Presentation Skills & Speaking Skills (and other life-changing tips)

1. Presentation Skills & Speaking Skills (and other life-changing tips) Craig Jackson Professor of Occupational Health Psychology

2. The following lecture has been approved for University Undergraduate Students This lecture may contain information, ideas, concepts and discursive anecdotes that may be thought provoking and challenging It is not intended for the content or delivery to cause offence Any issues raised in the lecture may require the viewer to engage in further thought, insight, reflection or critical evaluation

3. Start Strong “Open with your best 3 gags”

4. It’s not a Monologue – it’s a Dialogue! Interact Ask questions Invite comment Bring people into the conversation Relate to our audience Move among them

5. Aims & Outcomes • Aims • Why the talk should be a spectacle worth getting out of bed for. • Techniques for dealing with a wide variety of disruptions. • Finding out what you are afraid of. • Tips on what not to do in class. • Cases, cases, cases. • Outcomes • You will have more confidence dealing with noise and disruption in YOUR talk. • You will run better presentations. • Students will be happier. • You’ll feel great about yourself.

6. Brief Lecturing History • Staff education in NHS (1995 - 1997) clinicians • University sector 1997  • Qualified professionals • medics, nurses, military, radiographers, • pilots, SLTs, accountants, police, paramedics • Students • medics, nurses, psychology, SLTs, law, criminology, healthcare • Laity • cruise ships of grumpy pensioners

7. A Simple Truth • Not every lecturer is a good lecturer • If you believe PowerPoint is enough for audiences, you’re wrong • Students do have favourites / students do dislike poor lecturers* • Audiences vote with their feet. Attendance is a huge clue. Ignore it at your peril • Students deal with consequences (of non-attendance) later • The lecturer and presentation have to be worth getting out of bed for • * look at Mid Module Evaluations

8. Less of this

9. Movement, Poise & Position • It is YOUR lecture. You OWN it. Nobody else will make it a success for you. • Own the space – lights, acoustics, furniture, people • Move things around to suit you • Move around • Be dynamic when needed • Be still when required • Project your voice. Why rely on amplification?

10. Looking and Hearing • Lecturing is a visual performance to some extent • Fourth wall • Showmanship • Make it clear • Reithian Principles: Information • Education • Entertainment • Audiences can forgive many things if the speaker is enthusiastic and passionate

11. Effective Audience Management • EAM is not EAM is • Discriminatory Unbiased • Vindictive Fair • Prejudicial Reasonable • Humiliation Discreet • Punishment Practical • Ego-driven Pro student

12. Conflicts: Disagreeing, Derailing & Sealioning • Sealioning • Minority of students raise points / views that are unpopular / controversial • Often cite personal experience to justify • Lecturer balances allowing speech & debate with preventing problems • Often used by students to amuse selves when lecturer not coping • Acting out inter-student rows • YOU are in control. • Nobody will criticise you for trying to do what you think is best

13. Common Flashpoints – Chitter Chatter • Deal with it • Don’t ignore it • Audiences hate it • Audiences hate it not being dealt with • Do not shy away from confronting it • A quiet word / reminder can work wonders

14. People like to hear what they want to hear Careful opening Judge the room Sense the atmosphere Tell them what they want . . . Ride the wave . . . Then get your message in after

16. Saying “nothing” can be very effective too “Make America great again” Building a wall Emotion-based communication No details – just desires!

17. Confidence as a Commodity Should be used more CVs UK are very poor at this Charisma and Charismatics Google it!

19. Confidence isn’t everything Substance is key But . . . Substance lost if communication weak

23. Confident people ≠ Confident speaking What are they all lacking?

24. Confident Vocabulary • Mastery of language • Word-power • Thinking on your feet • Use new words • Make your own words • Simple words for simple people • Words are a tool of the trade • “Cluedo-Crime-Reporting”

25. You can change your weaker points Public speaking is a Skill NOT a Talent Can be learned and perfected Unconfident now ≠ Unconfident in future Evolves

26. “It’s all an Act, dear” Can turn on and off Control it Use it when needed Being different “yous” is fine. It’s “Image-management” Flourish & Verve Break the 4th wall – post-modernise the talk

27. Poise & Positionality Feng Shuiyour talk Awareness of environment Awareness of people Awareness of setting and context Always be “on” Making an ENTRANCE WHERE is your talk? WHAT are you saying?HOW are you saying it? WHO are you saying it to?WHEN is this all happening?

28. “Less is more” Minimalism Minimalism of style: words movement hands There’s a time for sparsity of movement Stillness

36. Positivity & Kindness Lighting up a room People are pre-disposed towards it “Mirth-sponges” “Time-thieves” People will seek you out for good things

37. Don’t be phased by the unusual Cameras Telephones Audio feedback Cupboards Kitchens Patience

38. Don’t be phased by “Phubbing” Don’t fight it Don’t dwell Nothing personal

39. Know your worth & value “Pay the writer”

40. Fact-check Errors detract from you Errors detract from message Message gets lost Sloppy Critics focus on the facile things

41. Aesthetics Ugly bias / age bias / gender bias Can be problem in a shallow-age Challenge to be overcome More emphasis needed on message and style

42. Don’t try to please the crowd (too much) You can’t win everyone Don’t be swayed Someone will always find you objectionable Humour can work . . . but it can fail badly Swearing rarely works - reduces professionalism

43. Tough times! Rows & disputes Very stressful Police & Legal issues doubly so Alone & Isolated Dissemination of science can be difficult Social media backlash

44. Some critics can help Find critical friends you can trust Often in unexpected places Listen to good feedback Ignore others

45. Humility (some is good for the soul) Please and thank-yous go a long way Use deference when needed Although you can be a diva too! (in small doses)

46. Don’t unfairly compare yourself to others Pointless Do your own thing well We’re all struggling / anxious / worried / confused

47. Final Tips Use any stress you’re feeling to motivate YOU They invited YOU to speak for a reason The power is not with the audience but YOU YOU control the environment of the venue