Dos and Don'ts

All right so let’s start with the dos and don’ts of giving a presentation.

Now most presentations have what’s called a.

That’s actually called a slide show but it’s often called a PowerPoint.

It’s often abbreviated as PBT.

Let’s just call it a PowerPoint or a PPD.

In this lesson even though that’s actually not the real name.

But anyway the dos and don’ts things we should do things we should avoid.

Let’s start with the don’ts.

Well you don’t want to write too much on the PPD.

If you write a lot on the PPE it’s going to actually have less of an impact.

Now I’m writing a lot here but that’s because you’re coming along with me for each thing that I’m writing.

You’re sort of seeing me write most of it down.

So we’re kind of exploring this space together.

But when you write a lot on each slide when you write a lot on each slide it actually makes the audience go like that.

But if you just have a few key things very key important key means important things on the slide and it’s very easy to read and takes three seconds to read.

Then it’s going to have much more impact and your ideas which you’re explaining can then focus on those points and you can have a visual reference to the things you’re talking about.

That’s actually what the PBT is usually for the words coming out of your mouth.

Those are the details.

That’s the explanation.

Then the thing on the slide that’s the the reference point.

That’s the thing that keeps you focused on what’s the topic again.

OK.

So remember the role of of that and also don’t read it too much from the PBT maybe a little bit is OK.

Sure.

But if you just turn around and say and in 1997 we had a blah blah blah blah blah and you read what it says.

That is a mistake generally speaking because you’re dis connecting with the audience the audience the people you’re talking to by turning around and because you’re reading it’s now much less engaging.

If for example I was reading a script for this course looking over there you could tell.

And it would feel less engaging for you.

You would be less interested.

So be very careful about that.

You want to avoid reading too much and you certainly want to avoid turning around too much to actually face away from your audience.

Hey don’t memorize every word do not memorize every word.

For some reason a lot of people who do presentations feel like they have to memorize every word.

If you do that it’s not a presentation.

It’s called a speech.

A speech is something that has to be so perfectly worded because you’re the president or something or a king that you can’t make any mistakes and so you read it or you memorize it and say it when you’re talking to people.

If you are memorizing every word it’s basically the same as sitting there and reading in front of everybody.

In 1997 there was a terrible flood and it’s not quite that serious but that’s the idea.

People can tell but if you have clear points in your mind and you know what you’re talking about.

But you don’t have maybe all of the exact words then it feels natural.

It feels like real human communication which hopefully this feels like and I’m not planning every single word that I’m saying I’m speaking about a topic that I know about.

And watch TED talks if you haven’t already I’m sure you have but.

But Ted is Ted dot com.

There are many many great TED Talks and 95 percent of the great ones are not memorized.

They’re speaking about some points.

OK.

So avoid memorizing every word don’t read.

Must you really have to.

And don’t write too much on your teeth.

All right.

Things you should do.

Number one.

Be yourself.

Obviously if you try to make a fake personality when you’re standing up in front of people Hello everyone or or whatever people can feel it OK just be yourself be natural.

Speak as you speak.

OK.

Speak to the audience.

Now this is kind of related to this one but no who is listening to you speak.

If you’re giving a presentation and there are a hundred thousand not too many say one hundred thousand two thousand people two hundred people ten people four people.

Your presentation is going to be different if it’s for people.

Are you going to come out and say hello everyone.

No he won’t do so.

OK.

Four people up here.

I’m glad you came.

Why don’t we sit at a table together and I’ll talk through my points and then we can discuss OK.

Or maybe you come out and it’s a bunch of teenagers in high school.

Well then you’re going to speak differently.

Know who you’re talking to know your audience and speak to them.

So every presentation will probably not be the same.

Different sizes of audiences different groups of people.

OK so you have to think about that when you come out.

When you start talking you really do speak to that specific group of people.

OK.

Next engage.

Now this is obvious.

This means you need to connect with people.

But if you just start talking and they have no reason the audience the people watching you they have no reason to care.

You don’t give them a reason to care at the beginning especially then you’ve lost them for 15 minutes or however long your presentation is engage.

Use a hook at the beginning.

Find a way to make them care about you and your topic right at the beginning.

Right when you start and if you do that then you’re going to carry them along with you.

And again if you go to Ted and watch TED talks you will see the good ones have something at the beginning that hooks you grabs you like a fish and you want to listen.

This is so interesting why do I care about this.

I don’t usually care about this topic but I care about it in this presentation.

Why.

Probably because there was a good hook at the beginning.