Nothing adds to your professionalism more than handling visuals well. This means you should practice with them, so that you're comfortable using them. Let's consider which visuals make the best impression
Real things beat everything else. A 30-second demonstration, several cans of food supplements, a vegetarian pizza, a set of golf clubs—depending on your topic, of course—will create enthusiasm in the crowd. If you are representing a company or a department in that company, wearing indigenous work garb characterizes ideas well. Other possibilities: models of real things and pictures of real things using videotapes, photos, display boards, overhead transparencies, and so on.
VOCAL PRESENTATION STYLE CHECKLIST |
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SPEAKER'S NAME: |
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RATE |
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1. |
Could be slower ____ Could be faster ____ Good rate ____ |
2. |
Needs smoothing; choppy phrasing ____ Phrasing OK; work on variety ____ |
VOLUME |
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1. |
Too soft ____ Too loud ____ Volume fine ____ |
2. |
Same volume throughout ____ Good variety ____ |
PITCH |
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1. |
Level could be lower ____ Level could be higher ____ Level OK ____ |
2. |
Repetitive pitch pattern ____ Good variety ____ |
INFLECTION |
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1. |
Harsh sound ____ Timid sound ____ Tone OK ____ |
2. |
Flat sound ____ Rich, resonant sound ____ |
ARTICULATION |
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1. |
Emphasize consonants more ____ Good, distinct words ____ |
2. |
Word endings omitted ____ Clear word delivery ____ |
3. |
Lips hardly moved ____ Good lip movement ____ |
Comments: |
Overheads are used extensively in many areas. Here are some tips for using them more professionally.
If you're using overheads, it looks polished to create an opening transparency you can leave on while you're setting up for the talk. To determine whether a visual of any sort is large enough for folks in the back to see, put it on the floor and stand up; if you can read it from there, it's OK. If you have several transparencies you intend to use, decide where you'll draw and discard. Put them on the left of the projector and discard on the right or whatever. Don't use audience time to file your overheads into a three-ring notebook. The audience gets more caught up in your filing than your topic. Leave the room lights on as much as possible when using visuals.
Only use key words, phrases, diagrams
Make material easy to understand
Use no more than 5-6 lines of writing
Use no more than 6-7 words in each line
Use upper third of the transparency
Check the focus before you start
Check each transparency-level and on screen
Look at the audience; don't look at the screen
Use a pen or pencil as a pointer on the transparency
Turn off the projector when talk varies from transparency
Keep projector on when using several overheads
Put new one on as you remove the old
Use the revelation technique to mask information