Index
A
acquainters, 120–122
active listening, 155
analogies, 60
audience
acquainters, 120–122
asking the audience questions, 43, 123, 152–154
engagement, 7–8, 130–134, 152–154
facilitation techniques, 122–124, 155–157
greeting audience members, 119
handling difficult questioners, 149–151
issues with the, 96–97
openers, 120–122
virtual presentations without video streaming, 129–130
audience analysis
Audience Analysis tool, 18–19
audience expertise, 22–23, 91
conducting a needs assessment, 23–25
importance of, 89
presenting to organizational superiors, 91-92
size of the audience, 19–20, 139
tool, 18–19
audience expectations
of an effective presentation, 20–22
identifying, 9–10
motivations for attending, 9
past experiences, 8–9
audio considerations
microphone options, 32
when giving a virtual presentation, 130
authenticity, 58
B
body language, 86–87
brainstorming by the participants, 65
briefings, 11
C
chat function, 131
closing(s)
importance of an effective, 48–49
suggestions, 49
for virtual presentations, 139–140
clothing choice, 117-118
color(s)
consistency, 67
to structure content on a flipchart, 69
Common Virtual Presentation Platform Tools, 135–136
communication
body language, 86–87
speaking clearly and articulating, 89
Communication Skills Assessment tool, 106–107
conference sessions, 13
confidence, demonstrating, 89
consistency throughout the presentation, 67
content length, 88
contingency plans
importance of having, 92–93
Presenter’s Contingency Toolkit, 94–98
control, demonstrating, 93, 96, 98
co-presenting, 13–15, 27–28, 39, 132, 134, 139, 148-149
counting down to a successful presentation
breaking up the necessary tasks, 108–110
Countdown to Successful Presentations Checklist, 110–111
D
data visualizations
bar graphs, 67–68
data tables, 67
line graphs, 68
pie charts, 68
Day-Of Presentation Checklist, 118-119
demonstrations
procedural, 65–66
product, 12
developing and structuring a presentation
1–conducting your research, 38–39
2–deciding on main points, 39–41
3–starting with an effective opening, 41–45, 90
4–inserting transitions between points, 45–46, 101
5–planning examples and visual aids, 46–48
6–ending with an effective closing, 48–49
Presentation Content Assessment, 53–54
Presentation Content Worksheet, 51–52
Presentation Qualities Assessment, 108
E
energizers, 61–62
energy and showing enthusiasm, 7
engagement
Activities to Engage Participants tool, 80–82
analogies, 60
with the audience, 7–8, 55, 152–154
brainstorming, 65
demonstrations, 65–66
energizers, 61–62
facilitation techniques, 123–124, 157
games and brainteasers, 62–65
metaphors, 60
polls, 133
quotations, 59
sizzle, 64
storytelling, 43, 56–59
when giving a virtual presentation, 130–134
evaluation. See feedback
examples
giving, 88-89
to illustrate detailed explanations, 46–47
F
Facilitation Skills Worksheet, 157
facilitation techniques, 123–124, 157
Fancy Sayings activity, 122
fear of public speaking, 5
feedback
electronic surveys, 160–161
increasing response rates, 161
paper evaluation forms (“smile sheets”), 159–160
Presentation Planning and Improvement Worksheet, 163–165
self-evaluation, 162
show of hands, 161–162
flipcharts
appropriate use of, 70–71
and audience interaction, 47–48
readability and visibility, 69
“touch, turn, talk” method, 68–69
where to stand when using, 68
flow of a presentation
getting to new information quickly, 41
rehearsing to verify the, 101
sequence of ideas, 40
G
games and brainteasers, 62–65
goals of the presentation
determining the purpose of a presentation, 25
Meeting the Needs of Your Audience tool, 27
using the SMART framework, 25–26
graphs and charts. See data visualizations
H
handouts, 73–74
humor, 151
I
icebreakers
acquainters, 120–122
openers, 120–121
purpose of, 43, 120
introducing yourself, 44–45
J
jargon, 89
jokes, 43
K
key information, repeating, 49
L
language
body language, 86–87
speaking clearly and articulating, 89
lectures, 11
legal considerations
citing sources, 39
distributing copyrighted material, 39
lighting, 30–31
listening
active listening, 155
Listening Self-Assessment Checklist, 156
M
metaphors, 60
mindfulness, 115–116
missing the mark of your presentation, 87–92
N
needs assessment
formal vs. informal, 24–25
qualitative vs. quantitative information, 24
need-to-know information, 19
nervousness
body language, 86–87
demonstrating confidence, 89
fear of public speaking, 5
hiding your, 113–114
mindfulness, 115–116
positive thinking, 116–117
visualization, 114–115, 119
note cards
carrying two sets of, 103
overpreparing by writing out every word, 100
using symbols on, 104
O
openers, 120–121
opening(s)
example of a powerful, 42
goals of an effective, 41
importance of a strong, 102–103
inappropriate or annoying, 90
memorizing the, 100
suggestions for, 42–44
P
personal introduction, 44–45
pitfalls
avoidable mishaps, 83–85
body language, 86–87
missing the mark of your presentation, 87–88
physical issues, 90–91
Presenter’s Contingency Toolkit, 94–98
tips and tricks for common problems, 90–92
venue mishaps, 85–86, 94–96
during a virtual presentation, 84, 136–138
when using visual aids, 92
