Unfortunately, people make judgments on individuals within a few minutes. Research has shown that this is primarily based on appearance (55%), voice (38%) and finally the actual content of what people say (7%). Therefore, the carefully written and researched presentation will have very little effect, if the presenter looks unprofessional and delivers the content in a monotone.
Unless you are a seasoned presenter, it is likely that you will want to use a script or at the very least notes to ensure you cover the points you wish to get across. However, the danger of using a script is that you read aloud and this will tend to lead to a flat delivery and slowly put the audience to sleep.
There are a variety of techniques you can do to avoid this and still have the necessary support of a script. You should firstly take you script and divide it into “blocks of meaning”. These are not nccessarily sentences, but instead are where you naturally pause.
See below for the opening of a presentation divided into appropriate blocks: -
The need to expand/ into other markets/ is crucial/ to the success of our company./ For too long/ we have relied on domestic sales./ It is clear/ from the drop in growth/ in the fourth quarter/ that we need to look outside/ for potential expansion. Today,/ I’m proposing an increase/ in our overseas workforce/ of 30%/ and a similar cut/ in domestic staff./ Only by this refocusing/ of our organization/ can we hope to grow/ over the next decade/.
Once you have divided your presentation the next step is to mark where the main stress in each block occurs. This is more often than not at the end of a phrase. See below for a stress-marked presentation:-
The need to expand/ into other markets/ is crucial/ to the success of our company./ For too long/ we have relied on domestic sales./ It is clear/ from the drop in growth/ in the fourth quarter/ that we need to look outside/ for potential expansion./ /Today,/ I’m proposing an increase/ in our overseas workforce/ of 30%/ and a similar cut /in domestic staff./ Only by this refocusing/ of our organization/ can we hope to grow/ over the next decade./
There is no absolute correct answer on where to stress and it will depend on which points you wish to emphasize and how you naturally pause. The above, is therefore just one possible pattern. However, it is clear that you should avoid stress on prepositions and articles, unless there is a very good reason for doing so.
Even if you know where to pause and where to stress in each block, you still need to use the full range of your voice to give feeling to what you are saying. You need to show enthusiasm and passion for your topic. You may wish to use some of the warm up techniques professional presenters use such as going up and down the scales like an opera singer before a major performance. Do this regularly and you will actually find that your voice’s range expands naturally. At the end of sentences, your voice intonation will naturally drop, although you should avoid any loss of volume. If your voice disappears after each sentence, your audience will turn off from the content of what you are saying.
You should be aware of the volume and pace of your voice. Try and vary both within reason. Slowing the pace and increasing the volume can add impact and emphasis to your points. Your audience should be on the edge of their seats!!
Guy Perring is Director, Professional Development Unit (PDU), at the British Council Malaysia. The PDU offers a wide range of learning opportunities from management and communications skills training to developing English skills. Contact the British Council in Kuala Lumpur at 03-2723 7900 or Penang at 04-2630 330 or visit www.britishcouncil.org.my
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