Presentation Skills Resources
You are encouraged to use these resources to improve your public speaking and presentation skills. Watch other presenters and see what you can learn from them. Look for presentation techniques and ideas you can adapt for your public speaking situation.
When watching podium presentations (with no visuals) listen to the tone and rate of speech; the choice of words – the imagery they create; gestures, and facial expressions of the speaker.
When watching presentations with PowerPoint look for how well the speaker integrates the slides into the words they say; what is on the slides; where the speaker positions themselves; and how they use the stage area (their ‘presence’).
Special Tools, Articles & Video
Presentation Skills Observation Checklist (PDF 46 KB)
This is the checklist provided at the training session, here for you in PDF format. Use this checklist to gain feedback from your audience (great for practicing!). Or use it to assess other presentations.
How to Not Suck at a Group Presentation (PDF 106 KB)
This is a great article from a venture capital expert. His ‘top 11 tips’ are drawn from his experience being on the receiving end of countless presentations, plus some practical no-no’s to avoid. I endorse his recommendations.
How to Make an Effective Presentation (PDF 52 KB)
An insightful article that provides an alternate 3-component approach for how to plan and deliver a persuasive and memorable presentation.
Presentation Tips From The Greats (PDF 49 KB)
A concise summary of practical and high-impact presentation tactics used by some of the worlds greatest speakers.
Author of Presentation Zen blog and best selling book, Garr Reynolds, talking @Google about various aspects of effective presentations, particularly about using slides. Includes some inspirational tips on planning and delivering presentations. Duration 1hr+ and well worth watching – especially the audience questions in the final 15 minutes.
Founder of Apple, (the late) Steve Jobs was renowned for his engaging and non-technical presentations in an industry that thrives on technological innovation. Here are a few resources from Carmine Gallo to help you understand how he achieved that result.
Download: Steve Jobs Presentation Secrets (PDF 87KB)
Video: Author Carmine Gallo speaks on how he researched Steve Jobs presentation style.