What qualities of an oral presentation are most important to you as an audience member?

1. A grabber of an opening, so that listeners are lured into paying attention. That can be a relevant short joke, a simple philosophical statement, a quirky observation, or the waving of an unusual prop.

2. Demonstration by energy, that the speaker is enthused by the subject.

3. Use of new or emphatic words to show that the subject holds potential for new knowledge or new experiential feelings.

4. Frequent eye contact with some audience members up close to show that the speaker is trying to make a personal connection.

5. Use of dramatic pauses and/or varying voice delivery to hold listeners’ interest. And a lack of meaningless pauses because the speaker is well-prepared, having rehearsed.

6. References in the presentation to things and/or people we know so that we can relate to the new stuff.

7. A little element of personal story-telling so that we know the speaker was into the subject matter on at least an occasion or two.

8. Use of gestures or diagrams or acting-out or vivid descriptions so that we don’t feel we’re staring at the speaker.

9. A recommendation of something the audience members can do to capture the feelings or sense of importance or the love of the subject matter, whether that be talk to someone, go somewhere, read a book, or see the speaker afterward for an impromptu discussion. In other words, parting advice.

I listen more if the speaker knows what he/she’s talking about. Don’t read from notes, speak naturally on topic. As a speaker, I find myself to have greater positive feedback when I know what I’m talking about since it is also translated in my confidence level. I don’t give speeches unless I thoroughly know the subject and can answer any questions thrown my way from the audience. Keep audience questions on the topic, don’t get drawn into off topic subjects, you will lose the attention of the rest of your audience.

Here are a few (probably obvious) pointers:

1. Speak up!

2. Be concise.

3. Plan the structure of your talk.

4. Eliminate umms and uhs.

Short and to the point–give me a handout for any important info I need from your presentation.

And please, if you are using powerpoint, don’t read it to me. Powerpoint should just outline what you need to say.

Try not to talk too fast, either. Speak loud enough, and be sure to look at everyone.

Brevity.

–visuals (power point, overhead, charts, posters, examples, artifacts, etc.)

–handouts

–good public speaking skills

–short and too the point…don’t go on and on about something you could have said in one sentence