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PRESENTATION SKILLS
In technical communication " presentation " is as important as writing skills, presentations are purposeful, interactive, and formal.
There are several forms of presentation such as seminars, work shops, symposia, student presentations, industry conferences, product launches, press conferences, Team presentations, Annual general meetings, departmental presentations and company profile presentations and in varied events and functions.
Presentation is a tool of professional and business interaction. In some organizations, institutions or universities recruitment is made on the basis of a selection process which involves presentations in the form of seminar.
A good presentation can do wonders for a person in getting a lucrative job offer from a company or he may get business deal or promotion. Where as the poor presentation reduces the professional image of a person. A person making a presentation should have the ability to show appropriate visuals and have to present it in an effective way.
Professionals in different fields including scientists and engineers have also to make reports, presenting seminars, deliver project presentations orally.
Presentation skills are also needed to introduce a new product that their company has launched.
Purpose of Presentation:
General purpose:
1. Planning a presentation should start by defining its purpose.
2. General purpose and specific purpose of presentation should be identified.
To inform – To share the information
To persuade – To change the behavior, attitude, belief, values and so on.
To demonstrate – To help listeners know how to do something.
All these will come under General purpose.
Specific purpose:
Using an idea that matches audience needs, knowledge, expectations and interests. Audience analysis is an integral part of presentation.
More over how to best adopt to vary moods of listeners and how to tap their curiosity, interest and motivation.
Choosing the title:
Generally a title is essential for the presentation. An appropriate title conveys the essence of message.
Environmental problems like poverty unemployment corruption, crime inflation, aids epidemics, potential topics like social , economic, political, technological problems can be chosen as titles. Ideas regarding society, education, business, economy, government and technological systems have to be chosen for the presentations.
Preparation for the presentation:
After the presentation has been planned preparation is the key to success. Preparation involves developing the central idea and main points, gathering relevant, supporting material and planning visual aids.
The central idea focuses the content of the speech and with specific language it gives one sentence summary of the presentation. An out line of the material can be gathered from several research resources like Internet,` library resources, personal interviews and discussions with experts and special interest groups can be consulted.
It is important to check accuracy redundancies and clichés. The style of the presentations should be in formal preferably using every day language and avoiding technical terms and statistics.
Planning visual aids:
Using appropriate visual aids will increase the effectiveness of presentations. Visual aids can be used
1. To emphasize and clarify the main points
2. To increase the self confidence levels.
3. To focus on the theme of the presentation.
4. To make the audience more interested.
5. To make it easy to understand and remember
By using relevant computer software programs such as power point and cord presentations may be used to enhance the effectiveness of the presentation.
Hand outs may be distributed i.e. charts presentations abstracts summaries brochures pamphlets outlines in order to compliment presentations. While giving presentations eye contact should be maintained with audience. Visual aids must be introduced before showing them to audience.
Conclusion:
The conclusion of the presentation should accomplish the following objectives.
1. Summarizing the presentation at the ending
2. Reemphasizing the central idea.
3. The speaker should focus on the specific goal.
4. Motivating the audience to ask questions to give feedback.
5. Verbal techniques like lastly, finally & as my last point can be used to close the presentation.
Do's:
1. Starting with self confidence.
2. Be organized by presenting the purpose clearly.
3. Staying relaxed & tension free by advance planning.
4. Paying attention to the body language for effective gestures.
5. By using appropriate visual aids to create maximum effect.
6. Paying attention to organize speaking notes, handouts & visual aids.
7. Closing presentation in a memorable way with summary and key points.
Don'ts:
1. Not concentrating on three P s i.e. planning, preparation & practice.
2. Not setting realistic goals.
3. Having negative thought.
4. Beginning the presentation with a pause.
5. Speaking slowly.
6. Not learning &practicing stress reduction techniques.
