CCS 122 – IT PRESENTATION SKILLS

POWER SPEAK: ENGAGE, INSPIRE, AND STIMULATE YOUR AUDIENCE

(from Dorothy Leeds)

THE 6 MAJOR SPEAKING FAULTS:

1. An unclear purpose.
2. Lack of clear organization and leadership.
3. Too much information.
4. Not enough support for your ideas, concepts, and information.
5. Monotonous voice and sloppy speech.
6. Not meeting the real needs of your audience.

THE TROUBLE SPOTS:

1. OPENINGS: How to get and keep attention while making a strong, confident connection to your audience.
2. CLOSINGS: How to avoid fading away at the end, and the techniques used to leave people on a high.
3. TRANSITIONS: This often makes the difference between an average presentation and a great one (and also
helps reduce the “uh’s” or other fillers)
4. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: How to stay in control and remain the expert, no matter who asks the
question.
5. VISUAL AIDS: Visual aids used badly are not aids; they cost you 90 percent of the audience’s attention.
Used well, you gain 90 percent of their attention.

THE CARDINAL RULE: NEVER BE BORING

GAIN THE PUBLIC SPEAKING EDGE

Confidence and speaking ability go hand in hand. The more speaking you do, the more confident you become.

Benefits of public speaking:

Credibility Clarity Customers

Comfort Continuity Charisma
Character Career advantage Creativity
Contracts Contacts Clout
Connections Courage Ca$h

TAME THE 4 FEARS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

1. FEAR OF PERFORMING POORLY

You are not alone. Worrying about your performance comes with the territory. It haunts novice and experts
alike.

 The power of privacy

 Tap into creative visualization.
 Work with your body:
 Proper breathing – concentrate on deep nasal breathing using your diaphragm. Breathe
through your nose so you don’t make your mouth dry.
 Progressive relaxation – Working up from your feet, tense different parts of your body and
then relax them. You’ll lose much of that clamminess and nervousness.
 Easing neck strain – Roll your head in a circle from shoulder to shoulder, as if you were a
limp rag doll. This relaxes your throat and your vocal cords.
  Practice the 5 Ps:
1. Prana : Prana is an Indian term meaning breath. Deep breaths calm your emotions and help
get nervousness under control.
2. Perception: It’s not what happens to us that counts – it’s how we perceive what happens to us.
3. Psyche yourself up: Imagine yourself not as you think you are, but the way you want to be.
4. Preparation: There is nothing as frightening as the unknown. You’re prepared when you
know your subject matter like you know your best friend’s telephone number; you’re
prepared when you’ve made a checklist of all the props, visual aids, etc. you need for your
presentation (and you have checked the list twice); you’re prepared when you familiarize
yourself with the space before you get up to speak.
5. Practice : The more you practice, the more control you have over the entire speaking
experience – and the less nervous you are.

2. FEAR OF THE AUDIENCE

Audiences are not out to get you. In fact, your listeners are probably thrilled that it’s you up there and not
them. They listen best when you appear confident and in control.
 Identify with your listeners. Think about your audience more than yourself.
 Give passion a place.
 Communicate your excitement. Focus on wanting to tell your listeners something – something you
feel is really worth your time and theirs. That kind of excitement is contagious; your audience can’t
help but catch it.
 Remember who the expert is. Remember the facts. You’re supposed to know more about your
subject than the audience.

3. FEAR OF EMBARRASSMENT

Embarrassing things do happen. The good news is that audiences understand that we all make mistakes.
What they want to know is how well you can handle them.

4. FEAR THAT YOUR MATERIAL IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH

This is the easiest fear to overcome because you are in control of preparation and content. You won’t be on
the spot if you know your subject thoroughly.

 Construct your speech with care. Do your homework. Research. Prepare.

 Fear of new material. As scary as public speaking may seem, it’s important to take risks.
 Practice can make perfect. Practice until you are 100 % confident.

KEYS TO BREAKING THROUGH FEAR BARRIER:

 Admit your fear; understand its sources.
 Tap the energy that fear produces.
 Recognize that fear is normal for public speakers.
 Realize your fear doesn’t have to show.
 Visualize yourself as a powerful speaker.
 Speak about something you care about.
 Combine preparation with practice.
 Devise tricks to psyche out your fear.
 Think positively about yourself.

THE 14 STEPS TO PREPARATION:

1. Think about the purpose of the speech.
2. Analyze the audience.
3. Gather enough material.
4. Compose one concise sentence that clearly states your purpose.
5. Construct an outline.
6. Add support.
7. Prepare all visual aids.
8. Devise an opening with impact.
9. Craft your conclusion.
10. Write your speech, polish it, and edit it.
11. Have your confidence cards prepared and ready.
12. Get your timing down.
13. Make a last-minute checklist.
Other details to attend to can include:
- Deciding what you’re going to wear
- Making two copies of your text or notes.
- Bringing your glasses.
- Knowing if you’ll have a podium.
- Preparing visual-aid equipment and lighting.
14. Have I orchestrated the question and answer period?
Preparation needs no shortcuts:

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:

 In one concise sentence, what is the purpose behind this speech?

 Who is the audience, and what is its main interest in this topic?
 What do I already know and believe about this topic as it relates to this audience? What additional research
can I do?
 What are the main points of my outline?
 What supporting information and stories can I use to support each of these main points?
 What visual aids – if any – do I need?
 Do I have an arresting opening?
 In my final summary, have I explained what I expect the audience to do with this information?
 Have I polished and practiced the language of the speech to the best of my ability?
 Have I written a concise introduction of myself?
 Have I taken care of all the little details that will help me speak confidently?

HOW TO OVERCOME THE 6 MAJOR SPEAKING FAULTS:

FAULT # 1 : AN UNCLEAR PURPOSE

A well-thought-out purpose is so elemental it’s often overlooked. The purpose of your speech is what you
want them to do as a result of hearing you. Every talk needs 3 elements: a title, a subject, and a purpose.
Example:
Title: “Buckle up and live longer”
Subject: Automotive safety
Purpose: To make more people wear seat belts.

THE 6 MAIN PURPOSES OF PRESENTATIONS:

 1. To inform.
2. To instruct.
3. To entertain.
4. To inspire / motivate.
5. To activate / stimulate.
6. To persuade.

FAULT # 2 : LACK OF CLEAR ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP

3 essential aspects of organization:

1. Outlining : the key to organization
An outline compels you to analyze your logic and reveals any gaps or flaws in your reasoning. A good
outline is lean and mean.

Sample outline for a 20-minute presentation

I. INTRODUCTION: (5 % of your time)

A. Opening statement to gain attention and interest – capitalizes on audience’s goodwill.
i. Development of opening statement.
ii. Other supporting material if needed.
B. Second introductory point (if necessary)

II. BODY : (90 % of your time)

A. First main point of your speech.
i. Major subpoint supporting point A.
ii. Subpoint supporting point A.
B. Second main point of speech.
i. Major subpoint supporting point B.
ii. Subpoint supporting point B.
C. Third main point of speech.
i. Major subpoint supporting point C.
ii. Subpoint supporting point C.

III. CONCLUSION: (5% of your time)

A. Summary
i. Famous last words.
ii. Thank the audience.