PRESENTATION SKILLS

PREPARING A PRESENTATION• Defining the Purpose• Knowing the audience• Dealing with logistics• Knowing the venue• Clarifying objectives• Finding Material• Structuring Material• Writing the Presentation• Using Audio-Visual Aids• Rehearsing

PREPARING YOURSELF• Believing in yourself

• Analyzing Appearance

• Enhancing Body Image.

• Improving your Voice

• Eliminating Tension

DELIVERING A PRESENTATION

• Controlling Nerves

• Speaking Confidently

• Closing Effectively

HANDLING AN AUDIENCE

• Judging the Mood

• Dealing with Questions

• Coping with hostility

• Assessing your Ability

TIPS FOR ‘SUCCESSFUL AND EFFECTIVE’ PRESENTATIONS

• The LLC policy

• The Language of the 6 Cs & 4 Ss

• The ‘BOMBER-B’ effect

• The ‘FLICK’ policy

• The 4 Pillars of ‘Self Belief’

‘LLC’

• L : Listen

• L : Learn

• C : Communicate

8

The 6 C’s & 4 S’sIn any business transaction, adherence to the 7 C’s &

the 4 S’s helps the sender in transmitting a messagewith ease and accuracy.

The 6 C’s:• Clear : Makes comprehension easier.• Conciseness: Saves time• Complete : No ambiguity• Correct : Facts & figures – credibility &

confidence• Courteous : Polite - improves relationships• Convincing : Will be ‘remembered’

9

The 4 S’s

• Shortness : Economizes

• Simplicity : Impresses

• Strength : Convinces

• Sincerity : Appeals

10

• B ang !• O pening !• M essage !• B ridge !• E xamples !• R ecap !• B ang !

‘BOMBER – B’(This will make your presentation ‘fly’)

11

The ‘FLICK’ PolicyVisuals - Practical Guidelines

• F rame

• L arge

• I mages

• C olour

• K iss

Sadness

Body Language

• Body language is what the other person sees even before he or she hears a word.

• It is those messages that continue to be transmitted unconsciously throughout any encounter.

• A persons body language speaks a message that at times may conflict with his / her words, but correctly interpreted the unspoken message is the more honest.

Body Language (Cont’d)

People will believe what your body says

even if you are trying to use words to say

something different. You will make the situation worse if you

try to hide your body language. What does your body say when you try

to manage people?

Body Language (Cont’d)

How well can you “read” the body

language of your boss?

What is the body language of successful

executives and how can you learn it.

Observe Unspoken Communication

• Do this at home :

* Watch a TV program with the sound switched

off. See how much of the story line you can

pick up from the context, body language,

distance and touch.

* Try the same with a news broadcast.

* In your daily activities, be aware of the silent

messages people are sending.

Observe Unspoken Communication (Cont’d)

• Try to determine the messages your body is sending.

• Catch a glimpse of yourself in a a window or mirror.

- Was your head down ? - Your face grim ? - Were you standing erect with a pleasant, interested look on your

face ?

Use Unspoken Communication

• Context

* Dress appropriately to the situation.

* Make the most of your physical

appearance through good hairstyling,

clean and well pressed clothes.

Remember ! You need not be ‘good

looking’ but you surely need to ‘look good’. Cont’d . . . .

Use Unspoken Communication (Cont’d)

• Body Language * Your facial expression should reflect the

emotion being expressed verbally.* As a listener, use your face to show interest. As

a speaker, use your face to reinforce your statements.

* Make eye contact, but do not stare. Look away when you begin to speak, but look back at the other person as you finish. Hand the conversation back to him / her. Cont’d . . . .

Use Unspoken Communication (Cont’d)

* Think of your eyes as a part of your communication tools, just as your voice is.

* Do not let your posture give a different message than your words. To convey interest in the speaker, lean forward with your back straight and your arms open.

* Use appropriate gestures. Nod agreement.* Keep an appropriate distance so that the other

person is comfortable with the space between the two of you.

Use Unspoken Communication (Cont’d)

* Use touch to convey warmth and emotional

support as when comforting a bereaved person,

but be wary of touching beyond the firm

handshakes in the business world.

* When speaking, use a resonant tone and

moderate volume. Vary the pitch and rate of

speaking.

1. Reading Body Language.

“ The most important thing in Communicating is to hear what isn’t being said ”.

Reading Body Language teaches you to

listen with your eyes as well as your ears.

Body Language (Contd)

• This includes :

- Posture - Body movement.- Gestures (Your arms)

- Facial expressions (Your eyes).

and Appearance (Your face, smile, and emotions).

- Touch

2. 2. Types of Body Types of Body LanguageLanguage

• P osture and gestures.

• E ye Contact.

• O rientation.

• P roximity.

• L ooks Appearance.

• E xpressions of Emotion.

Importance of Good Posture

• Puts your audience at ease.

• Helps you personally to stay relaxed.

• Helps you to stay alert and confident.

Good Posture - Tips

• Stand erect, relaxed with weight on both feet.

• Avoid leaning / standing on one foot.

• Avoid standing with feet wide apart.

Movement

MOVE TO : Hold Attention.

Get rid of Nervousness.

Suggest transitions.

Increase emphasis through gestures.

Gestures

• To Emphasise.

• To Point.

• To Reject.

• To Describe.

Gestures - Suggestions

• Vary gestures.

• Use appropriate gestures.

• Avoid continuous gestures.

• Match timing of gesture with thought expressed.

Mannerisms to Avoid

• Swaying from side to side, backwards and forwards.

• Fiddling with markers, pointers etc.

• Placing hands in pockets.

• Meaningless repetitive gestures.

• Pacing to and fro.

• Waving arms.

