Module 22: Making Presentations

Question 1

What Kinds of Presentations Are There?

Answer 1

People present to inform, sell, and build goodwill. Regardless of the obvious purposes, the goal of most presentations is to get to yes.

Question 2

Informative presentations

Answer 2

inform or teach the audience

Question 3

Persuasive and sales presentations

Answer 3

motivate the audience to believe and to act

Question 4

Goodwill presentations

Answer 4

entertain and validate the audience.

Question 5

Three P’s

Answer 5

plan, prepare, and practise

Question 6

Plan

Answer 6

Plan a strategy by analyzing the situation

Question 7

Prepare

Answer 7

Prepare examples, stories, and visuals relevant to your audience

Question 8

Practise

Answer 8

Practise until you are completely comfortable with the content

Question 9

How Do I Plan a Presentation?

Answer 9

Clarify your purpose and your main idea. Then analyze your audience and your environment.

Question 10

How Do I Organize a Presentation?

Answer 10

Organize for maximum audience impact

Question 11

Based on your purpose and audience analysis, you can use one of five standard patterns of organization.

Answer 11

1. Chronological
2. Problem/causes/solution
3. Exclude alternatives
4. Pro / Con
5. 1-2-3

Question 12

Chronological

Answer 12

Start with the past, move to the present, and end by looking ahead.

Question 13

Problem/causes/solution

Answer 13

Explain the symptoms of the problem, identify its causes, and suggest a solution. This pattern works best when the audience will find your solution easy to accept.

Question 14

Exclude alternatives

Answer 14

Explain the symptoms of the problem. Explain the obvious solutions first and show why they won’t solve the problem. End by discussing a solution that will work. This pattern may be necessary when the audience will find the solution hard to accept.

Question 15

Pro/Con

Answer 15

Give all the reasons in favour of something, then those against it. This pattern works well when you want the audience to see the weaknesses in its position.

Question 16

1-2-3

Answer 16

Discuss three aspects of a topic. This pattern works well to organize short, informative briefings. “Today I’ll review our sales, production, and profits for the last quarter.”

Question 17

Because of people’s limited attention spans, the best speakers organize content through

Answer 17

repetition for reinforcement

Transitions

Question 18

Remember to make your stories relevant by

Answer 18

Linking what you have to say to the audience’s experiences, interests, and needs

Showing your audience members that the story affects them directly

Using language the audience knows and understands

Relating your purposes to some everyday experience

Question 19

How Do I Create a Strong Opening and Closing?

Answer 19

Use your introduction and your conclusion as points of emphasis.

Question 20

To catch and hold audience attention

Answer 20

Stand still

Focus on your audience

Hook their interest with a dramatic statement or question

Make the hook or grabber relevant to them

Question 21

How Do I Use Visuals?

Answer 21

Keep visuals simple and specific. Use activities that involve the audience

Question 22

How Do I Deliver an Effective Presentation?

Answer 22

Turn your nervousness into energy, look at the audience, and use natural gestures.

Question 23

To calm your nerves as you prepare to give an oral presentation

Answer 23

Be prepared
Practise, practise, practise.
Use positive emphasis to reframe what you’re feeling
Visualize your success.
Focus on what you know you have done to succeed.
Use only the amount of caffeine you normally use
Avoid alcoholic beverages.

Question 24

How Do I Handle Questions from the Audience?

Answer 24

Use PAIBOC to anticipate audience questions. Be honest. Rephrase biased or hostile questions.

Question 25

What About Group Presentations?

Answer 25

In the best presentations, voices take turns within each point.