Never dry up
Featured in the Advanced Presentation Techniques training manual
By Clare Forrest & Margaret Zuppinger
Category: Meetings and Presentations
Credit price: 4 download credits (Single user)
A common concern of presenters is that they will dry up or lose track. This can be very debilitating for them and is usually compensated for by the presenter writing down every word they intend to say and then learning their script or reading it out. It doesn’t matter which of these options they choose, the result is rarely satisfactory for the audience who will find the presentation stilted, since the written word is very different from the spoken one. Given the average business person’s delight in writing long words at every opportunity, it is highly likely that their scripts will be pedestrian in the extreme.
You begin this training activity by asking each participant to give their prepared 5-minute presentation, one they would usually make, or part of it. You then move into a discussion with them about how the memory works. Following this, you demonstrate some simple memory systems to reinforce points about the effectiveness of using keywords and visual images. You then describe various ways of keeping track of content, from cue cards to slides, which rely on key word triggers. The participants modify their original presentation script, using one or more of the methods they have just looked at. After their performances and a feedback session, you lead a final discussion on the effectiveness of the various methods versus using a script. You finish by saying that a script tends to disadvantage presenters and their audience, whilst triggers work with and for their brain. You close the training activity by giving the participants a comprehensive series of handouts to take with them as a reminder of how the memory and memory systems work.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to show participants techniques and provide practice for remaining in control of all their materials during a presentation.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 2 |
| Max Group Size: | 6 |
| Typical Duration: | 02:35:00 |
| No of Pages: | 28 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Additional resources: Blank treasury-tagged postcards (20 per participant), OHT frames (3 per participant), A prepared Mind Map, Coloured crayons and gel pens, Pencils.
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers for managing yourself, planning and research, presentation skills, stress management, and team building programmes. It can also be adapted for one-to-one coaching.
Download the training activity, Never dry up as featured in the Fenman training manual; Advanced Presentation Techniques