective presentations.


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Time To Talk

Does giving a presentation make you feel nervous? Do your

palms sweat and does your heart race? Don’t worry—it happens

to the best of us! Even professional presenters get the jitters.

In fact, feeling nervous can actually increase your energy and

help you focus. Just before making your presentation, take

some deep breaths to relax and remind yourself that you are

ready and will do great. Visualize yourself confidently deliver-

ing the message you have prepared and follow these steps

for success!

Make a Good First Impression

You’ll never have a second chance to make a

good first impression, so be sure to start your

presentation right. Calmly approach the stage

or podium where you will present and take a

moment to arrange your notes and materials.

Then, look at the audience and smile, but don’t

rush in to your speech. Instead, pause and give

the audience a moment to realize that you are

ready to begin, as well as time to focus their

attention on you.


Aleutie/iStock/Thinkstock


Make Eye Contact

Look at the audience whenever possible, rather than stare at your notes or the back of the room. To establish a

connection with audience members and make them feel as if you are talking directly to them, make eye contact

with individuals around the room. If bright stage lights make it difficult to see the audience, still pretend as if you

can see them.

Make the Audience Want to Listen

A truly effective oral presentation makes the audience want to listen to the speaker and understand the speaker’s

message. To grab the audience’s attention, start your presentation with an engaging story, shocking statistics,

thought-provoking questions, or even a survey. A humorous story, for instance,

can help both you and your audience to relax. An interactive electronic

survey for audience members to answer, on the other

hand, can help you better understand how

much the audience knows already about

your topic. Regardless of what approach

you take, be sure to end your introduction

by explaining the purpose of your

presentation and how your information

will benefit the audience.

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Many speakers engage their audience through the use of electronic surveys.

AndreyPopov/iStock/Thinkstock


Monitor Your Speech

The way that you speak makes just as much of an impact on audience members as what you say. Speak clearly,

articulate properly, and be sure to pronounce your words correctly. Ask yourself: Are you using inflection to create

variety in your voice? Can the people in the back of the room hear you? Are you speaking at a good pace, not too fast

or too slow? Adjust your tone, volume, or pace if necessary. Also make sure that you are not reading from your notes

or robotically sharing memorized material, which will quickly bore your audience. Speak with confidence and energy

to create interest in your message, and don’t forget to use well-timed pauses to give the audience an opportunity to

reflect on information you have shared. Josh Brewer’s fun video “Tips on Giving Oral Presentations” offers more help-

ful advice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKOO99UjsSE.

Share Your Message

Now’s the time to deliver the presentation that you prepared. Share your knowledge, research, and arguments with

confidence. If you aren’t sure about your message, your audience won’t be, either. Be open and honest with the audi-

ence, and share personal examples with sincerity. Also remember who your audience is and what they care about.

If you are speaking to parents, for example, remember the love and concern they have for their children.

On the flip side, if you’re speaking to clients, remember they are typically concerned about getting

the highest quality goods and services at the lowest price.

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Check for Understanding

Next, make sure that the audience is following your presentation. Look for clues that audience members are paying

attention and understand your message. For example, are they looking at you? Are they nodding their heads in agree-

ment? Are they smiling or laughing when you share humorous details? These are clues that they are engaged in your

message. If you feel you have lost your audience, pause briefly to regain their attention or adjust your message by

sharing additional information or examples.

Use Effective Nonverbal Communication

You should use your body—as well as your words—to share your message. Your facial expressions, hand gestures, and

other movements say a lot. For instance, you can use your hands to capture your audience’s attention and convey

meaning. You can also move toward the audience or to different parts of the stage or room to create emphasis and

interact with your audience. If you have the audience members’ attention, they will follow you with their eyes. On the

other hand, you should avoid distracting gestures and actions such as holding onto the podium, tapping your fingers, or

twisting your hair. Doing so adds nothing to your presentation; in fact, doing these things can make you appear nervous.

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When speakers use their hands to add meaning to a message, they keep the audience focused.

