Train the Trainers: Presentation

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)(Refer all the previous posts for better understanding and benefits for you).

It will be also worthwhile to read about the presentation skills at: (Presentation Skills) http://presentation-effectiveness.blogspot.com/ and about public speaking at: (Public Speaking) http://public-speak-skill.blogspot.com/

Oral Presentation Advice

Things to think About

• Oral Communication is different from written communication:
  -Listeners have one chance to hear your talk and can't "re-read" when they get confused.
  -To communicate your points effectively stick to K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid). Focus on getting one to three key points across.
  -Tell them what you're going to tell them (forecast), tell them, and tell them what you told them (summary).
• Think about your audience.
• Think about your goals.
• Prepare.
• Practice in public.

During Your Training Presentation

• State your objectives at start of your talk and then restate them again at the end of the talk. In the body of your talk, talk about how your material relates to these objectives.
• Avoid making unnecessary jokes.
• Speak at a normal pace.
• Speak loud enough.
• Check for understanding:
  -Notice if your audience is doing what you have asked them to do.
  -Ask if there are any questions so far.
  -Make sure everyone is keeping up with you.
• Watch your body language.
• Be interactive- pose questions and make eye contact.
• Be prepared for interruptions.
• Look at your audience, not at the board or at the computer screen or LCD projection etc.
• Remember what may come as second nature to you is new and may be very challenging for your audience. Be patient and polite.
• Always have a back up plan in case there is some problem with the technology (power out, web site down, LCD or laptop not working etc).
• Repeat/restate each question:
  -The entire audience should hear the question.
  -Be sure of what is being asked.
• Wait for the person to finish answering the question.
• When to answer questions?
  -Answer right away- questions that are on topic and can help most people in the class.
  -Postpone until break or after a talk questions aimed at resolving specific problems, off topic questions.
• Avoid prolonged discussions with one person.
• If you don't know the answer, admit it. Then you can:
  -Offer to find the answer and get back to the person.
  -Suggest someone else to contact, references etc.
  -Ask the audience for suggestions.

Reach Your Audience at Different Levels

• Rational/intellectual- appeal to the mind.
• Emotional- appeal to the heart.
• Spiritual- appeal to the soul (meaning to mind and heart together).

Depending upon the requirements.

(You may like to use the additional reference material pertaining to becoming a great trainer at Management Games, Management Exercises and Icebreakers at http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/ and http://management-games-icebreakers.blogspot.com/ and
Management Anecdotes or Management Case Studies at http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/ or http://corporate-case-studies.blogspot.com/)