Oral Presentation for Oral Presentation for EngineersEngineers

SUCCESS = Good ContentSUCCESS = Good Content + Practice+ Practice+Experience+Experience

Doing It LIVEDoing It LIVE

• Content + Delivery Content + Delivery Impact Impact• Butterflies; who’s nervous? Butterflies; who’s nervous?

confidenceconfidence• Adrenaline, bad experiencesAdrenaline, bad experiences• Cycles & sirens: Getting them backCycles & sirens: Getting them back• Dead airDead air• Visuals, Examples and imageryVisuals, Examples and imagery

Success FactorsSuccess Factors

• Be the expert -- speak from experienceBe the expert -- speak from experience• Know your audienceKnow your audience• Think about the level of detail and how Think about the level of detail and how

much will be remembered?much will be remembered?• Think about the logical flow of the Think about the logical flow of the

presentation: organize slides appropriatelypresentation: organize slides appropriately• Don’t memorize - PRACTICEDon’t memorize - PRACTICE• Don’t read slides - PRACTICEDon’t read slides - PRACTICE

Preparing ContentPreparing Content

• Plan what you must Plan what you must cover cover • Plan what you must to communicatePlan what you must to communicate• 3 T’s3 T’s• Use simple visuals: block diagrams and Use simple visuals: block diagrams and

flowchartsflowcharts• Sensible use of slide template, photos, Sensible use of slide template, photos,

text, charts, graphs, animations and text, charts, graphs, animations and moviesmovies

Preparing ContentPreparing Content

• Avoid using too many slides; Avoid using too many slides; > 1 slide/3 minutes.> 1 slide/3 minutes.

• Use bullet items as promptsUse bullet items as prompts• Anticipate questionsAnticipate questions• Have some extra material “in Have some extra material “in

reserve”reserve”• Handouts may have more detailHandouts may have more detail

DeliveryDelivery

• Speak up, make eye contactSpeak up, make eye contact• Do you believe what you’re saying?Do you believe what you’re saying?• Keep control: hecklers and Keep control: hecklers and

distractionsdistractions• Ask questions – and wait…Ask questions – and wait…• Look at people but beware of the Look at people but beware of the

magnetmagnet

Controlling NervesControlling Nerves

• Who knows you’re nervous?Who knows you’re nervous?• Holding your papers/notesHolding your papers/notes• Use illustrations with which you are Use illustrations with which you are

familiarfamiliar• Practice, practice, practicePractice, practice, practice

Remember Your AudienceRemember Your Audience

• Look at themLook at them• Respect themRespect them• Excite themExcite them• Listen to themListen to them• Thank themThank them

Assignment -- Prep for Assignment -- Prep for Oral Presentation of Oral Presentation of

ProposalProposal• Prepare the PowerPoint material for the Prepare the PowerPoint material for the

oral presentation of your proposal. oral presentation of your proposal. • Each team will have 20 minutes.Each team will have 20 minutes.• Practice Practice with teammateswith teammates -- don’t just -- don’t just

“discuss” it -- “discuss” it -- practice it!practice it! Give each Give each other suggestions!other suggestions!

• Everyone must talk an equal time (as Everyone must talk an equal time (as practical. practical.

• Dry run for facilitator. Seek his/her Dry run for facilitator. Seek his/her critique.critique.