PRESENTATION SKILL
UNIT-2 PRESENTATION SKILLS
1.PREPARING OF A GOOD PRESENTATION
1. Define Your Purpose and Audience
Goal: Start with the main goal. Are you informing, persuading, or educating?
Audience: Tailor your language, content depth, and examples to suit them.
2. Outline Your Content
Structure: Plan your slides with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
o Introduction: Briefly introduce the topic and set the agenda.
o Body: Dive into your main points with examples, data, and visuals.
o Conclusion: Summarize key takeaways and include a call to action or a
memorable closing thought.
Limit Text: Keep text concise. Use bullet points and avoid long paragraphs.
3. Design with Impact
Slide Layouts: Use consistent fonts, colors, and layout styles. Aim for a professional
and clean look.
Images and Graphics: Use high-quality visuals, graphs, and charts to make points
clearer and more memorable.
Text and Font: Use large, readable fonts (24-point minimum for text, 32-point for
headings).
Color Contrast: Choose colors with good contrast, especially for text readability.
4. Keep it Engaging
Storytelling: Where possible, tell a story or use real-life examples to make your
points relatable.
Questions: Prompt the audience with questions to keep them involved and provoke
thought.
Pacing: Change slides and topics at a steady pace to keep the flow dynamic.
5. Practice and Prepare
Rehearse: Practice in front of a mirror or record yourself. Time it to stay within
limits.
Feedback: Present to a friend or colleague and get feedback.
Tech Check: Ensure all equipment (e.g., laptop, projector) works and you know the
setup at the venue.
6. Presentation Delivery Tips
Body Language: Stand straight, make eye contact, and use natural gestures.
Pacing and Pauses: Speak slowly and pause between points.
Be Enthusiastic: Your energy will influence your audience’s engagement.
2. VERBAL COMMUNICATION FOR PRESENTATION :
Effective verbal communication during a presentation is key to delivering your message with
clarity and impact. Here are some tips to improve your verbal communication:
1. Start Strong
Grab Attention: Start with an interesting fact, a short story, or a rhetorical question.
Introduce Yourself and Your Topic: Briefly explain why the topic matters and what
the audience will gain.
2. Use Clear and Concise Language
Simplify Complex Ideas: Break down complex points into easily understandable
language.
Avoid Jargon: Use terms your audience understands or explain them if they’re
necessary.
3. Practice Pacing and Pausing
Pacing: Speak slowly enough for the audience to follow but not so slowly that you
lose their interest.
Pauses: Pause between key points or after asking a question. It emphasizes important
ideas and gives listeners time to process.
4. Emphasize Key Points with Tone Variation
Vary Your Pitch and Volume: This helps prevent a monotone delivery, making your
presentation more engaging.
Emphasize Important Words: Raise or lower your pitch to stress key points or
ideas.
5. Articulate Clearly
Pronounce Words Fully: Avoid mumbling; make sure each word is clear.
Practice Difficult Words: If there are complex terms or phrases, practice them ahead
of time to avoid stumbling.
6. Use Intentional Gestures and Expressions
Body Language: Stand confidently and use hand gestures naturally to emphasize
points.
Facial Expressions: Smile, show enthusiasm, and mirror the emotions in your
presentation content.
7. Engage with Eye Contact
Connect with the Audience: Make eye contact with different people throughout the
room to make them feel involved.
Avoid Reading Directly from Slides or Notes: Glance occasionally if needed, but
focus on speaking directly to the audience.
8. Encourage Interaction
Ask Questions: Invite the audience to think or respond.
Use Rhetorical Questions: These help draw the audience in and make them reflect
on your message.
9. Conclude with Impact
Summarize Key Points: Briefly recap the main takeaways.
End with a Call to Action or Thought-Provoking Statement: Leave the audience
with something memorable or actionable.
10. Practice, Practice, Practice
Rehearse: Familiarize yourself with the material so you can speak smoothly and
naturally.
Record Yourself: Playback will help you identify areas for improvement, like speed
or filler words.
