Best Practices for Delivering an Excellent Presentation
1. Clearly
present what your abstract promised Attendees select
which sessions to attend by reading the abstract you provided, so be sure to
present what is stated in your abstract! If you try to cram too much
material in, you may have to leave some key points/findings out.
Participants are looking for a clear, useful presentation in the time allotted.
Practice your entire presentation, but also be ready to delete selected details
if time runs short.
2. Practice,
Practice, Practice Practice your presentation in advance, and in front of an audience if possible.
Know your material so well that you will not need to rely on a script. At the
same time, do not try to memorize every word of your presentation.
3. PowerPoint
If you use
PowerPoint, do not fill your slides with text. Instead, use visuals like
graphs, photographs and other images, which can make your presentation
eye-catching and interesting, to emphasize your most important points. Use text
only when it provides real value to the attendee.
4. Interact
with your audience Pay attention to audience responses and adjust your presentation accordingly. Your
audience may feel more engaged if you feel comfortable taking questions
throughout your presentation. If you don't, however, explain that you will take
all questions at the end.
5. Introductions
by room coordinator
A room coordinator, a volunteer from the local committee,
will be available to introduce you, call for technical assistance if needed,
and collect the evaluation forms that LOEX will later mail to you. If you would like the coordinator to say anything in the introduction beyond your name, job title and institution (e.g., some additional research you have performed) and the session's title, please just let them know.
6. Multiple
presenters If there are
multiple presenters, consider how you will switch smoothly among yourselves and
how much time it will take to shift from section to section of your
presentation.
7. Repeat questions
Before answering, always repeat the question posed to you as you understand it.
This helps assure that you fully understand the question and assures that audience
members have heard it also. And it gives you a chance to formulate a complete
answer.