planning
lighting, 30–31
with a partner, 27–28
preparations on the day of the presentation, 117–120
Presentation Logistics tool, 33–36
seating, 29–30
technology, 31–33
temperature of the presentation room, 31
time of day considerations, 28
polls, 132
positive thinking, 116–117
PowerPoint and other presentation software, 71–73, 133
practicing your presentation
memorizing the opening, 99
overpreparing by writing out every word on note cards, 100
Presentation Qualities Assessment, 108
using visual aids and props, 101–102
verifying the flow of the presentation, 101
virtual presentations, 138
where and how to practice, 104–106
preparations on the day of the presentation, 117–120
Presentation Content Assessment, 53–54
Presentation Content Worksheet, 51–52
Presentation Planning and Improvement Worksheet, 163–165
Presentation Qualities Assessment, 108
presentation style
qualities that good speakers demonstrate, 100
sizzle, 64
staying true to your personality, 7
Presenter’s Contingency Toolkit, 94–98
problems with your presentation. See pitfalls
props, 74–75
public speaking
as a career, 8
fear of, 5
getting professional help with, 105
Toastmasters International, 105
Q
questions
asking the audience, 43, 123, 152–154
to consider when creating a virtual presentation, 128
difficult questioners, 149-151
expecting the audience to have, 49, 97
Facilitation Skills Worksheet, 156
letting the audience know when to ask, 144–145
listening and responding to, 145–146, 153
preparing for, 146–148
Q&A sessions, 124–125, 143–144
repeated, 96
responding to curveballs, 89, 119
using humor to deflect, 151
during a virtual presentation, 137–138, 139, 151
when working with a co-presenter, 148
quotations, 59
R
rehearsing. See practicing your presentation
relaxation
positive thinking, 116–117
warm-up exercises, 118
research
within a limited time frame, 38
sources, 38–39
taking notes on, 39
retention of content, 61
role as a presenter
co-presenting, 13–15, 27–28, 39, 132, 134, 139, 148
determining the type of presentation, 10–13
reasons for you being selected, 5–6
sharing your passion, 7
Understanding Your Role tool, 6
room setup
lighting, 30–31
microphone options, 32
resolving issues with, 93–95
seating arrangements matrix, 29–30
technology, 31–33
temperature, 31
viewing guidelines, 33
S
sales presentations
goal of, 12
product demonstrations, 12
seating
fixing problematic seating arrangements, 90
room setup matrix, 29–30
and viewing considerations, 33
self-talk, 116
silence
during a virtual presentation, 134
when responding to a question, 119
sizzle, 64
SMART framework for presentation goals, 25–26
speeches, 11–12
spontaneity, 60
storytelling
authenticity, 58
avoiding spur-of-the-moment stories and analogies, 60
developing stories, 57–58
elements of a good story, 57
opening with a story, 43
purpose of, 56
putting a positive spin on a story, 58–59
to reinforce your message, 57
T
technology
chat function, 131
Common Virtual Presentation Platform Tools, 135–136
housekeeping details for virtual presentations, addressing, 137
permission settings for shared tools, 138
polls, 132
PowerPoint and other presentation software, 71–73, 133
pre-presentation planning, 31–33
software updates, 139
technical know-how, 132, 134–136
virtual presentations, 12, 84, 127–142, 151
temperature of the presentation room, 31
time
keeping to the allotted, 88
time of day considerations, 28
tips and tricks for common problems, 89–91
title of the presentation, 9, 49–50
Toastmasters International, 105
training sessions, 12–13
transitions between speaking points, 45–46, 101
types of presentations
and the speaker’s role, 10
briefings, 11
conference sessions, 13
lectures, 11
sales presentations, 12
speeches, 11–12
training sessions, 12–13
V
Van Oech, Roger, 74–75
venue mishaps, 85–86, 93–95
virtual presentations
advantages of, 138–139
asking and answering questions during, 137–138, 139, 151
audience attention span, 130–131
chat function, 131
closing, 139–140
Common Virtual Presentation Platform Tools, 135–136
group dynamics, 128–129
housekeeping details, 137
incentives for participants to stay, 131
livestreaming all participants, 129–130
permission settings for shared tools, 138
pitfalls, 84
polls, 132
practicing, 138
the presenter’s role in, 12
questions to consider, 128
recording for a later date, 138–139
similarity to in-person presentations, 127–129
software updates, 140
technical know-how, 134, 136–138
Virtual Presentation Checklist, 140–142
visual aids, 132–134
without video streaming, 129–130
visual aids
color consistency, 67
as crutches during the presentation, 119
data visualizations, 67–68
flipcharts, 47–48, 68–71
guidelines, 47, 75–77
handouts, 73–74
to illustrate detailed explanations, 46–47
pitfalls when using, 92
PowerPoint and other presentation software, 71–73, 133
practicing with, 101–102
props, 74–75
seating and viewing considerations, 33
selecting appropriate, 47–48, 66–67
text sizing, 75–76
during virtual presentations, 132–134
Visual Aids Assessment tool, 78–79
visualization, 114–115, 118
W
warm-up exercises, 118
whiteboards, 47–48