Tips & Pointers on Giving Great Oral Presentations

By Jennifer L. Bowie

Planning• Determine your purpose statement:

– Why are you speaking?– Who are you speaking to?– What do you want your audience to think, do, know, remember, walk away

with?• Analyze your listeners: think about their knowledge, needs, concerns,

level of commitment or care, objections & more• Aim for simplicity & conciseness• Anticipate audience questions• Outline• Plan & prepare visuals & media• Rehearse delivery & practice with technology

Delivering the Presentation• Use the preacher’s maxim

– Tell ‘em what you're gonna tell ‘em, then you tell ‘em, and the you tell ‘em what you told ‘em (abstract, body, conclusion)

• Start by getting the audience’s attention• Introduce topic clearly• Focus on listeners’ concerns• Use explicit transitions• Come prepared: do not take a long time setting up, make sure you

can work the technology, and make sure you are organized• Make sure transitions are smooth:

– Have smooth technology transitions especially if you are working with PowerPoint and the web

– Have smooth speaker to speaker transitions • Be aware of verbal and body language & make eye contact

Your Tips & Pointers