One Step Ahead: Giving Presentations
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When the talk should be scripted |
When the talk should be scripted
If you have to read aloud, the following guidelines will help.
Giving your presentation: Articulate the words
These exercises will give some of your speaking 'bits' a workout:
Vocal exercises will get more speaking muscles working.
Freddy's teddy's name is Eddy.
She opened a slop shop in Wapping.
Mr Knightly's likely to be slightly sprightly nightly.
The lunar module leaves for the moon at noon.
Betty's beautiful border's blossoming blue begonias.
Managing your presentation
Despite all your planning, you could find that someone in the audience has an 'agenda' you did not know about. There are ways of coping with tricky questioners.
Q: Why do we have to install this new system?
Throw the question back to the person who asked it.
A: We don't. But I'd be interested to consider which accounting system you believe we should adopt.
Q: We have tried this before, and it didn't work then. Why should it work now?
You could put this question up for general discussion.
A: It will work now partly because the market has changed. But I'd be interested to hear how others here believe we can improve retention figures in the short term?
Q: To what extent is this product biodegradable at a level that will be acceptable to new European legislation?
This questioner seems to need to show off their knowledge so flatter them – and demonstrate your own knowledge.
A: I didn't mention this before because I wanted to avoid such a high level of technical detail, and as you know it does not affect cost.
The presenter's toolkit
You will need:
You may need:
And of course you definitely need:
