3. Keys to a Successful Presentation
Know your Audience
Make it Clear!
The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures &
Pretty Pictures
Prepare & Practice
Zzzzzz …
How You Say it Matters
Not Compatible?
Closure
4. Know Your Audience
• In your field - can jump in with brief background;
non-experts - need more set-up
• Purpose of your talk (Convince? Update? Teach?)
• Communicate with your audience
* size matters
* formal vs. discussion format
• Convey your enthusiasm about your work
• Don‟t talk over their heads; don‟t talk down to them
5. Make it Clear - Structure
OUTLINE FIRST!!
Controls number of slides & provides
balance
- Budget 2-3 minutes/slide (e.g. 30’ talk = 10-15
slides)
Have one story to tell:
- decide on underlying issue to be addressed
- divide into logical, heirarchical subquestions
- talk should be series of answers to these
questions
6. Make it Clear - Concept
• Style & format
- use color to highlight & organize
- be consistent (audience knows where to look)
• Read through presentation and see if main
points stand-out
- Heading = WHAT or HOW
- Summary statement = CONCLUSION
• “Speaker Support”
- It doesn‟t carry you -- you are the focus
- It supports your message
7. Make it Clear - Don‟t Lose „em
Frustrate your audience & you lose them!
Science talk vs. murder mystery -- don’t keep
you’re audience hanging!
Know the fuzzy borders between
experimental evidence and speculation
(affects how you formulate your sentences)
One concept per slide
- cluster examples rather than moving through
series too quickly
Make sure you can be heard!
8. The Heart of the Matter:
Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
• Clear title
• Highlight particular areas/words
• Don‟t crowd with too much info
• Give credit where credit due
- reference published data; borrowed figures
9. The Heart of the Matter:
Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
Show bad
showing a lot of unreadable info “for effect” -
bad!
if it can‟t be read -- it‟s a waste & it annoys
audience
10. The Heart of the Matter:
Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
Show bad
11. The Heart of the Matter:
Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
GOOD
(some showmanship here)
12. The Heart of the Matter:
Sharp Figures & Pretty Pictures
GOOD
Use one of Jen‟s figure slides color-coded
parts, etc.
13. Prepare & Practice
Timing (how many slides & length of talk)
Memorize intro and first few lines
Beware of overpracticing
* Don’t memorize entire talk -- stiff &
BORING!!
* 1X = 10-fold improvement
* 2X = twice as good
* 3X = polish
14. Zzzzzz …
• Talk to your audience
(eye contact, conversational style)
• Engage your audience by asking questions
• Keep it interesting:
- share interesting tidbits
- give unique examples/analogies
- humor disturbs slumber
• Tiny type kills (use at least 18 point font ... ?)
If you’re bored, you’re audience is
snoring!
15. How You Say it Matters
VERBAL SKILLS
• Slow down!
• Don‟t read your
slides - use as cues
• Vary voice tone
(conversational)
• Genuine enthusiasm
• SPEAK-UP
BODY LANGUAGE
• Eye contact
• Stand straight -
breathe
• Don‟t overgesture
with pointer, etc.
• Face your audience
16. Not Compatible?
Ask ahead of time what equipment
provided:
- overhead projector vs. Powerpoint
What format used:
- PC vs. Mac?
What type of disk acceptable:
- floppy vs. Zip 100, Zip 250?
Emergency back-ups:
- overheads
17. Closure
• Summary of conclusions
• Zoom-out (relevance or application of your
work)
• Next steps (if appropriate)
• Acknowledgements
18. Scientific Talks - Summary
1. Know your audience & their needs
2. Tell them a clear story developing each point upon the
previous
3. Show them the evidence (sharp figures)
4. Keep them awake by engaging them
5. Give them great delivery -- prepare, practice &
SPEAK-UP!
6. Share your enthusiasm for your work
7. Sell your message with a strong summary of
conclusions
Most importantly - Have
