Tip 252: Be prepared to stray from the script

Don't be so fixated on your script or slides that you're afraid to stray a little.

Comments from your audience can help you get your point across better than anything you've prepared. You may also get an idea of their learning needs through a comment or question which can change the entire course of your presentation.

Be prepared to respond to this. Remember, you are there to meet the needs of your audience. Rigidly following the correct sequence of your slides is not the ultimate objective of your presentation. Giving your audience what they need is of paramount importance.

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Next: Tip 253: Give your audience something to think about »

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The Successful Speaker: 273 Tips for Powerful Presentations


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Front cover

The Successful Speaker: 273 Tips for Powerful Presentations is the essential handbook for preparing effective & professional presentations.

It contains a wealth of ideas and inspiration for everyone giving Conference talks, Lectures, Speeches, Seminars, Business proposals, Tutorials, Sales talks, or Interview presentations.

Dr Mandar Marathe combines the latest thinking on what it takes to deliver a powerful presentation, with an informal style of writing to give you an easy-to-use, practical guide to making your presentation successful.

 

"Wow! This guide and handbook made a huge difference to my delegates at my online workshop. They loved everything we did. Thanks to Dr Mandar Marathe's book I developed my presentation skills quickly whilst enjoying all the new concepts and ideas this book offers in a very easy to read and practical manner.
 
All professional speakers, trainers and sales people should get a copy of this book!"
- Ash Ali, Online Marketing Expert & Founder of Sandalstore.co.uk

 

Table of contents
(Click to view sample pages from the book)

Introduction
About the author
How to use this book
Who needs this book?
Chapter 1: Planning for your presentation
Chapter 2: Preparing the delivery
Chapter 3: Preparing effective PowerPoint® slides
Chapter 4: Preparing a handout
Chapter 5: Rehearsals
Chapter 6: Just before the presentation
Chapter 7: Last-minute tips for confidence
Chapter 8: Delivering the presentation
Chapter 9: 'Any questions?'
Chapter 10: After the presentation
Chapter 11: Final Thoughts

 

About the author

Dr Mandar Marathe graduated from Southampton University with an honours degree in Biomedical Sciences in 1998 and a Bachelor of Medicine degree in 1999. He holds advanced qualifications in Emergency Medicine and in Toxicology.

He juggles a career as a doctor working in Accident & Emergency, while raising three children with his wife, writing books, and endlessly surfing the internet looking for the next "big thing".

With almost two decades of public speaking experience in both academic and professional arenas, he is today an enthusiastic and popular educator who is well qualified to share his ideas about what makes a successful speaker and a powerful presentation.

Dr Mandar Marathe is the course director for the FCEM Course.

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ISBN-10

0955487307

ISBN-13

978-0955487309

RRP

£19.99 / 34.95 USD

Printed

164 pages, A4 (8.26" x 11.69"), perfect binding, black and white interior ink

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Publisher

Ashwood House Publishing

Copyright

© 2007

Publication date

1 February 2007

Language

English

 
 


The Successful Speaker: 273 Tips for Powerful Presentations by Dr Mandar Marathe is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

 

Welcome to the Speaker Tips website

This website contains a range of useful and practical tips to help you make a better speech or presentation.


Download the e-book (PDF)

Introduction

> How to use this book
> Who needs this book?

Chapter 1: Planning for your presentation

> Tip 1: Respect the process of preparing for a presentation
> Tip 2: Avoid avoidance
> Tip 3: Tackle the root cause of your fear
> Tip 4: Make sure the topic is right for you
> Tip 5: Make your speech great

Part A: Contact the event organiser

> Tip 6: Ask for a smaller room
> Tip 7: Find out what technology is available
> Tip 8: Choose the timing of your presentation
> Tip 9: Liaise with other speakers
> Tip 10: Confirm the date, time and venue

Part B: Do some research

> Tip 11: Find out about your audience
> Tip 12: Give your audience what they want
> Tip 13: Have something important to say
> Tip 14: Have something interesting to say
> Tip 15: Have something relevant to say
> Tip 16: Be a leader
> Tip 17: Care for your audience
> Tip 18: Find common ground
> Tip 19: Research your topic thoroughly - be an expert

Part C: What do you want to say?

