Presentation

Updated 22 Jul 2026

•
def
- •
  conveys information from a speaker to an audience
- •
  typically a demonstration, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea or product
•
why it should be interactive
- •
  reduces boredom
- •
  gathers audience opinions and perspectives
- •
  initiates interest and engagement
•
elements of personal communication in a presentation (Mehrabian)
- •
  7% Verbal — the actual words used
  - •
    tips — less is more; focus impact in the first 10 minutes
- •
  38% Voice — the sounds and qualities of speech
  - •
    good vocal elements include — intonation, articulation, accentuation, tone, power, speed, volume, breath control, phrasing, and stress
- •
  55% Visual — what is seen by the audience
  - •
    includes — facial expressions, body language, appearance, and overall presence
•
structure
- •
  opener
  - •
    contains — a brief description of the goal and topic
  - •
    what to include
    
    •
    explain the benefit to the audience (why this matters and what's in it for them)
    
    •
    rhetorical or thought-provoking questions around the main topic
    
    •
    connections to previous topics, real experiences, or the audience's own experiences
    
    •
    relevant tools, props, or quotes from notable figures
    
    •
    appropriate humor
  - •
    avoid — apologizing, excessive expressions of gratitude, mentioning how difficult it was to prepare
- •
  body
  - •
    contains — background, problem statement, and solutions
  - •
    delivery tips
    
    •
    manage breathing, leg posture, and hand gestures
    
    •
    use sound variation to maintain interest
    
    •
    smile and maintain warmth
  - •
    avoid
    
    •
    turning your back to the audience
    
    •
    maintaining eye contact with one person for too long
    
    •
    touching unnecessary objects on stage
    
    •
    pacing around excessively
  - •
    techniques for asking the audience questions
    
    •
    clarity — be clear in what you're asking
    
    •
    simplicity — keep questions easy to understand
    
    •
    challenging — pose stimulating or thought-provoking questions
    
    •
    specificity — be specific in what you want answered
  - •
    when the audience asks questions
    
    •
    adapt to the questioner's background and level
    
    •
    listen effectively before responding
    
    •
    answer without repeating the question verbatim, but ensure other audience members understand the context
- •
  closing (closer)
  - •
    contains — conclusion, closing statement (short, with a question or memorable quote), and a call to action
•
key skills
- •
  voice control
- •
  body language
- •
  audience interaction
•
how to improve confidence
- •
  manage self-anxiety and mental state
- •
  master the presentation content thoroughly
- •
  practice, including rehearsing in front of a mirror
•
how to use slides effectively
- •
  simple — not too dense; do not read slides word for word
- •
  clear — use appropriate font size and a readable font family
- •
  reveal content part by part to maintain focus
- •
  consistent with font, layout, and color choices throughout
- •
  visually interesting without being distracting
- •
  relevant and on-target; remove anything unnecessary
- •
  proportional images, layout, and fonts
•
related

Linked references 4

◌ Explore connections in Graph view