Speaker Information

Speaker Tips

Speaker tips has been created as a reference to help you feel comfortable and deliver an effective presentation that will engage the audience.

PowerPoint Presentation Guidelines

• Make it visible and be consistent. Use contrasting colours and shades and larger font sizes to make it visible from all angles of the room.  We recommend that titles be 40 pt. and bullet points should be a minimum of 32 pt.

• The number of pages for the PowerPoint presentation generally ranges from 20 to 40.  The number of pages should coincide with the time allocated for your presentation.

• Communicate a single ideal with each bullet point. One slide should not show more than four bullet points per page.

• Represent the point as visually as possible.  For most people, it is easier to take a graphic representation of your information.  Use 20 pt font size for the text or numbers for graphs.

• Use case studies to offer a solution to a problem.

Note: Please use these guidelines in the creation of your PowerPoint presentation or pass this information onto the person creating the presentation.

Preparation is Key

Practice your presentation ahead of time with a colleague or friend and be comfortable with the content.

During the seminar, if you need to shorten  your presentation, it is important to carry on with confidence.  Look at your key points and know which two or three to cut on short notice and pick up your pace without rushing. Know your PowerPoint well enough that you can skip to certain sections, eliminating others without your audience knowing and use simple graphics that represents everything at once in a visual way. 3

Speaking and Body Language

Present the information with energy and authority.  A well-articulated speech adds authority by sounding and looking more confident.2

Use breathing to help articulate your presentation.  Speak slowly and pause between thoughts to breathe and allow the audience to think about the information.2

Speaking from bullet points or an outline is an effective way to get your message across to the audience. The length and extent of your notes will depend on you.

Engage the audience by making eye contact.  Make direct eye contact in 3 second intervals with a number of people in the audience and then glance at the entire audience or to the back of the room while speaking.  In a large room, speaking to the back of the room will help project your voice when you speak and lift your head away from the podium and your notes.1

Questions and Answers

How to Manage an Effective Question and Answer Period4

1. Manage the time effectively to take as many questions as possible

2. Be aware of the level of experience of the audience

3. Repeat the question aloud to the room

4. To stop the rambling questioner, answer the question and then let the questioner know that you will be available for a further discussion after the seminar in the common area outside the room

Print and Online Sources

1. A Research Guide for Students, Chapter 3. Presentation Tips for Public Speaking http://www.aresearchguide.com/3tips.html

2. Linver, Sandy. Speak and Get Results (Copyright 1983,1994)

3. Maxey, Cyndi, CSP and O'Connor, Kevin E., CSP. Present Like A Pro (Copyright 2006)

4. Ritscher, Walter. Thinking about code Speaker Tips, Handling Questions from the Audience http://waltritscher.com/blog/ramblings/archive/2005/02/17/284.aspx