> Tip 20: Start with the end in mind
> Tip 21: What is your take-home message?
> Tip 22: Take the 60-second test
> Tip 23: What do you want your audience to do?
> Tip 24: What do YOU add to your presentation?

Part D: How are you going to say it?

> Tip 25: Keep your presentation simple
> Tip 26: Do not tell them everything you know
> Tip 27: Organise your content
> Tip 28: Assemble your evidence
> Tip 29: Have a logical, clear structure
> Tip 30: Decide on the most appropriate format
> Tip 31: Decide the best level of audience participation
> Tip 32: Plan your presentation on paper first
> Tip 33: Don't make your presentation too long

Part E: The Beginning

> Tip 34: Establish the mood
> Tip 35: Start decisively
> Tip 36: Open big
> Tip 37: Start with a question
> Tip 38: Open with a personal story or anecdote
> Tip 39: Memorise your opening gambit
> Tip 40: Start by showing your credentials
> Tip 41: Explain why you are worth listening to
> Tip 42: Outline your agenda at the beginning
> Tip 43: Use the beginning to bring everyone up to speed
> Tip 44: Define roles

Part F: The Middle

> Tip 45: Give your audience a way of tracking progress
> Tip 46: Focus on main arguments rather than details
> Tip 47: Give them the facts
> Tip 48: Use concrete examples
> Tip 49: Use quotations
> Tip 50: Obey the NATYAUTSATYD rule
> Tip 51: Let your audience arrive at your conclusion
> Tip 52: Summarize the story periodically
> Tip 53: Break up long presentations

Part G: The Ending

> Tip 54: Summarise your presentation at the end
> Tip 55: End on a high
> Tip 56: Have a call to action
> Tip 57: Have a definite termination
> Tip 58: Thank your audience
> Tip 59: Take questions from your audience

Part H: Connect with your audience

> Tip 60: Tell some stories
> Tip 61: Respect your audience
> Tip 62: Entertain your audience
> Tip 63: Be different
> Tip 64: Tell a secret about yourself
> Tip 65: Get personal with your audience
> Tip 66: Let your personality shine through
> Tip 67: Challenge your audience
> Tip 68: Use a conversational style of talking
> Tip 69: Be positive

Part I: Make your presentation interactive

> Tip 70: Tools for interactivity
> Tip 71: Use a whiteboard, blackboard or flip chart

Part J: Prepare for questions

> Tip 72: Prepare for questions
> Tip 73: Plant a question

Part K: Be a giver

> Tip 74: Give them something
> Tip 75: Give your audience access to materials

Part L: Plan for failure

> Tip 76: Have a backup plan available
> Tip 78: Avoid having to dim the lights

Chapter 2: Preparing the delivery

> Tip 78: Avoid having to dim the lights
> Tip 79: Keep your sentences simple
> Tip 80: Be bold
> Tip 81: Don't deceive your audience
> Tip 82: Draw a diagram
> Tip 83: Know what you are presenting
> Tip 84: Target your audience's emotions
> Tip 85: Don't use the same format as your thesis
> Tip 86: Add some relevant humour
> Tip 87: Use props
> Tip 88: Don’t use a written script
> Tip 89: Don't memorize your presentation
> Tip 90: Don’t read out your presentation slides
> Tip 91: Face your audience
> Tip 92: Stand, rather than sit
> Tip 93: Move, rather than stand still
> Tip 94: Vary the pitch of your voice
> Tip 95: Lower the pitch of your voice
> Tip 96: Vary the speed of delivery
> Tip 97: Speak loudly, clearly and slowly
> Tip 98: Use vocal special effects
> Tip 99: Be less technical
> Tip 100: Don't denigrate the competition
> Tip 101: Express your passion, enthusiasm and energy
> Tip 102: Think about body language
> Tip 103: Use audiovisual aids
> Tip 104: Use attention grabbers
> Tip 105: Use quotes that support your argument
> Tip 106: Don't try to impress
> Tip 107: Make it sound impromptu

