2. 03/07/15 2
Presentation skills
Rule No.1
• It breaks down the
rapport between the
speaker and his
audience.
• You may refer to notes
from time to time
• Review your material to
the point
• Steve Jobs, the founder
of Apple is known to
spend gruelling hours
internalising the
presentation.
Do not read from
the notes
3. 03/07/15 3
Presentation skills
Rule No.2
Maintain eye
contact
• Eye contact is critical to building trust,
credibility and rapport
• Avoid looking at everything but the audience
-- a wall, a desk, or a computer.
• You are speaking for the benefit of your
listeners. Speak to them, not to the slides.
4. 03/07/15 4
Presentation skills
Rule No.3
Fidgeting,
jiggling,
and
swaying
• Reflects nervousness or insecurity.
• Inspire no confidence in the speaker.
• Eliminate small annoying gestures or mannerisms
• The solution is simple. Videotape your presentations or rehearsals
from time to time to catch your flaws.
5. 03/07/15 5
Presentation skills
Rule No.4
Rehearse your
presentation!
• Cisco CEO John
Chambers spends
hours rehearsing
every component of
his presentations,
from the material to
the flow of slides to
when and where
he's going to walk
among the
audience. It's
preparation to the
extreme, but it
works.
6. 03/07/15 6
Presentation skills
Rule No.5
• Standing at attention like a soldier waiting for orders might work for
the army, but it makes presentations tedious.
• Move, walk, use hand gestures. Great speakers are animated in
voice and body.
R E L A X !
7. 03/07/15 7
Presentation skills
Rule No.6
• Trust that the audience can read for themselves.
• Slides (or any visual) act as a complement to the
speaker, not the other way around.
• Do not write too many words on the slide.
– A good rule of thumb is four words across and six lines
down.
• Include a story, anecdote, example to add color
DO NOT READ OUT
THE BULLET POINTS
8. 03/07/15 8
Presentation skills
Rule No.7
• Great communicators grab their listeners' attention right out of the
gate.
• Audiences remember the first thing you say and the last.
• Tell your listeners why they should be excited about your content.
Excite the
audience
9. 03/07/15 9
Presentation skills
Rule No.8
• Great communicators look the part.
• Always dress appropriately for the culture, but a
little better than everyone else.
The dress
code …
10. 03/07/15 10
Presentation skills
Rule No.9
• Most presenters believe
the middle of their
presentation contains the
really important content.
• It might, but most
listeners will walk away
from a presentation
remembering what was
said at the end.
• Go ahead and
summarize what you just
said in the presentation,
• Leave your audience with
one key thought --
something they didn't
know that makes their
jaws drop in collective
awe.
Seek action at the end
11. 03/07/15 11
Presentation skills
Rule No.10
• Studies show that listeners
lose their attention after 18
minutes.
• Many presentators think that
the longer they speak, the
more important they sound.
Nothing could be further
from the truth.
• Leadership requires the
ability to articulate a
message that's passionate,
clear, and concise.
• Edit everything you say
The golden “18
minute” rule
