Presentations International

Top Ten Presentations Skills

Below is a list of what I consider to be the top ten presentation skills. Taking all the important presentations skills down to the top ten was not easy. In this month's newsletter I will give a brief overview of my top ten list. In subsequent newsletters, I will go into more detail on each topic. Feel free to e-mail me any questions you might have.

Top Ten Presentation skills

1. Know your audience
Making this the top presentation skill was essential. No presenter can hope to be effective without knowing who they are speaking to and what their audience’s unique needs and wants are.

2. Know your subject
This one seems like an obvious point. But ask yourself, how many times have you listened to a presentation from someone who knew less about the subject than you did? To be effective you need to know more than your audience, or at least have a fresh perspective.

3. Plan for questions
This is so important in creating and giving a dynamic presentation. When you spend time figuring out what your audience MAY ask you, you will be able to write a tighter and much more relevant speech. You'll also have the added benefit of making you feeling more comfortable during both the presentation and the question and answer session.

4. Tell stories
Doug Stevenson, creator of The Story Theatre Method, says that "Storytelling is the best way to help employees grasp an abstract concept, win over resistant audiences, enhance your powers of persuasion, and connect you to your audience."

5. Focus on message not performance
Sometimes we are so worried about our performance, wanting it to be perfect, that we forget to focus on our message and goal. In trying to be great we are sometimes not even good.

6. Rehearse
Too often we don't rehearse, or we don't rehearse effectively. No other skill is as effective in helping you be the best you can be. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!

7. Connect with your audience
If we connect with our audience we are assured of at least having our message heard. We connect in a number of ways: eye contact, rate of speech and speaking from our heart, to mention just a few.

8. Pause for effect
Pause for effect but remember to pause effectively. Pausing will helps you do the following things: catch your breath, add emphasis, allow the audience to absorb your point, and control your pace, among other things.

9. Less is more
In our effort to persuade, educate and move to action, we often feel that we have to put in everything we know. If you stick to three important points with supporting evidence, you are more likely to get the outcome you want.

10. Call to action.
Your speech has a purpose (or at least it should.) Always end your speech with a call to action. Literally, leave the audience with something that they can/should do.

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Enhancing Your Spoken English

Do you ever feel as if people are listening more to how you are speaking than what you are saying? This is a common feeling among non-native speakers of English. Let’s look at something you can do immediately to enhance your speech and become more understandable to Americans.

Punch the Key Words

Pick a sentence, any sentence, and underline the key words. These are most important words, they carry the meaning of the sentence. Let’s use an example:
The meeting will be on Tuesday.

Meeting and Tuesday are the two key words that carry the main idea of the sentence. Of course, we need to add the structure words "the" and "will be on" to glue the sentence together, but the listener could understand the basic meaning without them.

Now concentrate on the two key words and optimize their power by doing three things:
1.Stretch the stressed vowel
2.Increase the volume (make them louder)
3.Raise the pitch

Your sentence should sound like this:

The MEE-----T ing will be on TUE-----S day.

In fact, using only tip #1 (lengthening the main vowel) helps many speakers become clearer. This does take practice, but just by emphasizing or "punching" the key word, you can use these words to carry your ideas to your listener.

Listen to Americans talk. Do you hear the up-and-down rhythm of their speech? Do you hear their emphasis on key words? The more dynamic the speaker, the more they "punch" those meaningful words. Listen to actors, radio announcers and people with big personalities and you will hear the power behind the key words.
Courtesy of Sarah Hoefflin

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Question and Answer

Is it alright to use a script when I give my presentation?
Bruce Economou LA, CA

Dear Bruce,
This is an excellent question. I absolutely believe that you should create a script and use it for rehearsing. However when we take a script with us on the stage we are likely to read from the paper, which will keep us from connecting with our audience. If you are not great at memorizing you can use one of the following methods: outline, index cards, pictograms, keywords. Each of these methods will give you the security you need and the freedom to keep your eye contact dynamic.

To use any of these methods, look at your script and pick out the key ideas and/or words. Once you have those identified you can use them to create a memory jogger.

Outline
Use the key ideas or keywords to create an outline.

Index cards
Use 3x5 cards with key information on it. WORD OF WARNING!!! Make sure you number the cards in case they are dropped.

Pictograms
Use graphic images that represent the keywords.

Keywords
Write them in order on a single piece of paper.

I know that some of you use PowerPoint to help you remember what you intend to cover. Make sure that you lead the PowerPoint so that your presentation seems natural.
Good luck Bruce on your next presentation and thanks for the question.

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International newsletter" in your own print or electronic newsletter. But
please include the following paragraph:

Reprinted from "The Presentation International newsletter," a free newsletter
featuring presentation techniques. Subscribe at http://www.Presentationsinternational.com

Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to your friends, clients and
colleagues.

PRIVACY STATEMENT: Presentations International will never distribute your address to anyone. Thank you for your trust.