Chapter 3: Preparing effective PowerPoint® slides

> Tip 108: Know when to not use slides
> Tip 110: Don't depend on slides
> Tip 111: Plan your presentation before creating slides
> Tip 112: Ignore 90% of PowerPoint's functions
> Tip 113: The size of your slide set is irrelevant
> Tip 114: Personalise the slides for each audience
> Tip 115: Have only one concept per slide
> Tip 116: What is the point of this slide?
> Tip 118: Use simple slides
> Tip 118: Limit the amount of text on your slides
> Tip 119: Avoid bullet points
> Tip 120: Use blank slides
> Tip 121: Avoid using pre-designed templates
> Tip 122: Use high-quality photos
> Tip 123: Use photos instead of text
> Tip 124: Adapt the photos to your context
> Tip 125: Use living photos
> Tip 126: Fill the screen with your focus of interest
> Tip 127: Personalise the slides with unique photos
> Tip 128: Avoid clip art
> Tip 129: Use photos or cartoons for humour
> Tip 130: Build a library of wildcard photo slides
> Tip 131: Be careful about hidden meanings in images
> Tip 132: Don't go overboard with PowerPoint
> Tip 133: Use transitions and animations sparingly
> Tip 134: Keep charts simple
> Tip 135: Use a sensible font
> Tip 136: Limit the number of fonts
> Tip 137: Serif or sans serif?
> Tip 138: Take the font with you
> Tip 139: Use colour
> Tip 140: Select backgrounds carefully
> Tip 141: Include a presentation progress tracker
> Tip 142: Use object builds
> Tip 143: Avoid sound effects
> Tip 144: Use video or audio
> Tip 145: Use declarations in your titles
> Tip 146: Vary the text, graphics and audio
> Tip 147: Don’t put logos on every slide
> Tip 148: Simple rules for text slides
> Tip 149: Avoid text effects
> Tip 150: Simple rules for OHP transparencies
> Tip 151: Make some notes for yourself
> Tip 152: Accept white space
> Tip 153: Include an end slide
> Tip 154: Make it big enough
> Tip 155: Use the slide sorter
> Tip 156: Take all the pieces with you

Chapter 4: Preparing a handout

> Tip 157: Make a high quality handout
> Tip 158: Audiences expect a handout
> Tip 159: Choose the best time to distribute your handout
> Tip 160: Plan handouts while planning your talk
> Tip 161: Do not simply give a printout of your slides
> Tip 162: Write a separate document
> Tip 163: Link your handout to your presentation
> Tip 164: Make it obvious what it is
> Tip 165: Outline your presentation
> Tip 166: Give your contact information
> Tip 167: Let them get more copies
> Tip 168: Use sensible formatting
> Tip 169: Use a clear writing style
> Tip 170: Have an action plan
> Tip 171: Make your handout appealing to the eye
> Tip 172: Don’t let the handout distract your audience
> Tip 173: Make it the right length
> Tip 174: Have a reading list
> Tip 175: Include supporting materials
> Tip 176: Make the handout stand alone
> Tip 177: Make the handout in good time
> Tip 178: Keep your handout updated

Chapter 5: Rehearsals

> Tip 179: Practice, practice, practice
> Tip 180: Use the practice to perfect the presentation
> Tip 181: Be comfortable when you practice
> Tip 182: Find a human audience
> Tip 183: Have a dress rehearsal
> Tip 184: Make the presentation look effortless
> Tip 185: Accept the 80-90% rule
> Tip 186: Pay attention to your time allocation
> Tip 187: Make landmarks for timing
> Tip 188: Rehearse the Q&A
> Tip 189: Videotape yourself
> Tip 190: Use a spell checker