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Use Visual Aids Effectively

If you are using visual aids, use them in a smooth and non-distracting

way to keep the focus on your message. Visual aids should enhance your

presentation, not become it. If the audience is too busy reading informa-

tion, they may forget to listen to you. And if you read your visual aids or

slides word-for-word to the audience, you can rapidly lose the audience

members’ attention. As you advance your slides, glance at them quickly to

verify you’re on the right frame and point if necessary, but don’t block the

audience’s view. If you experience technical difficulty during your presen-

tation, don’t stop or apologize. Ask for help and then proceed with another

portion of your presentation. In such a situation, you may also decide that

you don’t need your visual aids at all and continue your presentation with-

out them. Either way, your audience will appreciate you for handling the

problem with confidence and proceeding with the presentation.

Conclude Your Talk

Finish your talk by summarizing your main points, especially if the ma-

terial is complex. If you began with a story, finish it now. Doing so will

create a unified message that is easier for your audience to retain. If you

are trying to convince audience members to adopt an idea or opinion,

challenge them to take action. What should they do? For example, if you

gave a presentation on improving their health, what action (such as get-

ting eight hours of sleep or eating more vegetables) should they take?

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Using visual aids can enhance a presentation and keep the audience engaged.

g-stockstudio/iStock/Thinkstock


Field Questions

After concluding your presentation, invite the audience to ask questions. Audience members may have questions

about information you shared. Given the amount of research that you likely did prior to your presentation, you will

probably know the answers to their questions. And if you don’t, there’s no reason to feel embarrassed or apologize.

Simply say you don’t know, or suggest a resource they can consult for more information.

Enjoy Your Success

Thank your audience, and exit the stage. You did it! You presented! You should be proud of yourself. Even if you feel

the performance didn’t go as well as you would have liked, recognize you’ve done a difficult thing and congratulate

yourself.

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Continue to Develop Your Skill

Once you give a successful oral presentation, you may find you really enjoy it. To continue to develop this important

skill, practice giving presentations whenever you have the opportunity. Offer to share ideas in class and social set-

tings. Audition for a play, or join a school organization where you will have opportunities to engage with other stu-

dents. You may even want to consider attending a TEDYouth event where professional speakers share their skills and

give you opportunities to participate as well. For more on TEDYouth events, go to: http://www.ted.com/attend/confer-

ences/special-events/tedyouth.

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A Final Note: Impromptu Presentations

Sometimes you may be asked to speak without any chance to prepare! For example, your coach might ask you to make remarks

before your best friend is presented an award, or your club advisor might suddenly ask you to introduce a guest speaker at your

next meeting. You may not have much time to prepare, but it’s still important to create a meaningful and appropriate message. You

could write a few thoughts down on paper, or type and store a note

on your phone. Talking about your best friend should be easy, but

make sure you keep your remarks short and avoid any potentially

embarrassing stories you might regret telling later. Your friend’s

best traits or accomplishments would be a good place to start. On

the other hand, if you’re asked to introduce a guest speaker, you

could do a quick Google search to learn more about him/her, or you

could ask your advisor (or even the guest speaker!) for background

information. When it’s time to present, speak clearly, establish eye

contact, and connect with the audience. “Impromptu Speaking” by

Toastmasters gives tips for unplanned presentations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GefKPy5YYHI.

http://www.ted.com/attend/conferences/special-events/tedyouth


Summary

To give an effective presentation, you should make a good

first impression; make eye contact; make the audience want

to listen; monitor your speech; share your message; check for

understanding; use effective nonverbal communication; use

visual aids effectively; conclude your talk; field questions; en-

joy your success; and continue to develop your skill. You never

know when you may be asked to make a presentation!

1. List the steps to follow when making a presentation.

2. Explain the importance of using effective nonverbal communication.

Documents

Making Oral Presentations › Downloads › LAP-CO-025-Scolor Well Said.pdfPCOSP M BA esearch and Curriculum Center® Well Said!5 Brian, an electrical engineer, is scheduled to speak