CBORD UGC 2008 - Tips for a Great Presentation

Our conference staff is available to help make your presentation run smoothly. Please call upon us to help you with any of the following:

• Review your presentation outline.
• Run through your presentation.
• Edit your presentation.

Tips for Presenters

• Engage your audience by introducing yourself and your co-presenter(s). State your qualifications and interests.
• The average adult attention span is less than 10 minutes. A combination of lecture and audiovisual aides will help keep your audience interested.
• Stick to your outline! Attendees will be disappointed if audience comments and questions divert you from advertised topics.
• Help your listeners stay on track.
• Watch the clock! Only 15 minutes is scheduled between sessions for attendees to find their next sessions and for other presenters to set up in the room you are in. Be courteous and stay on time.
• Collect session evaluations. A labeled envelope will be in your assigned room along with blank evaluations. Stress to attendees the importance of filling out the evaluations, and be sure to allow time at the end of your session for this purpose.
• Get an early start on your presentation!

 

Three ways to feel comfortable while presenting:

• feeling thoroughly familiar with the content of the presentation;
• feeling in control of the presentation and the audience; and
• feeling that slides, video, or other visuals are supporting the presentation rather than serving as a cause of stress.

 

Tips for Putting Together a Presentation

Structure

The Rule of Tell ’Em
Tell ’em what you’re gonna tell ’em, and then tell ’em what you told ’em.

Translation: Start with the introduction (including an agenda or set of goals for the presentation), provide the content, and summarize the presentation.

KIS—Keep It Simple
There are numerous ways to apply this concept. The bottom line is that the more complicated you let your presentation get, the more trouble you can expect: keep your presentation focused on the message.

There’s something to be said for winging it: “Forget it!”

To present the most professional image, you need to know your presentation. Rehearsing the presentation includes more than just going over what you will be saying; rehearsing includes practicing the entire presentation.

Pace Yourself: Don’t Go Too Fast or Too Slow
A general rule: every PowerPoint slide deserves at least 10 seconds, and none should demand more than 100. If you find yourself spending several minutes on one slide, consider breaking it up. Obviously, some charts or graphics may take several minutes to present properly.

Control Your Audience, Not Your Computer:

• Face your audience.
• Observe your audience.
• Make eye contact—don’t wander around the room, and don’t look down. Wandering can be a sign of nervousness, whereas looking down may be perceived as unpreparedness or uncertainty.
• Lose the computer—that is, don’t hide behind it. Get a remote mouse and stand in front of the group, where you belong, as presenter, leader, moderator, and communicator.

Defer Questions; Follow Up Later
Retain control of the presentation’s flow. When appropriate, defer questions until late in the presentation or afterward.

If You Defer Any Questions
Follow through as promised. Nothing will damage your credibility in the long run more than not keeping your word.

Five Things to Do When You Are All Done

1. Thank your audience!
2. Make your materials available.
3. Make yourself available.
4. Provide the attendees with a method of reaching you.
5. Get feedback—find out what the audience thought of you, what they learned, what they were hoping to learn but didn’t, how you can improve your presentation, how to improve your communication skills, etc. (Be sure to collect session evaluations from your attendees.)

 

Thank you for being a part of CBORD’s 29th Annual User Group Conference!

Return to the Presenters' Corner page.

 

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