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| Presentation Skills |
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This article (Part 2 of 6) introduces the first phase of the presentation process—The Situation. You will learn how to use Aristotle's "Appeals" to identify the purpose, goals and objectives of the presentation based on the occasion and environment in which it will take place. |
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Presentation Skills
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When asked to make a presentation, the first thing that often runs through the panic-stricken mind of the "unprofessional" speaker is, "What am I going to say?!" A more purposeful response is: "Why have I been asked to give this presentation?" Therefore, the first step in the presentation process, before a word has been put to paper, is to determine the purpose of the presentation—it’s goals and objectives.Obviously, the structure, content and style of the presentation will vary according to the nature of the event. For example, wouldn’t you agree that, if you were asked to make a speech about an individual that was being honored, the tone of the presentation would be dramatically different depending on whether you were speaking at a retirement "roast" or a funeral?!Most presentations take one of three forms, as illustrated by Aristotle’s "Appeals":
Keep in mind that many, if not most, presentations incorporate more than one facet of each of these "appeals." For example, Winston Churchill used both pathos and logos, Zig Ziglar focuses on pathos and ethos, Brian Tracy on logos and ethos, and so forth. Also, you can be effective using whichever "appeal" best fits the situation or your personal style.Personally, I loved to hear both Carl Sagan and Zig Ziglar speak, though their styles were completely different. So, be aware that there is no one best form of presentation...each can be effective, in its own way, depending on the situation and the speaker’s personal style of communication.
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Ethos—the purpose is to inform or instruct,
as one would as an instructional course leader, and is based on thought processes. The
late Carl Sagan would be an example of someone who used this approach.
One other observation regarding the situation in which you are
speaking, and one of the most common mistakes made by "unprofessional"
speakers...remember to ALWAYS finish on time. This is particularly true when you are
speaking at a meal function such as a luncheon or dinner. Never ask "How long have I
got?", but rather, "When does your meeting usually end?" These types of
events are notorious for dragging on forever. If you have a 30 minute presentation
scheduled for 12:30 p.m., but you aren’t able to begin until 12:45 p.m. (and the
group usually adjourns at 1:00 p.m.), cut your program to 15 minutes. If you follow the
advice in this short course, you’ll be prepared to do this and, believe me, the
participants will love you for it!
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1999 by William C. Wilson, Jr. All rights reserved.
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