Top tips for an effective presentation

Top Tips for an Effective Presentation

Farida Ali - Final Day

At a glance

Clear structure

Engaging visuals

Know your audience

Practice, practice, practice

Linguistic mindfulness & clarity

Evaluation

Interact with your audience

Time management

Interactive questions

Use Relevant data

Be prepared for technical issues

Conclusions

Exploring 'theory'

Seek feedback

Close

How to: Successfully Pitching an Idea

Session objectives

Apply appropriate communication techniques and tools to effectively communicate in a professional environment. Use the tools and techniques to competently enhance your pitch task.

KSBs

DATA SCIENCE

CMDA

DIGITAL TECH AND SOLUTIONS

Checklist of what we will be covering

We will be looking at the following topics to maximise your skills

Researching & targeting your audience

Time management techniques

Structuring your content

Engaging visuals, interactivity and use of data

Relevant Theory & models

Evaluation, feedback, reflection tips on your performance

Theory to presentations

10:00

Activity 1: How can these theories inform your presentations planning and delivery?

Group 2: Audience analysis

Group 1: Shannon-Weaver model of communication theory

Group 4: Persuasion knowledge model

Group 3: Cognitive load theory

Group 5: Maslow's hierachy of needs (motivation theory)

Group 6: Ethos pathos and logos

Group 7: Nonverbal communication

Further reading: Berne, E. (1964). Games people play: the psychology of human relationships. New York, Grove Press

Structure yourcontent

To help you stay organised

Info

Research your audience

Pillar for presenting

Audience-centric

organise with audience in mind, focus on what they need to know and their preference of receiving info

Tailor

your content and delivery to match their interests, knowledge level and preferences.

🤩

USP

highlight what makes your offering unique and valuable, what problem does it solve, how does it benefit the listener?

Thomas, E (2022)

Effective time management techniques

To tell stories in an organised, hierarchical, structured, and concise way. Here are timeline techniques you can use in your presentations.

Communication style

Set SMART goals

Use of planning tools

Chunking

Use a timer

Adapted from https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/what-effective-time-management-tools-presentations

Engaging visuals

Practicing your pitch improves performance. One study found practicing 7 times led to optimal results

'Your content is liked, but it hooks much more if it is interactive'

- Genially

Wow Effect

You don't want to bore. You don't want to be repetitive. You want to be different. You want to create what the brain likes to consume because it stimulates it.

+ info

Importance of adding relevant data

22x

43%

81%

Harvard Business Review survey

Prezi study

Hubspot research

presentations containing visual elements are 43% more persuasive than those without visuals

Presentations that incorporate storytelling are 22x more memorable than facts alone

of respondents lose interest within first minute

We love data

50%

of our brain is involved in processing visual stimuli.

Activity 2- 1 minute to research a credibly sourced statistic publicly available from your company that you can use in a pitch

Importance of the use of credible sources and resources

True or False?

Research suggests that the average human attention span has dropped to about 8 seconds emphasising the importance of capturing and maintaining attention quickly.

Activity 3

Use of Graphics

85%

Graphics are highly shareable, making them ideal for presentations. Not only that, they usually generate high-quality traffic to the content we create.

of purchases areemotional

Table + text

Visual communication is a key tool. It is easier for us to 'read' images than to read written text. That is why disciplines like Visual Thinking make it easier to visually capture rich notes using images, graphs, infographics, and simple drawings.

Reflecting on your own presentations for improvements

Activity 4. What can we do to prevent/provide solutions to technical issues?

Evaluating your performance

There are a few ways you can identify strengths and weaknesses from your performance, and refine your skills.

+ info

Activity 5

🎥

Accepting feedback

Watch this video of a pitch. What feedback would you provide to help them improve? These are tips you can use in your own pitch. REMEMBER: Feedback does not always have to be negative! Note down 2 pointers.

STOP AT 0:42

Importance of language - targeting audience

10

✨ Activity 6:

✨ Correct answer: 15 in 1 minute!

Watch the video and count how many times she says 'like!'

