#154: Presentations: Why Would You Guess If You Could Get It Right?

Introduction

In today's "People Skills" newsletter, we're once again looking at one of our most popular sets of training materials, our soft skills worksheets.

Today's collection is on "Presentations Skills" and there are 25 worksheets in the set. They cover every aspect of giving a presentation, from why a presentation, to structure and preparation, and the all-important audience delivery and feedback.

You can use these worksheets for your own self-paced reflection or as thought-and-discussion sessions at team meetings, workshops, and training courses.

At ManageTrainLearn, we've discovered that reflection is a key part of learning but is often omitted from formal learning events.

So, use these 25 worksheets to take the guesswork out of presentations and dive into a deeper understanding. Here we go...

Worksheet 01: What is a Presentation?

Instructions: Complete the six boxes below in turn. They will give you a full 360-degree insight into the meaning of effective presentations...

Worksheet 02: Types Of Presentations

Instructions: Look at the types of business presentations in column A. Add any not included. In column B, tick those you might expect to give yourself and in column C give examples...

Worksheet 03: Who Are My Audience?

Instructions: Effective presentations rely on adapting what you say to what your audience wants to hear. Knowing who you're speaking to is thus of vital importance to success. Think of a recent presentation that you gave. Then analyse the audience using the questions below...

Worksheet 04: Intellectual Aikido

Instructions: Aikido is a Japanese martial art that uses an opponent's strength to add to your own. Intellectual aikido does the same when someone objects to what you're saying...

Worksheet 05: One Idea, Many Reasons

Instructions: An effective speech has one strong idea and lots of support. In the chart below, map out how this applies to a sales talk or pitch, (one idea, lots of reasons to buy); an informative talk, (one idea, lots of details); and a persuasive talk, (one idea, lots of arguments in favour)...

Worksheet 06: The Five P's

Instructions: Think about a topic on which you have strong views for change (eg improvements to the way the team works). Use the structure of the five P's to design a presentation which would win over a sceptical audience...

Worksheet 07: Structure

Instructions: Think of any presentation that you have given recently. Outline the structure of the opening, the middle and the ending. Jot down below what you covered in each part. Then jot down how long each part took to deliver...

Worksheet 08: Twelve Openers

Instructions: Think of an important presentation that you have to give to others. Then select from the opening techniques in the left-hand column below to draft out 3 different ways that how you might start. Put your ideas down in the right-hand column...

Worksheet 09: Three Middles

Instructions: Imagine that you have been invited to talk about the work of your department to a group of visitors. Outline in each of the columns below how you would structure the middle part of the talk using the techniques of Lists, Mnemonics and Numbers...

Worksheet 10: Endings

Instructions: Use the space below to jot down how you could end three kinds of presentations: the ending of a sales talk (pitch); the ending of an informative presentation; and the ending of a persuasive argument. Aim to incorporate simplicity, directness and something unexpected into each ending...

Worksheet 11: Planning Presentations

Instructions: Imagine that you have been asked to give a presentation in two weeks' time on a subject new to you. Plan your presentation using the seven steps below, showing what each step would consist of, and the deadlines over the two weeks for each step...

Worksheet 12: The Core Statement

Instructions: Imagine that you have been asked to make two presentations in the near future about how your department is to be reorganised to meet new quality standards. One talk is to senior management; the other to trade union officials. Write Core Statements for presentations to each audience...

Worksheet 13: Pattern Notes

Instructions: Imagine that you have been asked to make a presentation on Making Presentations. Use the space below to design a one-page set of Pattern Notes containing all the information on which your talk will be based...

Worksheet 14: Cue Cards

Instructions: Imagine that you have been asked to make a presentation to a retiring colleague. Break the speech down into no more than six steps and use the cue cards below to record the chief points...

Worksheet 15: Room Check

Instructions: Use the list of twenty items below to check the suitability of the room where you plan to give your talk. Note down any action that needs to be taken...

Worksheet 16: Mixing Styles

Instructions: Mixing styles means varying the ways we present information. The main styles are: the written word and spoken word; pictures; hands-on; interpersonal and intrapersonal; and numerical. Think about a presentation you've given recently. Re-design it by incorporating the seven different styles...

Worksheet 17: The Boredom Relief File

Instructions: You can keep an audience interested and boredom at bay in a wide variety of ways. Jot down below some of the techniques that work for you. Then add some which you have seen used by others...

Worksheet 18: Twelve Persuasive Words

Instructions: The twelve most persuasive words in the English language are: discovery, easy, health, guarantee, love, money, new, proven, results, safety, save, you. Imagine you are addressing an audience on a subject close to your heart. Write it down in box A. In box B, draft out an outline of the talk using all of the persuasive words...

Worksheet 19: FACELIFTS

Instructions: FACELIFTS is a mnemonic for nine different kinds of supportive information which you would use in a persuasive presentation. Think of a plan which you want others to accept (eg an office relocation; more funds to be spent on technology). Then in the space below use the nine headings to build your case...

Worksheet 20: Visual Aids

Instructions: Imagine that you are giving a short presentation on your goals and targets for next year to an audience of your colleagues. Use the space below to make notes on what your talk will cover. Indicate in column B the flipcharts, overheads, handouts and other visual aids you would use. In column C, suggest how they would look...

Worksheet 21: Appearances

Instructions: Use the model below to design how you want to appear to an audience. Start at the top and work your way down. Sketch in clothes, grooming and any other features...

Worksheet 22: Nerve Control

Instructions: It is a good idea to adapt the various methods of controlling pre-talk nerves to techniques that you feel comfortable with. Use the space below to personalise your own way of dealing with presentation nerves...

Worksheet 23: Managing Presentations

Instructions: A presentation is managed when we apply the steps of the management cycle. Use the chart below to make notes about how a recent speech or presentation was managed using this cycle...

Worksheet 24: Potential Disasters

Instructions: The experienced presenter knows that anything can happen during a presentation and is prepared to deal with it. Look at the six situations below. Suggest the course of action you would take at the time of the incident to deal with it effectively...

Worksheet 25: Evaluating a Presentation

Instructions: Use the chart below to decide how successful your presentations are. Evaluate an informative presentation you gave and a persuasive one against measurable criteria (eg did people change their views?; did they follow instructions?); how you felt; and how the audience felt...

What Next?

Lee Iacocca, former CEO of car giant, Chrysler, is famous for saying that the one skill he wished he'd learnt at school was being able to present to an audience.

The reasons?

First, presentations are a quick and efficient way to sell an idea to a large group of people.

Second, presentations not only present ideas, they also present you. If you come over as a credible person, people will be more likely to accept your ideas.

Third, a talented presenter can use their authority to have an audience eating out of their hands. In a short space of time, they can charm, entertain, and lead.

That's why you should use these 25 worksheet exercises to practice your presentations and hone your skills.

After all, why would you guess when you could get it right?

Well done and good luck!

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