PRESENTATION SKILLS IN IT

When you present information in either a formal or informal setting, do you have the presentation impact you intend? Do you struggle in deciding what information to include or omit in presentation overviews and briefings? Is your presentation delivery style one that engages the audience and increases persuasiveness? Are you connecting with the participants? Do participants request additional copies of your handouts or are they left on the table at the end of your session? Do you establish rapport immediately? Are you able to link that rapport to the action you want your particpants to take or information they need to retain? The tips and tools available at this site can help you plan a powerful presentation and not only communicate with confidence but with assurance that your participants' learning needs are met.

The material of your presentation should be concise, to the point and tell an interesting story. In addition to the obvious things like content and visual aids, the following are just as important as the audience will be subconsciously taking them in:

• Your voice - how you say it is as important as what you say
• Body language - a subject in its own right and something about which much has been written and said. In essence, your body movements express what your attitudes and thoughts really are. You might like to check out this web page
• Appearance - first impressions influence the audience's attitudes to you. Dress appropriately for the occasion.

Content Includes:

- Key concepts of effective presentations

- Assessing the audience

- Being a great impromptu speaker

- The types of presentations

- Teaching listening skills and the different types of listening

- How to explain the art of nonverbal communication

- How to develop an effective "elevator pitch"

- The parts of an effective presentation

- Building effective transitions

- Creating powerful visual aids

TEN "DO'S AND DON'TS" in PRESENTATION
DO:
	Lots of background research. Even if the information is not used in the presentation, it is useful to have as much knowledge as possible for the discussion and audience questions. It will assist your confidence too.
	Be organised - prepare in plenty of time.
	Structure your presentation.
	Focus on the question set.
	Obtain material from a wide range of sources.
	Practice your presentation. This helps take away some of the embarrassment when it is for real, and enables you to check the timing. If possible, have someone sit in and give you feedback.
	Use note cards.
	Speak clearly.
	Have eye contact with your audience.
	Use clear overhead transparencies, or slides (large font size, use of bullet points etc.).
DON'T:
	Leave research and preparation until the last minute.
	Rely on one source of information.
	Make it up.
	Just hope that it will come together on the day without preparation and practice.
	Have no notes to rely on if you get stuck.
	Worry too much - it's not as bad as it seems.
	Mumble.
	Read from a script.
	Rush the presentation by speaking too fast.