This document provides tips for improving presentation skills. It recommends planning the presentation by clarifying the purpose, knowing the audience, taking notes but not writing out the full speech. When giving the presentation, the document suggests telling the audience the main points, then making those points, then recapping what was said. Techniques like varying speech pace, moving around, using visual aids and maintaining eye contact are also covered. The document emphasizes planning, practicing the presentation multiple times, speaking clearly while being yourself, and not panicking if things do not go exactly to plan.

1. Presentation Skills

2. “After violent death,
most people fear public
speaking more than
anything else in life”
People Management
April 2002

3. Planning
O Why are you doing the talk? Be clear about your
purpose
O Find out how big your audience is likely to be & what
sort of group
O Make notes about your subject
O Don’t write your talk word for word
O Use small pieces of paper and number them
O Power point has a notes & timing feature which may
help
O Time your talk & practice it
O Then practice it again

4. Think of Threes
O Tell people what you’re going to say
O Tell them
O Tell them what you’ve said

5. Techniques 1
O Pace of delivery
O Vary style
O Move about
O Vary pitch
O Use notes
O Avoid annoying habits
O Use props, but don‘t overdo it

6. Power point
Advantages Disadvantages
O Quick, easy & simple
O Prepare in advance
O Good for large
audience
O Can include pictures
& graphics easily
O Something to look at
O Can be tedious
O Not very dynamic
O Easy to overload with
information
O Be careful with
animations
O Tendency to read
word for word

7. Do’s
OTake a deep breath
OSpeak clearly
OMake small cards to remind yourself of topics
(number them!)
OBe aware of where your audience is - are you
facing all of them?
OSmile, have fun
OBe yourself and project your personality
ORemember - no-one knows how you feel or
what you think
ORemember - The audience is on your side!


8. Don’ts
ORush what you’re trying to say –
SLOW DOWN
ORead off a sheet of paper word for
word
OUse inappropriate language for your
audience
OPanic


9. Body Language
O Eye Contact
O Positive Gestures
O Hand Movements
O Dressing

10. In Summary…
O Most talks go according to plan
O But, you must actually plan unless you are
very experienced
O You have the support of your audience
O Most common mistakes are avoidable
O The world won’t end if it does go wrong –
just correct yourself and carry on