NMI5050 11899 - Presentation Skills: Overcome the #1 Fear - 0.2 credits

Presenter:  Devora Zack

Deliver persuasive speeches, provide useful feedback, practice speaking extemporaneously, and create a personalized elevator pitch. In this participant driven, goal-based session you will learn practical foolproof tips, walking away with a diverse toolbox of invaluable presentation techniques.

This session is presented by Devora Zack, author of Networking for People Who Hate Networking (Berrett-Koehler 2010)

Course Pre-work Guidelines: Prepare a speech up to 3-minutes on any topic in which you have a great interest. Pick a topic that you care about personally or professionally. You can integrate your own experiences and perceptions.

Every participant will deliver a speech followed by feedback from your peers and the facilitator. Use this as an opportunity to deliver a message and promote your perspective in a memorable way. Work to engage the audience and spark their interest in your topic. Your speech should change, inspire, motivate and/or educate the audience in some way. Be creative, take risks! Techniques to consider:

- Create a 'hook' to engage us from the start.
- Focus your speech—have a clear direction.
- Utilize diverse learning methods (i.e. visual aids, interactive style…).
- Make use of stories or metaphor.
- Make it real, something you care about.
- Engage the audience and keep their interest.

The use of supplementary materials, visual aids, exhibits, and other creative speech supplements are encouraged. While notes are allowed, please minimize your reliance on them. Practice and time your speech in advance.