London on FilmPresentation and Speaking Skills

6 November 2012

Katie Streten

Schedule• Introductions• General talk about presentation

skills• Tips on speaking in groups• Tips on dealing with specific

issues• BREAK• Afternoon workshops with

speaking practice

A bit about me• Strategist in

Imagination

• 2 presentation courses

• Since then...– Conference papers – Industry events– Pitches

I hate asking questions once a speaker has finished and I speak too fasthas finished

A bit about you

• Some are experienced• Some are not so • I will address...

– Speaking basics– How to speak as a member

of a group– Lack of preparation– Feeling you will be judged– Dealing with difficult

questions

Planning

Planning – Where do you start?

• Think about your audience – this is about them not you

What do they already know?What do they need to know?What do they need to get out of

this?What will you be marked on?

Planning – How do I structure this?

• Say what you’re going to say• Say it• Say that you’ve said it

• Try to sum up by drawing conclusions

• It may feel fake – but it reinforces your points for your audience

Planning – Writing it down

Write it down long-hand• You can edit it• You can see the flow and

you can leave things out

Read through – aloud

Planning – How do say it?

• Use your own vocabulary • Use your own structure

• It allows your personality, your thoughts and your enthusiasm to come through

Planning – Writing it down 2

Now put it on cue cards• You will find your place

easier if you lose it• You will build a better

relationship with the listener• You can write messages to

yourself

Planning – Writing it down 2

Note:

DO NOT LEARN IT OFF BY HEART

What happens if you lose your place?

Where is your spontaneity and heart?

Planning - Image is everything

Less is More!

• Bullet points

• No more than 5 bullets per slide

Planning - Image is everything

Visually stimulating

• Film clips to illustrate

• Interesting stills

• Hand-outs– Key points/questions– References to websites,

videos– Stills you referenced

Practice

PracticeSet a timer!• Start by reading it to

yourself aloud• Edit• Read it to a friend, partner • Edit• Video yourself/get

someone to video you (mobile phone?)

• And so on...

Performance

Performance – Where do you start?

Think about the audience, they want to be relaxed

Remember, that they are genuinely engaged in what you have to say

Remember you are intelligent and highly creative person

Performance – Slow it down

Think “Slowly”

Write the word “slow” at the top of every cue card

Video yourself and you will quickly see if you talk too fast

Performance – A relaxed tone

• Smile – makes you relax

• ‘Hello’ or Good morning

• Breathe deeply

• Look at the panel/examiner

Performance – Body languageBuild rapport, build confidence

• Stand out in front of any lectern or table – make a rapport with your audience, create an informal atmosphere

• Watch for “rocking”/pacing

• Again video yourself

Performance – Body language

Be careful with your hands

• Too high and mobile?

• Too rigid and still?

• Move your hands at waist height. Makes you and your audience relax.

Performance – Don’t look now

Take in the whole room1.Pick 3 spots to the left,

middle and right and at the back

2.If it’s an intimate setting, look at people’s noses

Conclusion

• Think about the panel – what can you give them?

• Prepare for their stated requirements, put yourself in their shoes

• Practice

• Practice, Practice, Practice etc

• Smile and think “slowly”

Tips on speaking in groups

Tips on speaking in groups

• First things first• Structuring your group• Working as one

First things first...

Planning as a group!

What do you need to say?

Structure it:• 5 segments of your talk• Including and intro and

conclusion• Agree what themes, topics and

references will appear in which section of your talk

Structuring your group

Questions that will help• Who is confident?• Who is volunteering for certain

sections?• Who knows which section best?• Who has the best “audience

manner”?• Who is the best at explaining?

Structure roles accordingly

More Practice?!

• You need to practice as a team

• Set someone as time keeper

• Don’t be afraid to critique each other

How to critique effectively

• Pick out waht has been done well

• Explain what you think has been done less well

• Finish by reinforcing what you think was good

Working as one

You need to come across as a team

• Smile at each other• Nod at important points• Look at each other • Concentrate on each other

You will give each other support that makes all of you feel more confident

Working as one

• If you are following the flow and someone gets lost, have an agreed person who will step in at each point.

• Is that the chairman?• Is that the concluder?

Dealing with specific issues

Content

• General nerves – Mind Prep

• Fear of being judged

• Responding to questions

• Questions that throw you

• Running out of time

• Recovering from mistakes

• Conclusion

General nerves – Mental Prep• Remember you are

intelligent, well prepared and passionate

• You have already beaten many others to be here at all

• Imagine your presentationa as a conversation. A Question has been asked you and your group are just answering it.

General nerves – Mental Prep• Smile• Write these things down on the paper

as the last thing you look at before you go in – otherwise you will be too focused on the presentation itself

Fear of being judged

Two ways to approach this:-

Way 1: If you have prepared and worked as a team you can only do your best

Way 2: Imagine it as a conversation – you are simply answering a question

Responding to questions

• Prepare– What questions would you ask

yourself?– What answers would you give?– What’s the worst possible thing

that you could be asked?• Remain calm – take 3 breaths• What if you forget/misunderstand?

– ask them to repeat the question

Questions that throw you

• If you don’t understand– Thank them for the question– Ask them to rephrase it– Write it down and read back your

understanding– If you can then answer it do– Refer the question to your team mates

• If none of you knows– Write it down and read back your

understanding– Say you will go away and do some

research and get back to them

Running out of time

• If you get to the end of allocated time and you haven’t finished...

• Go to your pre-prepared summing up

• Then give people access via email/online/handouts

Recovering from mistakes

• Acknowledge to the audience that you made a mistake and continue

• Take 3 deep breaths to calm yourself

• Look down at your cards• Continue!

Conclusion

• Remind yourself of your intelligence and creativity

• Remember your team mates are behind you

• Be yourself!

• Practice and prepare

Katie Streten

• Twitter.com/watusi• Inoted.wordpress.com• www.slideshare.net/speakingout

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