Improving Your Presentation Christine E. Chin, MBBS, FACP Consultant, Department of Medicine Princess Margaret Hospital
Overview What not to do Guidelines for presentations Top ten tips
Powerpoint Survey: Most Annoying Complaints Speaker reading slides 60% Text too small 51% The speaker has all the slides typed out in completely full sentences. 48% Hard to see colors 37% Moving/flying text & sounds 24% Overly complex charts 22%
Introductory Slide Title of presentation Name Title/Affiliation Date
Text Main points, not entire text Bullet followed by capital letter Title 1 st letter of all words in caps < 6 8 words per line < 6 8 lines per slide < 50 words per slide
Text Font Keep font simple e.g. Arial Font size 32 is best At least > 24 San serif fonts are best Without the extra details on letters Cleaner & easier to read Don t change font or color within bullets
No punctuation - no periods, commas, question marks (.,?) Check Spelling Punctuation Grammar Capitalization Grammar
Don t Use Bold Letters IT WILL TAKE THE AUDIENCE LONGER TO READ SLIDES THAT ARE ALL UPPER CASE AND IN SENTENCES Instead, use only uppercase to EMPHASIZE specific text Better still, use bold or color instead
Colors Brighter/lighter colors for text Dark colors for background Easier on eyes Keep consistent color scheme
Keep simple Use balance Visual contrast Consistent style of images Line Drawing Photo Cartoon Graphics
Graphs Use appropriately Bar charts to compare totals Area charts for directional trends Pie charts for relative proportions Limit number of items graphed Be consistent with other visual elements Make sure key is big enough to see
Special Effects Limit use of animation Don t mix and match transitions Audience won t be impressed Cause headaches Does effect enhance or distract? Is effect part of message?
Practice Your Presentation Practice 24 hours beforehand With computer & projector connected Make sure they work Be familiar with equipment Timing each slide about 1 minute Don t read from slides
Don t run presentation from floppy disk or CD Takes too long Practice Make back-up copy on memory stick & carry separately Make sure visible at back of room
Handouts Print handouts & notes on white background Less ink Easier to read from paper Make speaker s notes
Speaking Skills Speak to audience, not to screen Do not stand directly in front of screen Speak loudly enough to reach back of room Show confidence
Speaking Skills Know your material so: No need for prompting No need to read extensively from notes Show enthusiasm for topic Use interested, conversational tone of voice
Speaking/Presentation Skills Use humor, as appropriate, to connect to or to extend content Make eye contact Use good posture Dress appropriately
Presentation Skills Use body movement for effect only Avoid rocking or constant movement - distracting Stay within allotted time Refrain from empty words or fillers like, you know, uhm, ahm
Pagers & Cell Phones Silent mode for both audience & speaker Or give them up to someone outside
References Give credit where due
Blank Slides Use to divide presentation For pause To switch topics
Top Ten Tips: Tip #10 Meet the needs of audience: Remember W II FM i.e. What s In It For Me 3 questions: So what? Who cares? What s in it for me audience member?
Tip #9 Have a clear purpose What goals do you wish to accomplish
Tip #8 Organize the presentation - Strong opening Limited number of points Strong closing Graceful exit Let me summarize the key points. A question I am often asked.
Eliminate unnecessary information Tip #7 Voltaire: The secret of a bore is to tell everything!
Tip #6 Do not go over your allotted time You lose audience s interest Organizers get antsy
Concentrate on delivery Face the audience Avoid the dreaded monotone Slow down Tip #5 Nervousness cause rapid speech Use pauses for effect Avoid the laser moth Unnecessary movements of laser pointer
Tip #4 Make it a performance Without being melodramatic Smile Be Enthusiastic Use hand gestures Avoid nervous movements
Take the edge off of nervousness Most anxiety doesn t show Comfortable posture Avoid figleaf or firing squad postures Avoid both hands in pockets Voice Eye contact Look at an affirming person in audience Be prepared Tip #3
Avoid Fig Leaf & Firing Squad Stances
Tip #2 Use appropriate humor Self-deprecating
Tip #1 Practice, practice, practice
Conclusion In Conclusion In Summary Finally Most pleasing words for audience
References Scott Litin Presentation Skills for Physicians: Tips from a Pro Stephen Rossner Improving Medical Education: Fat Chance or Slim Hope Garr Reynolds Presentation Zen Deborah St. James Writing and Speaking for Excellence A Guide for Physicians