3.NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION IN PRESENTATION :
Nonverbal communication can be just as impactful as what you say in a presentation. Here
are some key areas to consider for effective nonverbal communication:
1. Body Language
Posture: Stand tall with a confident, open posture. Avoid slouching or crossing your
arms, as it can seem defensive or closed-off.
Movement: Move with purpose. Avoid pacing or fidgeting but feel free to shift
positions occasionally to engage different parts of the audience.
Gestures: Use your hands to emphasize points. Natural gestures can make you
appear more animated and engaged, but avoid repetitive or overly dramatic
gestures.
2. Eye Contact
Connect Individually: Make eye contact with different audience members to
establish a connection and make your presentation feel more personal.
Scan the Room: Move your gaze across the audience to keep everyone engaged and
to avoid focusing on just one area or person.
Avoid Staring at Notes or Slides: Maintain as much eye contact as possible to create
rapport and demonstrate confidence in your material.
3. Facial Expressions
Show Genuine Emotion: Let your facial expressions reflect your enthusiasm,
interest, or seriousness about the topic.
Smile When Appropriate: A smile helps create warmth and friendliness, especially at
the start and during lighter moments.
Avoid Tension: Try not to let nervousness show in your face, such as clenched jaw or
tight lips, as this can affect audience perception.
4. Tone and Pitch
Vary Your Tone: A varied tone keeps the audience interested and emphasizes key
points. Avoid a monotone delivery, which can quickly become dull.
Control Volume: Speak loudly enough for everyone to hear, but adjust your volume
for emphasis, using softer tones for reflective moments and stronger tones for
emphasis.
Pace and Pauses: Use pauses to add impact, especially before and after important
points.
5. Personal Space and Proximity
Consider Physical Space: Move closer to the audience occasionally (if it’s
appropriate) to build a sense of connection.
Respect Boundaries: Avoid encroaching on personal space, especially in smaller
settings, to ensure the audience remains comfortable.
6. Appearance
Dress Appropriately: Wear attire that suits the setting and audience, as your
appearance contributes to the impression you make before you even speak.
Confidence in Appearance: Dressing well can boost your own confidence, which
reflects in your nonverbal cues.
7. Energy and Enthusiasm
Engage Through Energy: Let your enthusiasm show in your expressions and gestures;
it’s contagious and keeps the audience interested.
Control Nervous Energy: If you feel jittery, use deep breaths and relaxed gestures to
channel your energy into confident movements.
8. Mirroring
Observe the Audience: If appropriate, subtly mirror the audience’s body language to
build rapport. For example, if they’re leaning forward, leaning forward slightly
yourself can foster a sense of connection.
4. visual aids/materials in presentation:
1. Slides (PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides)
Minimal Text: Keep slides concise with bullet points or keywords instead of lengthy
paragraphs.
Consistent Design: Use a cohesive color scheme, font, and layout. Aim for clarity, not
decoration.
Limit Slides: Use only essential slides; too many can overwhelm and distract.
Readable Font Size: Text should be at least 24-point for readability from a distance.
2. Images and Photos
High-Quality Photos: Use clear, high-resolution images to illustrate your points, tell a
story, or evoke emotion.
Relevant and Purposeful: Choose images that support or enhance your content, not
just to fill space.
Avoid Overuse: Use images sparingly to maintain the focus on key ideas without
overcrowding the slides.
3. Charts and Graphs
Choose the Right Type: Use pie charts for proportions, bar charts for comparisons,
and line graphs for trends.
Keep It Simple: Avoid complicated charts with too much data. Focus on key points
and avoid excessive details.
Add Clear Labels: Ensure axes, titles, and data points are labeled to avoid confusion.
4. Infographics
Visual Summaries: Use infographics to visually summarize complex information,
combining images, text, and data.
Easy-to-Follow Layout: Arrange information in a logical flow and use icons and
visuals to guide the audience’s attention.
Readable Text: Use clear, readable fonts and avoid overcrowding the design with too
many elements.
5. Videos and Animations
Use for Emphasis: Videos and animations can demonstrate a process, showcase
examples, or highlight a story.
Short and Relevant: Keep videos brief (under a minute or two) and relevant to the
topic.
Practice with Timing: Ensure you know when to play the video and how it fits within
your speaking flow.