Chapter 6: Just before the presentation

> Tip 191: Arrive in town early
> Tip 192: Get local information
> Tip 193: Get a good night's sleep
> Tip 194: Scan the news
> Tip 195: Dress like a leader
> Tip 196: Be there for the whole event
> Tip 197: Familiarise yourself with the venue room
> Tip 198: Optimise the environment
> Tip 199: Rearrange the furniture
> Tip 200: Master the technology
> Tip 201: Load your slides onto the venue's computer
> Tip 202: Preview your slides
> Tip 203: Remove all accessories
> Tip 204: Warm up your voice
> Tip 205: Rehearse the presentation one last time
> Tip 206: Be a host, not just another speaker
> Tip 207: Meet your guests
> Tip 208: Have a soft drink before you start
> Tip 209: Take a drink to the lectern
> Tip 210: Go to the toilet before you start

Chapter 7: Last-minute tips for confidence

> Tip 211: It is normal to be anxious
> Tip 212: Don't be self-centred
> Tip 213: Don't let nerves ruin your presentation
> Tip 214: They won’t find you boring
> Tip 215: Don't be afraid of laughter
> Tip 216: Release excess energy
> Tip 217: Control your breathing
> Tip 218: Give yourself permission to fail
> Tip 219: Have rituals
> Tip 220: Don't apologise for nervousness
> Tip 221: Think positive thoughts
> Tip 222: Visualise success
> Tip 223: Break out of the freeze
> Tip 224: You are doing your audience a favour
> Tip 225: Your audience wants you to succeed
> Tip 226: Use your built-in support group
> Tip 227: Have fun
> Tip 228: Relax and smile!

Chapter 8: Delivering the presentation

> Tip 229: Talk in the first and second person
> Tip 230: Talk slower
> Tip 231: Be yourself
> Tip 232: Deliver confidently
> Tip 233: Connect with your friends
> Tip 234: Refer to other speakers
> Tip 235: Be present in the moment
> Tip 236: Don't air private grievance in public
> Tip 237: Acknowledge the chairperson
> Tip 238: Move away from the lectern
> Tip 239: Move away from the podium
> Tip 240: Make eye contact and smile
> Tip 241: Do not look at the screen too much
> Tip 242: Talk – don't lecture
> Tip 243: Use gestures
> Tip 244: Take cues from your audience as you speak
> Tip 245: Use a wireless pointer
> Tip 246: Avoid laser pointers
> Tip 247: Use a microphone properly
> Tip 248: Explain the slide or prop as soon as you show it
> Tip 249: Remove your slide when it has made its point
> Tip 250: Ignore interruptions
> Tip 251: Use a deeper voice
> Tip 252: Be prepared to stray from the script
> Tip 253: Give your audience something to think about
> Tip 254: Watch the clock
> Tip 255: Don't let your throat dry out
> Tip 256: If something goes wrong, laugh with it
> Tip 257: Plan for disaster

Chapter 9: 'Any questions?'

> Tip 258: Decide how to handle questions
> Tip 259: Repeat the question if necessary
> Tip 260: Use questions to reinforce your main points
> Tip 261: Handle questions politely
> Tip 262: Tackle difficult questions
> Tip 263: Have your own questions ready
> Tip 264: End the Q&A with a summary

Chapter 10: After the presentation

> Tip 265: Hang about after the presentation
> Tip 266: Make contacts
> Tip 267: Congratulate yourself
> Tip 268: Get constructive feedback
> Tip 269: Learn from your experience

Chapter 11: Final Thoughts

> Tip 270: Learn from good speakers and bad speakers alike
> Tip 271: Practice public speaking
> Tip 272: Go on a course
> Tip 273: Join a club

Demosthenes