Key Elements of a Presentation Gaining a proper understanding of the elements, types, and principles of speaking and using effective methods of delivery are essential for delivering a good presentation. In general, the act of speaking is comprised of the speaker, listener, content, and medium.    Here, the speaker is the agent who prepares and delivers the speech. The speaker must have a command of the necessary skills and techniques needed to deliver an effective presentation. Therefore, the speaker must be aware of the purpose, well-versed on the topic at hand, a good and effective speaker, and maintain the right attitude about himself/herself as well as towards the audience.   The listener is the other party to the speaker and communicates with the speaker based on the information the speaker conveys. The listener is also referred to as the audience or receiver, and participates in the conversations with a purpose just as the speaker does. A good listener should have an understanding about the purpose of the conversation, knowledge about the topic at hand, and right attitude towards listening.   The content refers to the message conveyed by the speaker to the listener and comes in the form of information, knowledge, ideas, opinions, etc. about a certain fact. The content should be organized according to the speaker’s intent and structured following a certain order. The speaker talks to the listener in order to convey something meaningful. In addition to the verbal message, non-verbal elements such as tone of voice, eye contact, facial expression, gestures, and appearance are also powerful tools.    The medium refers to the vehicle that carries the message. In other words, the medium of delivery. Both verbal and non-verbal elements convey content.   In summary, effective speech requires first and foremost an understanding of the relationship between the speaker, listener, content, and medium.

Making PowerPoint Presentation SlidesPowerPoint is one of the most widely used tools for making presentations. These days,PowerPoint has become synonymous with presentations. Since PowerPoint is themost common and universal tool used to make presentations, let’s examine theprocess and method of making a good PowerPoint presentation.     If you know the enemy and know the self you can never lose: SET YOUR GOAL AND STUDY YOUR OPPONENT When preparing a presentation, you must first clearly define the purpose and topic of the presentation (Purpose), analyze information about the audience (People), and collect all information necessary for the presentation (Place).   Establish the purpose and topic of your presentation The topic and purpose of any presentation should be crystal clear. Establishing the right purpose and topic of apresentation will map out the trajectory of the entire process of your presentation and will serve as a compass that steers you clear of any errors or inconsistencies.     Know your audience The ultimate goal of a presentation is toinform and persuade the audience. That is why you need to collect and analyzeinformation about your audience, including the size, their field of work, age,occupation, comprehension level, and needs. The audience determines the success of a presentation. An accurate understanding of your audience’s needs is required to capture their attention. This means you should adjust the method and difficulty of your presentation accordingly.   ㆍAgreeable Audience : This group has great faith in the presenter. A clear and concise presentation will suffice. A verbose presentation that will bore your audience is unnecessary.    ㆍNeutral Audience : Making a good impression and gaining trust is the most important task with this group. This means you should present ample logical evidence that supports the content of your presentation. In addition, provide various cases that can intrigue and engage your audience.    ㆍHostile Audience : You need the right technique when dealing with a disagreeable audience as this is the most challenging group. It’s a good idea to acknowledge the differences in opinion whilst expressing yours. Don’t waste time with lengthy stories as this can make them feel uncomfortable. Keep the presentation straightforward, to the point, and genuine.    Get a lay of the land A presentation is delivered at a given location within a limited timeframe. Therefore, check the venue, environment, and equipment in advance as you will need to adjust the length, content, and method of presentation depending on the size of the venue and seating arrangements, and whether the seats are comfortable enough.      HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Don’t overdo it A large presentation deck doesn’t necessarily mean you are a good presenter. If you have to skip over slides because you are running out of time, that can actually be a distraction for the audience. Therefore, make sure to limit the number of slides to what you can cover during the presentation time allotted to you. Also, be careful not to load too much text in a single slide.   Slides are not for reading Keep in mind that often times people don’t necessarily read presentation slides, but rather take in the overall slide at a glance. That means you need to make the most of visuals and animation effects to make your content stand out. Make use of diagrams, statistical data, images, and videos that can amplify your explanation and support your argument. However, you should also be mindful of overusing visual effects without any real content to your presentation or rushing through your presentation as that will compromise the effectiveness of your presentation.   Don’t show all your cards at once If the speed of your delivery falls behind the content shown on your slides, the audience will lose interest and find it hard to concentrate. If what you have yet to cover in your speech is already laid out in detail on the screen, the audience already knows where you are going without having to listen to your explanation. Therefore, make sure you structure your slides so that they effectively coincide with your speech and help capture your audience’s attention.

RehearsalAdd variety to the volume and intensity of your voice. The volume and intensity of your voice should vary depending on the venue, the particular circumstances, and number of listeners.    First, think about the volume of your voice. How loud should you speak? The level of your voice should be determined based on the size of the venue, number of listeners, and background noise.    Intonation is also an important tool for expressing emotions. Psychological states such as joy, sadness, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, tension, embarrassment, boredom, and interest can be conveyed through intonation. Intonation distinguishes a question fr|om a statement and vividly conveys the speaker’s feelings.   You can also place emphasis by controlling your speed. In general, people speak at 100 words per minute. This would be roughly equivalent to a two-page manuscript (200 characters per page). However, that does not mean there is a ‘correct’ speed of talking. For example, you are bound to talk slower when you are explaining something step-by-step and faster when you are in a heated debate. It’s important to adjust your speaking rate depending on the situation.   You can also use pauses to great effect. Pausing in your speech can enhance the effectiveness of your delivery. Pauses can be used to place emphasis or turn your audience’s attention to a different topic.   Varying your tone can also bring you speech to life. A monotonous tone will bore your listeners. Adjust your tone using both intense and soft tones to make your communication with the audience more dynamic.   Accurate pronunciation also enhances delivery. Practicing standard pronunciation is an effective way to make sure you get the pronunciation correct.