Presentation (3mins read)

2019. Essay for Digital acceleration course

First, just clarify what presentation (keynote format) means. It is the process of presenting a topic and giving information about it to the targeted audience. It can be a demonstration, introduction, lecture, or speech and it can be informal or formal. It is usually meant to inform, inspire, and motivate people or to present a new idea or product. Whether we are experienced presenters, or just starting out as we need to sell ourselves for a new job, these guidelines might help. It is important that nowadays presentation skills are required in every field of our lives. While for some people it can be an easy task, others might find it much more challenging.

Presentation types

First, there are differences in how we use our voices. Formal language is less personal than informal language. The tone, the choice of words and the way the words are put together vary between the two styles. It is the same with presentations.

me with presentations.

Formal presentation provides information to the selected group which is usually bigger. It can have a bunch of questions at the end of it, but it is not necessary; if there are any, the audience needs to raise their hands and wait to be asked. Examples can be "Pitching a product" what means taking a product that is not yet in stores, therefore presenting the idea to a company with hopes of it being sold. In the UK Dragon's Den is a program on television for new business ideas; another one is the Reigning sovereign's speech. The speech from the throne is an event in which the reigning sovereign (or a representative), reads a prepared speech to members of the nation’s legislature (large audience). Interview for a new job can be formal (and informal as well). It depends on the stage of the interview. Nowadays many companies at the first stage phone the candidate up for a 'quick informal chat'. Let's say we are candidates. If we were successful, we would need to have the second stage of the interview, which is a type of formal presentation. If we are looking for a job in the creative industry, we need to prepare and sell ourselves with a good presentation.

Informal presentation is providing information to a group, but we need to listen to the reaction of the audience. Listening can generate a discussion at the end. An example can be a workshop presentation. In education for example, a workshop is a brief intensive course, a seminar, or a series of meetings; it is emphasizing interaction and exchange of information among a small amount of people. Another example is a Sales pitch what we are used as a selling technique; it's a line of talk that attempts to persuade someone with a planned sales presentation strategy of a product (or service) designed to initiate and close a sale of the product (or service).

Presentation styles

We can find different styles for a presentation we need to do. A presentation can be Interactive (or Demonstrative, eg. Physical presentation), Educational (teaching or lecturer), Statistic heavy (is the informative style), Visual (with loads of videos and pictures), Storytelling, Freeform, Instructor, Connector, Lessing, Takahashi or Coach style. Takahashi style means we have 20 slides and 20 seconds for each slide to tell what we would like to share with our audience. This method features large, bold text on minimal slides. The main word is the focal point of the slide, and phrases, used short and concise.

The Lessing style requires the presenter to pass through each slide within 15 seconds. When a text is used in a slide it is usually synchronized with the spoken words by the presenter. Visual style fits those who are firm believers of slides simply exist to complement our talking points. We might need to work a little harder to get our audience engaged, but it is easy for those who are strong public speakers, visionaries, and storytellers in general.

Presentation skills

There are diverse types of presenters as well (not just styles and types of presentations) as everyone's personality shapes how we perform different tasks (talking to a friend about a problem or just chatting about it). But each individual needs to follow the main (not written) rules of doing a presentation.

We need to prepare and plan to have an effective presentation. Doesn't mean to write everything down but have the keywords. We need to be clear about the message and the audience. Everything is going to be all okay if we clearly know the message and how best to convey to our audience. Important to speak clearly and loudly (not shouting as it can scare our audience away or annoy them), address the audience with eye contact and body language (that also means reading the screen is not the best idea) and use audience appropriate language and keywords. Also, if we feel we can use images instead of keywords or pictures to make the message stronger. We must never run overtime (use just the allocated time) as every speech and presentation is better if it is shorter (rather than long and boring). Remember to refresh technical skills before any presentation (if it is needed, we can set up the computer before or get ready with anything we need for the presentation).

In general, our audience starts on our side as they are at the presentation by their own will (voluntarily). They chose to listen to us, and they were planning to enjoy our presentation, so the occasion is on us to win.