This document outlines an agenda for a training on presentation skills. The morning session focuses on elevator pitches, persuasion techniques, and engaging audiences. The afternoon covers managing questions, resistance, and meetings. Techniques taught include using voice properly, ideal body language like open posture and eye contact, and overcoming resistance by understanding perspectives and planning responses. The training emphasizes preparation, setting norms, keeping meetings focused and productive through roles, summaries, and follow up on action items.

2. 1. What do you hate about meetings?
2. What makes a good meeting?
3. What do you struggle with in meetings?
4. What are 3-5 specific types of meetings
you usually attend? (the more detail the
better)

3.  Be present and focused.
 Respect airtime (three before me).
 Focus on what we can do.
 Everyone contributes.

4. Morning
1. Complete Elevator
Pitches
2. Honing Your
Skills/Rehearsing
3. Analyze Elevator
Pitch
4. The Power of
Persuasion
5. Captivating Your
Audience
Afternoon
1. Managing
Audience
Questions,
Resistance, and
Hostility
2. Meeting
Management
3. Team Meeting
Experiences
4. Peer Feedback

5. Peer Feedback
 What techniques,
methods, and
strategies from today’s
sessions did you notice
the speaker using?
 What did you learn
from this speaker
about presenting?
 Respectfully, what
should the speaker
focus on doing or not
doing as he or she
goes forward?
 Final thoughts,
comments, or
encouragement?

6. Using Your Voice
Ideal Body Language

7.  Speak Out Loud
 Project Your Voice
Without Shouting
 Many Professionals
Use Warm-Ups
 Enunciate
 Vary Your Volume
› Speaking Softly can
separate and
spotlight important
words and numbers
 Adjust Your Rate
 Pausing Eloquently

8. Mehrabian’s Rule of Communication

9. Instead Mistake
Rubbing or Fidgeting Hands/Hands
in Pockets – shows nervousness
and can show you don’t believe
in what you are saying.
Keep your arms at your sides in
an open manner. If you have
to, use small movements with
your hands to convey your
message.

10. Instead Mistake
Crossing Your Arms – this can
show that you are unimpressed
or that something is amiss. It is a
defensive posture that puts
distance between you and
your audience.
Keep your arms open, almost as
if you were going to give a
bear hug. It’s an inviting
gesture that makes the
audience feel calm.

11. Instead Mistake
Avoiding Eye Contact – This
behavior can appear
dismissive, dishonest, and
unprofessional.
Make eye contact with different
individuals and hold it for 2-3 seconds.
Make it short, but not too quick. Stay
sincere. Quickly nodding your head
will show that you are personally
interested in that individual’s
comprehension of your presentation.

12. Instead Mistake
Pacing back and forth and
having your arms and legs
move quickly will give off a
quirky vibe that may result in
lost credibility with your
audience.
Navigate the room with slow
confidence. It is important not
to stay in one place, so moving
throughout the front, or even
throughout the entire crowd
can send a positive message.

13. Instead Mistake
Posture – one of the loudest
“speaking” elements of body
language. If you are slouching, it
sends a message of weakness that
will make your audience question
your professionalism and/or
commitment.
Stand straight with shoulders that
are not rigid and tight, but firm
and confident. Keep your
head high and your legs strong
underneath you to deliver your
message confidently.

14. Instead Mistake
Legs – fidgeting with your legs
and constantly readjusting your
standing position will give the
audience the feeling that
you’re uncomfortable and
restless.
Stand confidently and make
controlled movements towards
audience members. Make your
audience think that you’ve
practiced these movements before
and that you are a seasoned
veteran they can trust.

15. Other Aspects to
Consider
 Body Angles
 Hand Gestures
 Distance
 Head Angles
The Ready Position
Video Link

16.  Watch yourself.
 Be as objective as possible:
What do you see happening?
 What is going well in your presentation
and how does it affect the audience?
 What do you notice that you would like
to change about your presentation
style? Be very specific. Include voice,
body language, habits, volume,
pronunciation, content, etc.

