While employers place a high emphasis on hiring graduates with strong oral communication skills, a recent Wall Street Journal story reported that stu-dents’ “writing and presentation skills have been a perennial complaint”. A poorly delivered sales presentation could have ramifications and “can make it more challenging to win over potential investors, prospective clients, employees and business partners”.
But what are the essentials of a successful presentation? An old adage in speechmaking says, “Tell them what you are going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told them”. Is that all you need to give a successful presentation? What are the key elements to preparing for an oral presentation? Is mak-ing a good oral presentation more than just good delivery?
Table of Contents
- Introduction and methodological approach
- Definition and delimitation of relevant terminology
- Communication
- Oral communication
- Preparing oral presentations
- Analysis of the audience and the situation
- Development of the topic, purpose, and thesis
- Research for materials
- Organizing the content
- Planning visual aids
- Delivering oral presentations
- Practicing the presentation
- Handling questions
- Summary
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to define the essentials of successful presentations. It explores the importance of strong oral communication skills in today's business environment, highlighting the discrepancy between employers' high demand for these skills and students' perceived shortcomings. The paper investigates the key elements of preparing and delivering effective oral presentations, moving beyond the simple "tell them what you'll tell them" approach.
- The importance of strong oral communication skills in the job market.
- The process of preparing effective oral presentations.
- The key elements of delivering a successful presentation.
- The definition and differentiation of communication and oral communication.
- Addressing the gap between employers' expectations and students' presentation skills.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction and methodological approach: This chapter sets the stage by emphasizing the critical role of strong verbal communication skills in securing employment, as highlighted by the NACE 2011 Job Outlook. It contrasts this demand with reports suggesting students' presentation skills are often deficient. The chapter introduces the central question of what constitutes a successful presentation, moving beyond simplistic advice, and outlines the paper's structure, promising to address these issues through a methodical examination of relevant concepts and practices.
Definition and delimitation of relevant terminology: This chapter provides foundational definitions for key terms. "Communication" is defined as a transactional process involving negotiation of meaning through verbal and nonverbal symbols. This section emphasizes the dynamic, interactive nature of communication and its influence on social reality. "Oral communication" is specifically addressed as spoken interaction between individuals, differentiating it from the formal structure of an oral presentation. This lays the groundwork for understanding the complexities involved in successful presentations.
Preparing oral presentations: This chapter delves into the preparatory stages of creating an effective presentation. It covers analyzing the audience and situation, developing a clear thesis and purpose, conducting thorough research, organizing content logically, and planning effective visual aids. Each of these steps is crucial for a well-structured and engaging presentation. The chapter implicitly highlights the significance of meticulous preparation as a foundation for successful delivery.
Delivering oral presentations: This chapter focuses on the execution of the presentation, stressing the importance of practice and responsiveness. It offers guidance on effectively handling audience questions, transforming a potentially stressful situation into an opportunity to engage further with the material and audience. This section emphasizes the interactive nature of presentations and the need for adaptability and confidence during delivery.
Keywords
Oral communication, presentation skills, business communication, audience analysis, preparation, delivery, verbal communication, effective communication, job market demands, successful presentations.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Guide to Successful Oral Presentations
What is this document about?
This document is a comprehensive guide to preparing and delivering effective oral presentations. It addresses the importance of strong oral communication skills in the job market, explores the key steps involved in presentation preparation, and provides insights into delivering a successful presentation. The guide includes definitions of key terms like communication and oral communication, and offers a structured approach to presentation development.
What are the key themes explored in this guide?
The key themes include: the critical role of strong oral communication skills in securing employment; the process of preparing effective oral presentations (including audience analysis, topic development, research, content organization, and visual aid planning); the key elements of delivering a successful presentation (including practice and handling questions); and the definition and differentiation between general communication and oral communication. The guide also highlights the gap between employers' expectations and students' presentation skills.
What topics are covered in each chapter?
The guide is structured as follows: The Introduction establishes the importance of oral communication skills and outlines the document's structure. The chapter on Terminology defines "communication" and "oral communication." The chapter on Preparation covers audience analysis, thesis development, research, content organization, and visual aids. The chapter on Delivery focuses on practicing the presentation and handling questions. Finally, a Summary consolidates the key learnings.
What is the definition of communication and oral communication according to this guide?
Communication is defined as a transactional process involving the negotiation of meaning through verbal and nonverbal symbols, highlighting its dynamic and interactive nature and its influence on social reality. Oral communication is specifically defined as spoken interaction between individuals, differentiating it from the more formal structure of an oral presentation.
What steps are involved in preparing an effective oral presentation?
Preparing an effective presentation involves analyzing the audience and situation; developing a clear thesis and purpose; conducting thorough research; organizing content logically; and planning effective visual aids. Each step is crucial for a well-structured and engaging presentation.
What are the key elements of delivering a successful presentation?
Successfully delivering a presentation emphasizes the importance of practice and responsiveness. It includes guidance on effectively handling audience questions, turning a potentially stressful situation into an opportunity to further engage with the material and audience. Adaptability and confidence are crucial.
What is the significance of this guide in relation to the job market?
The guide highlights the high demand for strong oral communication skills in the job market, contrasting this demand with reports suggesting students' presentation skills are often deficient. It aims to bridge this gap by providing practical guidance on developing and delivering effective presentations, increasing job prospects.
What are the keywords associated with this guide?
Keywords include: Oral communication, presentation skills, business communication, audience analysis, preparation, delivery, verbal communication, effective communication, job market demands, successful presentations.
- Quote paper
- Bachelor of Arts Philipp Schmieja (Author), 2011, The essentials of successful presentations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/182575
