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Oral Presentations

Updated Mar 05, 2023 ·

Overview​

Before creating slides, it’s important to plan your presentation. Consider your goal, the audience, and the message you want to deliver.

Planning the Presentation​

  • Define the Purpose

    • Is your presentation informative, instructional, or persuasive?
    • Example:
      • Explain how sentiment analysis was done
      • Convince stakeholders to act on negative ratings.

  • Know Your Audience

    • Consider who you’re presenting to:
      • Technical colleagues
      • Managers
      • Customers
    • Think about the size of the audience:
      • Small meeting
      • Large conference

  • Craft Your Message

    • Decide what key takeaway you want your audience to remember.
    • Build your presentation to emphasize this message.
    • Example: "Negative ratings are hurting our sales."

  • Structure the Presentation

    • Start with an engaging introduction.
    • Dive into methods and findings
    • Tailor results to your audience’s understanding.
    • Conclude with a call to action.

  • Outline Key Sections

    • Limit your presentation to about five sections.
    • Example: Reason for analysis, exploratory analysis, sentiment analysis, conclusions, follow-up actions.

  • Keep Timing in Mind

    • Plan the presentation to fit within your allotted time.
    • Adjust the content based on how long you have to speak.

Designing the Slides​

Keep the slides simple, focused, and easy to follow for the audience.

  • Keep Slides Focused

    • Limit each slide to one main point.
    • Too much content on a slide can overwhelm the audience.

  • Use a Clear Message

    • Every slide should convey one message clearly.
    • Don't overload with confusing information.

  • Choose Colors Carefully

    • Use colors that support your message and ensure good contrast.
    • Avoid red and green together for colorblind viewers.

  • Select Fonts Wisely

    • Sans-serif fonts are best for screens
    • Serif fonts are better for printed text.
    • Keep text large and concise to enhance readability.

  • Avoid Text Overload

    • Don’t crowd slides with text.
    • Use bullet points to highlight key ideas.

  • Use Headlines Effectively

    • Make your slide headlines clear and easy to understand.
    • It guides your audience’s attention to the main point.

  • Layer Content for Clarity

    • Break complex information into smaller, digestible pieces.
    • Reveal points separately, then combine to show the full picture.

  • Incorporate Visuals

    • Use graphs or visuals to replace text.
    • Layer and highlight visuals to help focus audience’s attention.

  • Limit Visuals per Slide

    • Avoid overcrowding slides with multiple visuals.
    • Stick to one or two large visuals per slide.

Deliver the Presentation​

When it's time to present, the way you deliver your message is just as important as the content itself.

  • Practice your presentation

    • Rehearse using a script as a guide.
    • Focus on the key points, not memorization.
    • Anticipate potential follow-up questions.

  • Rehearse in context

    • Stand up, use the slides, and speak aloud.
    • Identify filler words like “um” or “so.”

  • Stay confident

    • Confidence makes your message more convincing.
    • Avoid showing signs of nervousness.

  • Engage the audience

    • Make eye contact.
    • Ask questions to keep them involved.
    • Talk to audience, not at them.

  • Keep it on time

    • Stick to allotted time to maintain attention.

  • Use pauses effectively

    • Let your audience absorb key points.
    • Speed up for urgency, but pause to allow reflection.

  • Encourage questions

    • Invite questions during or at the end of the presentation.
    • Show openness and willingness to clarify.

Tips​

  • Keep it short

    • Limit the presentation to 20 minutes or less.
    • Reserve time for questions at the end.

  • State your purpose clearly

    • Mention the presentation's purpose at the start.
    • Helps the audience understand the relevance of your message.

  • Guide your audience

    • Present information in a logical order.
    • Don’t save key points for the end — spread them throughout.

  • Engage your audience

    • Avoid talking at the audience — talk to them.
    • Ask questions and include them in the discussion.

  • Introduce yourself confidently

    • Make a strong opening statement.
    • Who you are and why you’re presenting.

  • Clarify assumptions

    • State your key assumptions clearly.
    • Shows understanding and empathy towards your audience.

  • Ask questions

    • Pose questions during the presentation.
    • Use them as hooks to transition to new ideas.

  • Connect with your story

    • Relate everything back to your main message.

  • Use body language effectively

    • Emphasize your points with natural gestures.
    • Movement and facial expressions keep the audience engaged.

  • Use your voice wisely

    • Vary your speed and tone to make your talk more dynamic.
    • Speak clearly and loud enough for in-person presentations.
    • For online presentations, ensure your mic is clear.

  • Show enthusiasm

    • Engage with your topic and sound interested.
    • Your energy will keep the audience interested too.