17. The Science of Persuasion
Ethos, Logos, and Pathos

18.  How do you get others to give you what
you want? (think: material items)
 How do you get others to agree with
your ideas? (willingly)
 How do you get others to do what you
ask? (take action)

19.  How can the ability to persuade others
effectively benefit you and your
organization?

20.  There is a lot more to the science of
persuasion than an 11 minute video. It
goes all the way back to the Greek
Philosopher Aristotle.
 The better you understand the
foundation of persuasion, the more
effectively you can use it.
 Prezi is a cloud-based presentation
software and storytelling tool for
presenting ideas on a virtual canvas.

21. Reflect and Learn

22. Directions: With a partner, brainstorm a list
of the specific ways in which you can
keep your audience engaged in each
of the following categories. Be prepared
to share!
 Content
 Voice
 Body Language
 Strategy

23. Taking Advantage of Questions
Dealing with Distractions, Problem
People, and Resistance

24.  Plan – develop a list of potential audience
questions as you prepare.
 Identify all the facts, stats, models, diagrams,
etc. that someone might challenge. Craft
answers in advance.
 Strategize – consider your audience when
answering awkward or difficult questions.
 Plan for the worst. Answer hostile or emotional
questions calmly. Don’t get defensive.
 Rehearse – videotape yourself or get
feedback

25. Think of a time when
you’ve experienced
audience questions,
resistance, and/or
hostility.
 What happened?
 How did you (or the
presenter) react?
 What was the
outcome?
 Could it have been
handled differently?

26.  Propose rules.
 Listen and make eye contact.
 Pay close attention to body language!
 Confirm
 Clarify
 Answer
 Check

27. When you don’t know the answer:
 Be confidently candid. “I don’t know,
but I’ll find out.” (Get contact info.)
 Defer to the audience or an expert.

28. Avoid the following tactics:
1. Switcharoo – don’t ignore the question.
2. Mini-filibuster – Keep it short!
3. Defensive Bluster – be calm and dignified.
4. Winging/Faking It – the worst!

29.  It doesn’t happen often.
 Never let them see you sweat.
 Take the sting out of their
behavior in a calm manner.

30.  Ask a question to the left and right of the
talkers.
 Stop talking for 5-8 seconds, look at
talkers, and smile.
 If possible, stand near them (be subtle).
 Ask a friendly, on-topic question.
 Say a side-talker’s name in the context
of a point you are making.
 If all else fails, be direct – stay
professional.

31.  Call on others by name.
 Ask chatterbox how his or her comment
relates to the topic – keep it friendly.
 “Marsha, you’ve been doing all of the
hard work… let’s get some other ideas.”
 “I hear what you’re saying, but we have
to move on.”

32.  Set ground rules in advance.
 Be a good example.

33.  Why would your audience be resistant?
› It won’t work.
› We tried it already.
› We don’t need it.
› It isn’t in the budget.
› It’s against policy.
› We’re already overworked.
› We don’t have time/people/resources.
› It’s not our problem.
› I just don’t like it.

34. How can you overcome audience
resistance?
 Preventing – planning and preparation
 Analyzing – why do you feel this way?
 Persuading – ethos, logos, pathos

35. Solutions
Role Playing
Fishbowl

36. To make meetings less miserable, more
efficient, and productive:
 Before – Planning and Preparation
 During – norms, goals, roles
 After

37.  Set an Agenda (agreed upon if possible)
 Make sure you need a meeting (email?)
 Postpone the meeting rather than
holding a meeting without critical staff
members.
 Pass out pre-work or complicated
materials in advance.
 Determine Roles – leader, minutes, SMEs,
time-keeper, task-master, etc.

38.  Meeting leader/facilitator sets the tone
 Set norms at the beginning for
questions/interruptions and digression
(parking lot, email, meet after).
 Use the pre-work in the meeting.
 Make sure everyone contributes.
 Summarize main points/Call to Action
 Action items, owners, and due dates
 Discuss what completion looks like and
potential obstacles (productively)

39.  Facilitator/task-master follows up to
check progress on action items and due
dates
 “Publish” meeting minutes with action
items, owners, and due dates
 Debrief the meeting process

40. Your team will conduct a mock meeting
that demonstrates what to do before,
during, and after an effective productive
meeting. You will also demonstrate how
to solve an audience “problem”
effectively.
Each team will be assigned a general
topic and a goal for your meeting.

41.  What did I learn today that I can use as I
go forward in my career?
 What went well today?
 What questions do I still have?