6. Handouts
Supplementary Information: Use handouts to provide detailed information or
summaries the audience can take with them.
Simple and Clear: Design handouts that are easy to read with clear sections or bullet
points.
Timing: Distribute handouts at the end to avoid distraction unless they’re needed for
interactive parts of your presentation.
7. Whiteboard or Flip Chart
Interactive Visuals: Draw or write key points, diagrams, or ideas in real-time to
engage the audience.
Keep It Simple: Stick to high-level sketches or ideas. Detailed visuals are better
suited for slides.
Pre-Draw Key Points: For time management, prepare some sections in advance if
possible.
8. Props or Physical Objects
Real-Life Demonstrations: For tangible subjects, use physical objects to create a
memorable experience (e.g., a product sample).
Keep It Simple: Only use props if they directly enhance understanding and avoid
overcrowding the stage or presentation space.
9. Interactive Visuals (Polls or Quizzes)
Audience Engagement: Use live polls, quizzes, or interactive slides (via platforms like
Mentimeter or Kahoot) to involve the audience.
Keep It Brief: Use these tools to add brief, engaging interactions rather than lengthy
detour.
5.Analyzing audience and managing questions:
1. Analyzing Your Audience
Understand Their Background: Consider the audience’s level of expertise, industry,
and familiarity with the topic. Tailor your content accordingly—whether you need to
explain basics or dive into advanced details.
Identify Their Interests and Needs: Think about why the audience is attending and
what they hope to gain. Address specific interests and pain points that might resonate
with them.
Consider Demographics: Age, cultural background, professional role, and other
demographic factors can influence how you frame your points and examples.
Gauge Preferred Communication Style: Some audiences prefer data-heavy
presentations, while others might value stories, visuals, or case studies. Adapt your
approach to match their preferences.
Anticipate Questions and Concerns: Based on their background, anticipate which
areas may need clarification or may raise doubts.
2. Structuring Your Presentation for Audience Engagement
Address “What’s in it for them” (WIIFT): Early in the presentation, make it clear
how your topic benefits the audience. Highlight what they stand to gain from your
message.
Use Examples and Relatable Scenarios: Share examples that align with the
audience’s experiences or industry. Real-life applications make your points more
accessible and impactful.
Encourage Interaction: Include interactive elements, like asking questions,
conducting quick polls, or inviting them to share thoughts if the setting allows.
Monitor Nonverbal Cues: As you present, pay attention to body language—are they
nodding, leaning in, or looking disengaged? Adjust your approach based on their
reactions.
3. Managing Questions Effectively
Set Expectations: At the beginning, let the audience know when questions will be
addressed—either throughout or in a dedicated Q&A at the end.
Listen Actively: When a question is asked, listen carefully without interrupting.
Repeat the question if it’s unclear or if other audience members may not have heard it.
Stay Calm and Positive: Approach each question with openness. Even if a question
seems challenging, show appreciation, as it reflects engagement.
Clarify Before Answering: If a question is vague, ask for clarification. For example,
“Could you expand on that?” or “Are you asking about X or Y specifically?”
Be Honest About Unknowns: If you’re unsure of an answer, be honest. Offer to
follow up after the presentation or invite the audience to discuss solutions
collectively.
Keep Answers Concise: Stay on topic and avoid lengthy responses that might detract
from your main points or disrupt the flow.
Redirect Off-Topic Questions: Politely steer unrelated questions back to the main
topic. You might say, “That’s an interesting question—perhaps we can discuss it after
the presentation.”
4. Handling Difficult or Challenging Questions
Acknowledge the Validity: If a question challenges your viewpoint, acknowledge it
respectfully before presenting your perspective.
Use Bridge Statements: If you’re pivoting back to your main points, use bridging
phrases like, “That’s a great point, and it brings us back to…”
Invite Group Input: If appropriate, invite other audience members to contribute,
especially if the question could benefit from diverse perspectives.
5. Wrap-Up Q&A and End Positively
Summarize Key Takeaways: After the Q&A, briefly recap your main points to
reinforce them before concluding.
End on a Strong Note: Conclude with a memorable statement, call-to-action, or a
thank-you to leave a positive impression.