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Top Ten Presentations Skills Enhancing Your Spoken English Question and Answer
Top Ten Presentations Skills Below is a list of what I consider to be the top ten presentation skills. Taking all the important presentations skills down to the top ten was not easy. In this month's newsletter I will give a brief overview of my top ten list. In subsequent newsletters, I will go into more detail on each topic. Feel free to e-mail me any questions you might have. Top Ten Presentation skills 1. Know your audience Making this the top presentation skill was essential. No presenter can hope to be effective without knowing who they are speaking to and what their audience’s unique needs and wants are. 2. Know your subject This one seems like an obvious point. But ask yourself, how many times have you listened to a presentation from someone who knew less about the subject than you did? To be effective you need to know more than your audience, or at least have a fresh perspective. 3. Plan for questions This is so important in creating and giving a dynamic presentation. When you spend time figuring out what your audience MAY ask you, you will be able to write a tighter and much more relevant speech. You'll also have the added benefit of making you feeling more comfortable during both the presentation and the question and answer session. 4. Tell stories Doug Stevenson, creator of The Story Theatre Method, says that "Storytelling is the best way to help employees grasp an abstract concept, win over resistant audiences, enhance your powers of persuasion, and connect you to your audience." 5. Focus on message not performance Sometimes we are so worried about our performance, wanting it to be perfect, that we forget to focus on our message and goal. In trying to be great we are sometimes not even good. 6. Rehearse Too often we don't rehearse, or we don't rehearse effectively. No other skill is as effective in helping you be the best you can be. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! 7. Connect with your audience If we connect with our audience we are assured of at least having our message heard. We connect in a number of ways: eye contact, rate of speech and speaking from our heart, to mention just a few. 8. Pause for effect Pause for effect but remember to pause effectively. Pausing will helps you do the following things: catch your breath, add emphasis, allow the audience to absorb your point, and control your pace, among other things. 9. Less is more In our effort to persuade, educate and move to action, we often feel that we have to put in everything we know. If you stick to three important points with supporting evidence, you are more likely to get the outcome you want. 10. Call to action. Your speech has a purpose (or at least it should.) Always end your speech with a call to action. Literally, leave the audience with something that they can/should do. Top Enhancing Your Spoken English Do you ever feel as if people are listening more to how you are speaking than what you are saying? This is a common feeling among non-native speakers of English. Let’s look at something you can do immediately to enhance your speech and become more understandable to Americans. Punch the Key Words Pick a sentence, any sentence, and underline the key words. These are most important words, they carry the meaning of the sentence. Let’s use an example: The meeting will be on Tuesday. Meeting and Tuesday are the two key words that carry the main idea of the sentence. Of course, we need to add the structure words "the" and "will be on" to glue the sentence together, but the listener could understand the basic meaning without them. Now concentrate on the two key words and optimize their power by doing three things: 1.Stretch the stressed vowel 2.Increase the volume (make them louder) 3.Raise the pitch Your sentence should sound like this: The MEE-----T ing will be on TUE-----S day. In fact, using only tip #1 (lengthening the main vowel) helps many speakers become clearer. This does take practice, but just by emphasizing or "punching" the key word, you can use these words to carry your ideas to your listener. Listen to Americans talk. Do you hear the up-and-down rhythm of their speech? Do you hear their emphasis on key words? The more dynamic the speaker, the more they "punch" those meaningful words. Listen to actors, radio announcers and people with big personalities and you will hear the power behind the key words. Courtesy of Sarah Hoefflin Top Question and Answer Is it alright to use a script when I give my presentation? Bruce Economou LA, CA Dear Bruce, This is an excellent question. I absolutely believe that you should create a script and use it for rehearsing. However when we take a script with us on the stage we are likely to read from the paper, which will keep us from connecting with our audience. If you are not great at memorizing you can use one of the following methods: outline, index cards, pictograms, keywords. Each of these methods will give you the security you need and the freedom to keep your eye contact dynamic. To use any of these methods, look at your script and pick out the key ideas and/or words. Once you have those identified you can use them to create a memory jogger. Outline Use the key ideas or keywords to create an outline. Index cards Use 3x5 cards with key information on it. WORD OF WARNING!!! Make sure you number the cards in case they are dropped. Pictograms Use graphic images that represent the keywords. Keywords Write them in order on a single piece of paper. I know that some of you use PowerPoint to help you remember what you intend to cover. Make sure that you lead the PowerPoint so that your presentation seems natural. Good luck Bruce on your next presentation and thanks for the question. PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may reprint any items from "The Presentations International newsletter" in your own print or electronic newsletter. But please include the following paragraph: Reprinted from "The Presentation International newsletter," a free newsletter featuring presentation techniques. Subscribe at http://www.Presentationsinternational.com Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to your friends, clients and colleagues. PRIVACY STATEMENT: Presentations International will never distribute your address to anyone. Thank you for your trust. Top