Speeeech help! - Page 2

Will · 12-08-2009, 15:17

No humour or sarcasm, but use some ad-hoc/ad-lib humour if the mood works for it.

Prepare relevant details in a visual format. I repeat RELEVANT to the presentation.

Keep data and data representation clear and simple to read - and again, relevant! However visual representation is VERY important. Figures in black and white have less impact than graphs and data/statistic tools.

Keep presentation bullet pointed and to the point. They are there to prompt you. LEARN YOUR SUBJECT.

Be honest and provide the info you have been asked for.

You can add a little bit of flare to the presentation if it helps highlight certain aspects of the presentation - it's great for learning/teaching presentations.

For factual presentations however, impact and clear and neat presentation is easier.

PRACTICE your speech/presentation - time it and prepare for Q&As!!!! Have some answers ready and if you don't know, DON'T BULL****. There are ways of structuring the replies other than saying I don't know, but don't comit to answers you cannot back up.

Depending on how formal it is will also depend on whether they interact with you during the presentation - personally I ask (no matter what level and I mean BIG wigs) to leave questions until the end as further slides may answer the questions they have - secondly and personally I think it's rude to interupt a presentation unless you specifically ask if anyone has questions.

If you're prepared it's easy as you're the boss, you're the one that knows it all and you're the one that is in charge so you set the pace.

Good luck. I've given lots of presentations, to our CEO, to Lords, MPs and the Governor of the BoE... every time I've shat myself before it, but once I start I take control and realise that it's all easy as I know what I'm talking about and I'm the one in charge.

Try and have fun.

Blighter · 12-08-2009, 19:18

Thanks for all the advice

a lot of it is very helpful and never even thought of!

I'll work on it a bit and might post it here once done... I'm bound to make some fatal mistake or percentages that add up to 132%

AboveTheSalt · 12-08-2009, 22:27

As said above - at all costs, avoid sarcasm.

Humour is harder than it seems and is often a distraction; for the most part, only use humour if it illustrates a point you want to make.

Live by the simple basic rules:

tell 'em what you are going to tell 'em
give them the speil
tel l'em what you have just told 'em
they may remember the first and last facts you mentioned, they will likely forget the rest
a picture is worth a thousand words

Keep it simple and on topic and be ready to elaborate and justify but not get distracted at Question Time.

Good luck

Mark · 19-08-2009, 14:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8207849.stm

semi-pro waster · 19-08-2009, 18:37

I'm going to run counter to most of the advice and say look at Fidel Castro & Hugo Chavez - they give speeches that run for hours and they were/are leaders of countries, aspire to greatness.

More seriously you've been given a lot of good advice - another issue to consider as AboveTheSalt highlights is that people tend to remember the start and end of presentations most easily so have something interesting to engage them initially and then have a brief conclusion with the most important points you want to make.

Will · 19-08-2009, 22:36

Basic psychology of a "****" sandwich. Start on a positive, present all the "****", then end on a positive.

Blighter · 23-09-2009, 21:51

Well no more head office speech - instead the directors are coming to meet me for lunch at Bluewater o_0

*sh**s bricks*

iCraig · 23-09-2009, 21:58

In that case, make sure you get a round in.

12-08-2009, 15:17	#11
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	No humour or sarcasm, but use some ad-hoc/ad-lib humour if the mood works for it. Prepare relevant details in a visual format. I repeat RELEVANT to the presentation. Keep data and data representation clear and simple to read - and again, relevant! However visual representation is VERY important. Figures in black and white have less impact than graphs and data/statistic tools. Keep presentation bullet pointed and to the point. They are there to prompt you. LEARN YOUR SUBJECT. Be honest and provide the info you have been asked for. You can add a little bit of flare to the presentation if it helps highlight certain aspects of the presentation - it's great for learning/teaching presentations. For factual presentations however, impact and clear and neat presentation is easier. PRACTICE your speech/presentation - time it and prepare for Q&As!!!! Have some answers ready and if you don't know, DON'T BULL**. There are ways of structuring the replies other than saying I don't know, but don't comit to answers you cannot back up. Depending on how formal it is will also depend on whether they interact with you during the presentation - personally I ask (no matter what level and I mean BIG wigs) to leave questions until the end as further slides may answer the questions they have - secondly and personally I think it's rude to interupt a presentation unless you specifically ask if anyone has questions. If you're prepared it's easy as you're the boss, you're the one that knows it all and you're the one that is in charge so you set the pace. Good luck. I've given lots of presentations, to our CEO, to Lords, MPs and the Governor of the BoE... every time I've shat myself before it, but once I start I take control and realise that it's all easy as I know what I'm talking about and I'm the one in charge. Try and have fun. __________________ No No!**

12-08-2009, 19:18	#12
Blighter Dubious Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,571	Thanks for all the advice a lot of it is very helpful and never even thought of! I'll work on it a bit and might post it here once done... I'm bound to make some fatal mistake or percentages that add up to 132% __________________ Look at your signature, now back to mine, now back to yours, now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped writing about other things and made this your signature, yours could be like mine. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're on Boat Drinks, reading the signature your signature could be like. I'm on a computer. My Blog \| More Outdoors \| MSN \| Email \| Call Me

19-08-2009, 18:37	#15
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	I'm going to run counter to most of the advice and say look at Fidel Castro & Hugo Chavez - they give speeches that run for hours and they were/are leaders of countries, aspire to greatness. More seriously you've been given a lot of good advice - another issue to consider as AboveTheSalt highlights is that people tend to remember the start and end of presentations most easily so have something interesting to engage them initially and then have a brief conclusion with the most important points you want to make. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

19-08-2009, 22:36	#16
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	Basic psychology of a "**" sandwich. Start on a positive, present all the "", then end on a positive. __________________ No No!**

23-09-2009, 21:51	#17
Blighter Dubious Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,571	Well no more head office speech - instead the directors are coming to meet me for lunch at Bluewater o_0 shs bricks __________________ Look at your signature, now back to mine, now back to yours, now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped writing about other things and made this your signature, yours could be like mine. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're on Boat Drinks, reading the signature your signature could be like. I'm on a computer. My Blog \| More Outdoors \| MSN \| Email \| Call Me

19-08-2009, 14:00	#14
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8207849.stm

23-09-2009, 21:58	#18
iCraig iCustom User Title Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,250	In that case, make sure you get a round in. __________________