Frank S. Adamo joins Ken
Blanchard, Brian Tracy & Stephen Covey in this new book which will
focus on topics that are necessary to succeed in your business or
personal life. There are 22 chapters in the book discussing management,
success, etiquette, negotiation, marketing, networking,
courage, leadership, work force issues, customer service and Frank's
chapter on how to transcend your fear of speaking in front of an
audience.
Providing tips for every presentation scenario and giving basic instruction for
presenters new and old,“31 Tips to Becoming an Effective Presenter” is a key
resource for readers interested in improving their skills as effective public
communicators. The book is available at bookstores worldwide
or can be
ordered through the publisher:
Effective
Presentations for Chemists and Other Scientists
Click Here
for Details
This article
discusses issues for chemists and other scientists, but the concepts
presented can also apply to many technical professionals, CEOs and
presidents of corporations and other businesses.
The concepts
discussed include writing your speech, simplifying your message,
reducing unnecessary verbiage, refraining from using jargon, focusing
on benefits - not data, writing your conclusion first, starting with
an attention getter, reducing ahs, ums, and other filler words,
answering questions, and developing your skills.
We
write our presentation to refine it, to massage it, to rearrange it, to
organize it better, and to remove verbiage that is not necessary.
Tip 2: Starting with
the conclusion
If
your intent is to persuade, consider writing the conclusion first.
Tip 3: Using the power of three
Of
all odd numbers, three seems to be the “ideal” and, perhaps, the most
powerful.
Tip 4: Grabbing the audience’s attention
Grab the audience’s attention immediately, then if there’s a need,
compliment or thank the organizers and the audience.
Tip 5: Organizing Your Presentation
One of the
easiest ways to organize your presentation is to create PowerPoint
slides from Microsoft Word.
Tip 6: Practicing without
visual aids
PowerPoint and other visual
aids should be used only to enhance your presentation– not to distract
from it.
Tip 7: Rehearsing your
presentation
To rehearse is similar to a
dress rehearsal before the opening of a play.
Tip 8: Creating a
checklist
You should develop a
checklist specific to your own needs.
Tip 9: Knowing your
location
Don’t assume that
everything is set up.
Tip 10: Familiarizing
yourself with your audience
Even if you know all your
attendees, take a few moments before the presentation to greet them.
Tip 11: Positioning the
projector and screen
To be an effective
presenter, you want to be the center of attention, i.e. to be able to
present from the center of the staging area.
Tip 12: Using the lectern
Many presenters will stand
behind the lectern when they present. If you have the opportunity,
move away from the lectern and closer to the audience (BTW, a podium
is not a lectern. A podium is the stage area where you stand.
A lectern can be on a podium).
Tip 13: Pausing before
beginning
Take a moment or two and
pause before you begin your presentation.
Tip 14: Apologizing
Remember, you are the
expert. People came to hear you speak. If you acknowledge a mistake,
it may lower the expectation of your audience.
Tip 15: Using PowerPoint
or other visual aids
PowerPoint is a tremendous
tool that should not be ignored, but the slides need to enhance our
presentation
and not detract from the ultimate
goal of our message.
Tip 16: Using outlines
If you leave the lectern to
engage the audience, you can always return to the lectern, quickly
glance at the outline, and continue with the next topic without
interruption.
Tip 17: Avoiding jargon or
acronyms
Refrain from using your
industry’s jargon, abbreviations, or acronyms, even if you are
presenting in front
of colleagues.
Tip 18: Doing your
research
Do your research. Learn
about the client. Understand who they are and what they do.
Tip 19: Making eye contact
Eye contact is extremely
important to the audience.
Tip 20: Understanding
different cultures
In general, we can make
direct eye contact with Middle Easterners, some Latin Americans, and
the French.
Refrain from making direct eye contact with East Asians, Southeast
Asians, East Indians, and Native Americans.
Tip 21: Focusing on
benefits, not features
Benefits emotionalize
features
Tip 22: Shortening your
presentation
Have you been in a
situation where there are a series of presenters and the scheduled
events were running behind time?
Tip 23: Answering
questions
After a few questions and
answers, your excitement from the powerful conclusion waned and you
left without taking any action.
Tip 24: Distributing
handouts
My choice is to distribute
the handouts at the end of the presentation.
Tip 25: Broadcasting your
outline
Don’t give any indication
of your outline unless you have control of your time.
Tip 26: Learning from
every presentation
If you were not effective
in giving a presentation, be open-minded and learn from it.
Tip 27: Getting feedback
Read the comments – even
the negative comments.
Tip 28: Mingling with the
audience
We should mingle with the
audience after our presentation. Of course, there may be times when
this isn’t possible but if you can, you should.
Tip 29: Following up
Be sure that you follow up
within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
Tip 30: Evaluating others
As you observe and evaluate
others, learn from them—both the good and bad.
Tip 31: Joining
Toastmasters
Toastmasters have helped
millions of individuals gain confidence and poise
by improving their
communications
and leadership skills.
Frank S. Adamo joins Ken Blanchard, Brian Tracy & Stephen Covey in this
new book which will focus on topics that are necessary to succeed in your
business or personal life. There will be 15 chapters total in the book
including Management, Success, Etiquette, Negotiation, Marketing,
Networking, Courage, Leadership, Work Force Issues, Customer Service and
Frank's chapter on how to transcend your fear of speaking in front of an
audience.- $19.95
