What Makes a Great Talk Great?
Be a More Confident Public Speaker
How to Give Good Talks
This article from Harvard Business Review tells the story of how a shy young Masai boy gave an awesome presentation to an audience of 1,400. Notice that "preparation" is the key. When you're prepared, your confidence increases, and you can knock 'em dead!
How to Give the Best Presentation You Possibly Can
Karl Gude is an instructor at Michigan State University and a former InfoGraphics Director at Newsweek and The Associated Press. He talks about the preparation needed to give an awesome presentation in this article published in the Huffington Post.
This Forbes story is part of a series of articles based on Carmine Gallo's book, "Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds" (St. Martin’s Press).
10 Tips For Giving Effective Virtual Presentations
This article from the Graduate School of Stanford Business provides tips for presenting virtually, including how to keep your audience's attention.
Presentation Checklist
The following are questions to ask and materials you should have for your presentation.
Audience
- How many people?
- What are the audience demographics (age, race/culture, interests)?
- What are they expecting to hear?
- Will you be introduced? If yes, have you provided your information?
The Room Setup
- Will there be a projector?
- Will there be a screen?
- A laptop? Do you need to bring your own?
- If a laptop is provided, does it have the software you need?
- Will you need a microphone, and will one be provided?
- Will there be a podium?
- Will the presentation be recorded?
Time
- How much time will you have to speak?
- Will there be time for Q&A?
- Are other speakers on the program? If yes, what will they be talking about?
Before You Go
- Review and rehearse your presentation. Read it aloud.
- Make sure it is the proper length.
- Back up your presentation on an extra thumb drive AND in the cloud (email it to yourself or save it to Google Drive, for example).
- Take along a hard copy of your presentation.
- Do not eat a heavy meal or consume alcohol or caffeine before you speak.
Presentation Ideas
During your presentation, use one or more of these tools to engage your audience.
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Animated StopwatchThis animated stopwatch can be embedded in a PowerPoint presentation. There are other sites that offer similar features, so shop around.
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Filmstrip CountdownThis is a fun element to add to your PowerPoint presentation.
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Poll EverywhereThis tool lets you poll participants using smartphones. Use it to plan meeting times and places, or use it during your presentation to take the pulse of your audience. It's a great way to open a presentation by asking participants what they know about your topic. Close the presentation with a poll asking for feedback.
How to Listen
We talk a lot about being great speakers. But what about being great listeners? Whether you're in the classroom or watching a film or communicating one-on-one, listening is important in the exchange of information and ideas. Here are some links with tips for helping you hear:
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Have You Mastered the Art of Listening?By Margaret Heffernan, published by CBS News MoneyWatch, June 12, 2013
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The Art of ListeningBy Hennnig Mankell, published in The New York Times, Dec. 10, 2011
Books
Mastering the Art of Oral Presentations by
Proven techniques to win over any audience and make any sale Mastering the Art of Oral Presentations is your expert guide to delivering memorable and effective speeches and presentations. Whether selling a product, offering a service, or bidding for a contract, your oral presentation skills can often determine success or failure. This invaluable resource delivers real-world advice and proven strategies to elevate your game and close the deal. Comprehensive coverage of preparation procedures, delivery techniques, and presentation strategies provide you with the tools and knowledge to motivate and persuade your audience. Emphasizing real-world versatility, this unique book delivers methods equally effective to both individual and team presentations. Drawing from decades of experience, authors John Parker Stewart and Don Fulop offer keen insight into the process of winning over an audience. From topics ranging from rhetorical devices and visual cues to body language and stage presence, this expert guide will help convey a take-home message that resonates and endures long after your presentation has concluded. A must-have resource for government contractors, sales and marketing professionals, and anyone seeking to raise the level of their oral presentation skills, this book will help you: Develop winning approaches to oral presentations regardless of experience or skill level Build the confidence to present your ideas to individuals, teams, and large audiences Incorporate your personal and professional lives into your communication strategies Create and deliver messages that will win the hearts and minds of any audience Mastering the Art of Oral Presentations: Winning Orals, Speeches, and Stand-Up Presentations is an indispensable tool for those who speak to influence, to promote, and to sell--aiding you in making positive and lasting impressions on potential customers, team members, and decision makers.
Call Number: PN4129.15 .S74 2019 (Waycross & Online)ISBN: 9781119550051Publication Date: 2019-04-02
The Big Book of Presentation Games: Wake-Em-Up Tricks, Icebreakers, and Other Fun Stuff by
Don't let the audience snooze through any of your presentations! How do you keep an audience from becoming bored or restless during a presentation? Find out with The Big Book of Presentation Games. Each game in The Big Book of Presentation Games is fast, fun, creative, and easy-to-read, and easy-to-lead, and costs little or nothing. Categories also include: great session-openers; icebreakers; climate-setting games; practical jokes and tricks; audience brainteasers; motivation activities; memorable closing activities; and much more!
Call Number: HF5718.22 .N49 1998 (Jesup)ISBN: 9780070465015Publication Date: 1997-12-22
Public Speaking and Presentations Demystified by
Take the mystery out of effective, fear-free public speaking This latest book in the Demystified series takes the confusion out of preparing for and delivering speeches and presentations. Public Speaking and Presentations Demystified walks you step-by-step through the fundamentals of the subject and provides you with techniques for effective speaking, avoiding common errors, and overcoming stage fright. With these skills,you will feel confident in business and social situations when you find yourself in the spotlight.
Call Number: PN 4121 .T395 2010 (Waycross, Alma & Baxley)ISBN: 9780071601214Publication Date: 2010-01-04
Group Presentation Links
Acknowledgement
Many thanks to College of Coastal Georgia for allowing us to use the guide, Presentations, as a template for this LibGuide.