Library and Academic Services: Communication Guide: Presentations

Presentations

More feared than death, people can actually prepare for presentations/public speaking and get better with more experience. Lessen your fear with these resources for the classroom and the workplace.

Featured eBook Titles

Well Said! by Darlene Price
Location: eBook
Publication Date: 2012
Whether you're making a formal presentation, wooing a client, closing a sale, or proposing an idea, persuasive communication can make the difference between success and failure. Well Said! shows readers how to put themselves in their audience's shoes and tailor their message to the needs of decision makers. It reveals simple but powerful techniques anyone can use to prioritize, organize, and economize their words so that their communications are concise, clear, and--most importantly--convincing.

LinkedIn Learning

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Handling an Unruly Audience
Learn how to create a better rapport with your audience and handle negative interactions with unruly audience members. PR expert Deirdre Breakenridge helps you recognize the personality "signals" of hecklers in advance and what to do when you are interrupted. She also helps you identify potential champions and enlist their support before you ever step foot on stage. Whether you are speaking to a large or small audience, Deirdre provides tips for keeping your composure and maintaining focus, from the moment you start speaking to answering difficult questions during Q&A.
Master Confident Presentations
Giving a talk can be a career-defining moment. Somebody in the audience might offer you a job or submit your next big sales order. The key to a great presentation is confidence. Learn the difference between simply giving (and surviving) a presentation and delivering a confident and engaging talk your audience will love. In this training course, Chris Croft gives you a series of tips and tricks, emphasizing practical techniques you can use before and during a presentation to maximize its effectiveness. Learn how to calm your pre-talk nerves, practice proper body language, write effective openers, manage the time you're allotted, and close strong. Plus, find out how to get more out of PowerPoint and engage your audience by asking the right questions.
Presenting as a Team
Strong team presentations are developed and delivered together. While "divide and conquer" seems like an efficient approach, it often isn't effective. This course walks through the crucial aspects of presenting as a team. Kelley School of Business Professor Daisy Lovelace shows how to plan, develop, and practice a cohesive presentation that sticks in the mind of your audience. She explains how to switch between presenters and build a flow that makes the presentation stronger than the sum of its parts.
Public Speaking Foundations
Develop the skills you need to prepare and deliver an outstanding speech or presentation. In this course, Laura Bergells offers practical insights that can help presenters prepare, open, deliver, and close their speeches. Along the way, discover how to project confidence, outline a speech, take questions, and develop the creative story that adds life to a speech.

Websites

How to avoid death By PowerPoint | David JP Phillips | TEDxStockholmSalon

With a seldom seen depth of knowledge and passion for his subject, David Phillips has become the leading Swedish figurehead in the art of making presentations. He is the founder and owner of Sweden's largest resource on the subject: Presentationsteknik.com. He is also author of the ground-breaking book "How To Avoid Death By PowerPoint" published in more than 30 countries.

Public Speaking Tips
Whether you’re new to giving speeches or are a seasoned Toastmaster, these how-to articles will help you hone your skills. Get quick and easy tips for how to prepare and present an award, use visual aids and props, incorporate body language into your presentations, and more. With time and practice, you’re sure to see improvement in your ability to communicate and an increase in your confidence as well.
Red River Communicators Toastmasters Club
At Red River Communicators, we learn and practise our listening, speaking, and leadership skills in an atmosphere of FUN at our weekly Toastmasters meetings. We view our meetings as a learning lab where we help each other to improve in all aspects of communication and leadership. Each member progresses at his or her own pace, with consistent and supportive encouragement from their fellow members.
**Open to Staff and Students**
TED Playlist: Before Public Speaking
If you’ve got a presentation to give at work or school — or are perhaps getting ready to speak at a TEDx event? — we recommend these talks to help get you pumped up.

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