1	Making Effective Oral Presentations IS 460 Notes by Thomas Hilton
2	Overview Nonverbal Communication Delivering Oral Presentations Assessing Your Effect
3	Nonverbal Communication Always more believable than verbal Visual Props Aural Tactile Environment
4	Visual Nonverbal Communication Expressions (we read these well) Face: direction, mood Eyes: contact (often/rare), down, up (looking down nose) Arm and hand movements closed: passive, controlled, fearful, withdrawn open: active, controlling, receptive, aggressive choppy: cutting, powerful, insensitive, forceful; example smooth: comforting, insinuating, persuasive Lots of general animation: good? Involved? Angry? Posture Lower/higher (sitting/standing) straight/bent near/far
5	Props in Nonverbal Communication Men's Clothes: Coat, shirt, Suit vs. separates, Tie Women's: Freer, Feminine but not sexy, like men but not boyish Hair, jewelry, etc. Conform, Rule of 14, watch & ring for men Furniture: barrier, crutch, or home base
6	Aural Nonverbal Communication Volume of voice: louder generally means more aggressive Tone of Voice Other (slaps, claps, taps, whistles, sobs, etc.)
7	Tactile Nonverbal Communication Person-to-Person Entry into Personal Space (arm's length) Force of Touch Location of Touch The Handshake (firm, meet thumbs, not long) Other cultures (abraso, kiss, bow)
8	Environment in Nonverbal Communication Barriers (furniture arrangement) Distractions (noise, other people, decor, etc.) Luxuries (jug & rug, art, etc.) Lighting (dim, harsh, humming, OK)
9	Delivering Oral Presentations Prepare Practice Deliver Take Questions
10	Preparing an Oral Presentation 1 hr speech, 5 min prep; 5 min speech, 10 hrs prep) Audience Analysis Notes: 7 + 2 major parts at max Beginning Familiar to audience Entertaining/attractive Establish credibility Broadly state theme (careful if inductive) Middle 3 or 4 points are all they'll remember Use visuals: large, attractive, easy to read End Review main points Restate the objective
11	Practicing an Oral Presentation Posture/stance in front of a mirror Voice modulation Pace
12	Delivering an Oral Presentation Assess Audience Mood/reaction at first and throughout Generally avoid humor: it's risky/fickle (except possibly on yourself) Speech should not be a one-way communication process Speak extemporaneously from notes Use visual aids Drain then explain Handouts OK except they compete for their attention Move Use upper body, especially arms and torso (more on this later) Face may be too far away to see Leg and foot movements seem fidgety Make eye contact with the audience
13	Questions in an Oral Presentation During? After? Restate if in a large group Helps audience hear question Gives you time to think In a large group, don't let one person ask many questions Tell the truth, but tell it your way Don't let pressure make you betray your values Admit it if you don't know--but don't have to do it often Don't feel obligated to call on hecklers or opponents Rarely, answer a different question than was asked Handling questions well makes credibility soar Handling questions poorly can destroy you
14	Assessing Your Effect Did the action you recommended take place? Do listeners make comments that imply they understood? Are you asked back? (Don't rely too much on compliments)