Light House Techniques

• Sweep your audience with your eyes staying only 2 - 3 seconds on each

person.

• Avoid looking at one member or at a fixed point on the wall / floor / ceiling.

Facial Expressions / Appearance

• Smile - It improves your face value.

• Be enthusiastic.

• Show sincerity.

• Dress appropriately.

3. Using Body Language

• IDENTIFY the positive signs you

can use.

• UNDERSTAND the negative signs you may give.

• BEWARE of giving conflicting signs.

4. Visual Clues and What They Mean. (General)

Behaviour Likely MeaningLack of movement Playing safe.

Sitting back “Let me think about it.”

Impatient sigh, hands on hips, Aggressive.pursed lips, chin thrust forward

Arms or legs crossed Closed to ideas, unreceptive.

Jacket buttoned Formal.

Jacket unbuttoned Informal.

Visual Clues (Body)

Behaviour Likely Meaning

Body : Leaning back Skeptical, unwilling to commit.

Body : Leaning back Relaxed, possiblewith hands behind reservations, no sense head. of urgency.

Body : Leaning forward Positive interest in topic.

Body : Slouching Trying to be unobtrusive, low self esteem.

Visual Clues (Eyes)

Behaviour Likely MeaningEyes blinking slowly Uncomfortable, not willing

to be there.Eyes at top left Quickly evaluating and

planning next manouvre – possibly hostile.

Eyes at top right Doing mental problem solving, trying to figure

something out.

Eyes darting Anxious, unconfident, not prepared.

And more clues (Eyes)

Behaviour Likely Meaning

Eyes narrowed Evaluating, assessing.

Eyes staring Not paying attention, day dreaming .

Eyes wide Interested, making an

important point. Eyes looking over tops Evaluating, assessing.of glasses

Visual Clues (Hands) Behaviour Likely MeaningHands clasped in front Possibly conservative,

closed mind.

Hands on hips / hip jut Confident, bordering on arrogant – issuing a

challenge. Hands open, palms down Demanding – showing

control.

Hands open, palms up Asking, wanting, needing – showing vulnerability.

Hands folded in lap / stomach Protective.

Hands on desk “Lets do business”.

Visual Clues (Head and Smile)

Behaviour Likely Meaning

Head straight on Confident.

Head tilted back Arrogant, cocky.

Head tilted down Shy, ashamed or lying.

Head cocked to one side Listening with interest.

Smile with eyes crinkled Joyful, expressing pleasure.

Smile without eyes crinkled Trying to gain approval.

Visual Clues (Contd)

* Be aware of facial expressions like : Rolling your eyes, making faces, frowning

etc.* Put a smile in your face and voice.* Lack of eye contact conveys conflicting

feelings / incomplete communication.* Look person in the eye. It depicts

interest and self confidence.

Visual Clues (Contd)

• Shifting weight from one foot to another, avoiding eye contact, head down, stooping shoulders, nervous movements and closed body and hand gestures – non aggressive.

• Cocking head – showing interest.

“ To know how to refuse is as

important as to know how to consent ”.

Assertiveness.

• Meaning.- Confidence translated into Action.- Not bullying nor brow beating, but

simply allowing convictions to carry conversation.

Honesty combined with a non-confrontationalmanner makes ASSERTIVENESS the mostvaluable tool in the managerial kit.

Assertiveness ! !What it comprises.

• Eye contact.• Body posture.• Distance.• Gestures.• Facial expression and tone of voice.• Fluency.• Timing.• Listening.• Content.

How to Assert ?

• Project confident Body Language.- Lean towards person you are influencing.- Get into his space.- Don’t slouch.- Make and maintain eye contact.- If you sit, don’t fidgit; if you stand, don’t pace.

• Speak with authority. - Assertive people enunciate.

- Speak clearly. Address someone in particular, rather than the air.

How to Assert ? (Contd)

• Take ownership of issues. - Use ‘I’ statements.

- Let people know how you feel about issues.

- Stick to the point and end on a strong note.

- Don’t dwindle and say “and so on” or “etc, etc”.

• Confirm understandings.- Build commitment to action. (Can you see why I’m

upset ?”, “Do you agree with my point ?”)

How to Assert ? (Contd)

• Present your ideas with confidence.- Let your confidence show.- Don’t be afraid to defend the processes you’ve set out.- Don’t feel guilty about saying no.- Don’t be stubborn.- Incorporate any ‘improvement’ to your plan if

offered.

• Focus.- Don’t get sidetracked.- Restate your concern, if conversation goes around in

circles.

How to Assert ? (Contd)

• Confine discussion to specific facts and have supporting documentation at hand.

• Do not generalise about issues.- Solve individual problems to your satisfaction.- Do not make generalised accusations about a

subordinates incompetence.

• Maintain your authority- Never begin with an apology or an accusation.- Balance the ‘rights’ and ‘responsibilities’, equally.- Do not use authority to silence the other person

prematurely. Always AGREE TO DISAGREE.

-

Where you need to be really assertive.

• Responding assertively to a marriage partner.

• Dealing with colleagues at work more assertively.

• Returning faulty goods to a shop or unsatisfactory food in a restaurant.

• Not responding aggressively in a situation.

• Being able to speak in front of a group of people or deliver a short speech.

39

Individuals who keep on learning continuously, can dream of becoming THE BEST !

Thank you - All you wonderful students for your participation & keen interest.

for your efforts & keen interest.

Presented by

LT COL SUNIL BRIJKRISHAN

Consultant – ‘Soft Skills’ and ‘Behavioural Skills’4, Konark Cottages, 9, Viman Nagar, Pune – 411 014

Tel : (M) 98231 25464 ; (R) 020 – 2663 2513

E-mail : sunbrij@rediffmail.com ; colsunil@gmail.com