Benefits of Interactive activities

11

Use a similar technique in your own presentations for maximum impact (Surveymonkey, 2021)

Conclusions

12

A great conclusion has:

Pose a dramatic question; it is the essential ingredient to keep the attention of the audience. It is usually posed implicitly at the beginning of the story to intrigue the audience and is resolved at the end.

• Summarisation
• Closure
• Call to action
• Impactful closing statement
• Connection to opening
• Gratitude

Practicing your pitch

13

+ info

Closing your presentation

Leave room for questions in your presentations. It is always good to ask rather than assume you will be asked. Be prepared for your pitch to be scrutinised and critiqued - be well informed of what you have delivered.

13

Review of the session

Hopefully you feel more confident on the topics we have covered today. Slides, sources and materials from today will be in your canvas page, post-work will also be uploaded at the end of today.

Researching & targeting your audience

Time management techniques

Structuring your content

Relevant Theory & models

Evaluation, feedback, reflection tips on your performance

Engaging visuals, interactivity and use of data

References

• Thomas, J. E. (2022). Presentations : Sharpen your message, persuade your audience, gauge your impact 20 minute manager series (1st ed.). RB.
• Berne, E. (1964). Games people play: the psychology of human relationships. New York, Grove Presshttps://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/how-can-you-use-communication-improve-time-management
• Chou, P-N. (2015) Prezi versus PowerPoint: The effects of varied digital presentation tools on students’ learning performance. Computers & Education. 91 (73-82).
• Sebenius, J. (2001). Six habits of merely effective negotiators. Harvard Business Review.
• Dodgson, M. (2008) The Management of Technological Innovation : Strategy and Practice.

Resources

• https://slidemodel.com/presentation-structure/
• https://startupnation.com/start-your-business/practice-your-pitch/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0hVIH3EnlQ
• https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/what-effective-time-management-tools-presentations
• https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/how-can-you-use-communication-improve-time-management
• https://research.hubspot.com/charts/author/hubspot-research
• https://youtube.com/shorts/eoA5eyPZrbM?si=5G7tAmV-K9UlVixx
• https://youtube.com/shorts/eXiKqL0LFOU?si=2N0be488vq4u5btn

END

Owned by Farida Ali Farida.Ali@cranfield.ac.uk

Your communication style provides clarity

There are four main communication styles: assertive, passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive. Each style has its own strengths and weaknesses. By identifying your communication style, you can leverage your strengths, work on your weaknesses, and adapt to different situations and people.

S6 Find, present, communicate and disseminate outputs effectively and with high impact through creative storytelling, tailoring the message for the audience. Use the best medium for each audience, such as technical writing, reporting and dashboards. Visualise data to tell compelling and actionable narratives. Make recommendations to decision makers to contribute towards the achievement of organisation goals

Frameworks and models

Suitable for your aim

• Introduction > Body > Conclusion formula

Others you can look at:

• Problem-solution framework
• Chronological
• Comparative
• Matrix
• Modular

https://slidemodel.com/presentation-structure/

F2 Know how to maintain personal presence and present to large groups.

• You can ask for feedback from your audience, peers, colleagues, or mentors, and listen to their comments and suggestions.

• Record or video your presentation, and watch or listen to it later, noting what you did well and what you can improve.

• Use a checklist or the rubric to rate yourself on different aspects of your presentation.

Timer

Wow!

Using a timer, or a timekeeper if you have access, can help you adjust your speed, tone, and delivery, and ensure that you cover all the key points within the time limit.

CB23 Makes concise, well-structured, engaging verbal presentations, arguments, explanations.

Planning stage

There are various planning and organising techniques you can use depending on the length of your pitch. Good ones to use are Gantt charts, conceptual maps, horizontal timelines.

Structure

Chunking is a method you can use to break up your content into smaller, more manageable sections. This makes it easier for your audience to process information and prevents overload.

SMART

These criteria help you define what you want to accomplish, how you will measure your progress, whether your goal is realistic, how it aligns with your purpose, and when you will complete it.

Turn to the person next to you and research/discuss for 1 minute.

• Be prepared to show your findings/explain your stance for your position and where you found this information. You could be called out on it!