How to Give Great Presentations (Part One)

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  1

  dg@...

  03/19/08 | Report as spam

  Respect your audience's intelligence

  One more:
  For the love of Pete DON"T READ THE POWERPONT SLIDES VERBATIM TO YOUR AUDIENCE!!!! They can read and, most likely, are way ahead of you having read the slide as soon as you put it up (which, by the way, is also usually much too soon)
  Just like you would not hand a proposal to a prospect (just to have them flip to the back page to check the price and be jaded about anything you have to say from that point forward) the visual presentation should be used to reinforce your verbal presentation.
  Post your summary slide of that sub-topic after you have kept their attention. Far more will be retained and you will have kept greater control of the presentation in the long run

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  2

  k.subramanyam

  03/21/08 | Report as spam

  RE: How to Give Great Presentations (Part One)

  I find u r really educating all BNET browsers with TIPS that can be used.

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  3

  bmr1230

  03/21/08 | Report as spam

  RE: How to Give Great Presentations (Part One)

  Good tips. I'll add the following:
  
  -Have passion about what you are talking about.
  -Don't hide behind the slides. Slides should support what you say, but should not be so crowded that your audience concentrates on them instead of you.
  -Don't explain something to "death." Give a brief explanation. Let the audience ask questions if they want more details.
  -The presentation should be about how your topic benefits your audience. A me-me-me presentation will bore your audience.

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  4

  prajani

  03/21/08 | Report as spam

  RE: How to Give Great Presentations (Part One)

  good...

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  5

  bklein

  03/21/08 | Report as spam

  RE: How to Give Great Presentations (Part One)

  What if storytelling in front of an audience (or in any setting) does not come naturally? Black and white, facts only type of personality - what are the tips then?

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  6

  jongreer

  03/22/08 | Report as spam

  Same tips

  These tips are designed for any type of presenter -- esp. those who aren't naturals to begin with. For stiff presenters, focus on a) the roadmap, b) flags, c) making eye contact and d) adding anecdotes and short stories. I would add another not on the list, that other people have mentioned, of summarizing the slide and pointing out key info, not reading them verbatim.

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  7

  Kathy Reiffenstein

  03/21/08 | Report as spam

  Here's A Better Way To Open

  A better way to open a presentation is with a quotation (of course that pertains to your message!), a startling/provocative statistic or a rhetorical question. Any presenter, no matter how inexperienced, can prepare one of these. Most audiences really don't care that you're happy to be there...even alongside the distinguised Dr. Smith!

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  8

  TrenchWriter

  03/21/08 | Report as spam

  Skip points 1-4, go directly to 5

  Yes, all that info is good, but even if you mess up or don't know to implement steps 1-4, a great presentation really means you've delivered interesting information in a meaningul way, and hopefully left your audience with one or two take-aways they will remember.
  
  If not, you've failed. For the true consummate presenter, watch any of Steve Job's videos....

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  9

  JUSTJOEL99

  03/28/08 | Report as spam

  RE: How to Give Great Presentations (Part One)

  A little expansion on #5, if you are responding to a question from an audience member, acknowledge the question to that person, then turn and answer it while looking at someone else. This way you avoid getting into a conversation with the questioner to the neglect of the rest of the audience. It also helps you maintain control of the discussion, as the person you are looking at will most likely nod their head in response to what you said, rather than ask you to elaborate. Bill Clinton uses this technique masterfully.