Effective Presentation

Introduction

If we ever googled on the internet, there could probably be more than 1001 websites that share you how to make an effective presentation, which could address

• Presentation skills, e.g. show your passion, practice delivery, connect with audience, eye contact and smile, vocal variety, humours
• Presentation slides, e.g. short and simple, high contrast between background and text colour, consistent text and formatting, limit the number of slides, use visual aids, proper referencing

However, these presentation tips are often too rudimentary or too abstract. If and only if I know how to engage with audience, why would I search how to do a good presentation? Instead of finding out how to make a marvellous presentation, why not start thinking

• What do we expect when we are the audience?
• What is the take-home messages that we wish audience to know?

As an Audience

Each and every time when I was asked to do a CME or case presentation, the first emotion that struck me would be fear. I prefer to attend a course as an audience.

From the perspective of an audience, there are few clear expectations to the speaker.

• The speaker is not speaking monotonously or reading based on the text in slides. At times, he is trying to relate the facts with real practice by giving examples or stories and explaining importance.
• The information is presented in a clear and systematic outline that allows new learners to have enough background information to engage in the topic (by introducing history, specific terminology and standard treatment).
• The speaker should understand the topic well by reading multiple sources of information. Not all information has to be included in CME presentation slide. Also, reading guidelines from multiple countries or organization will make you to realize conflicting recommendations.
• Distinguish between essential (must-know) and ancillary (good-to-know) information to keep your presentation slides clear and concise (not too wordy).
• Valuable information and useful tips are summarised in slide, so that readers can focus on your presentation, instead of busy jotting down notes.
• Figures and tables presented are interpreted with key information to take note.
• It is good that the presentation is ended with a summary slide that highlight key take-home messages.

Take-Home Messages

In the selection and planning of the Continuous Medical Education (CME) presentation, you should have some messages that you wish to share with the audience in front. The purposes could be

• Introducing new medication
• Highlighting key changes in management guideline
• Addressing common errors or monitoring parameters

For example, at all drug company-sponsored talks, speakers are expected to highlight the benefits of the sponsored drug in order to persuade doctors to prescribe it.

• Story telling is a powerful tool for communicating and selling ideas.

Practice Out Loud

Hopefully, these thoughts may put you to think when planning a CME presentation. Meanwhile, presentation skill is also a soft skill which can be refined by practice and understanding does not necessarily translate to practice.

• Practice your presentation out loud, including use of visuals and props, preferably in front of one or more people with whom you feel comfortable and who are likely to offer constructive criticism.

Never give a presentation without having practiced it out loud several times, even if only to yourself. Practice out loud helps us to

• Establish the actual time required to give a presentation.
• Make we become more knowledgeable out the content of our speech.
• Help us identify and reduce distracting habits, such as "ah" and "you know".

NOTE: Unless you have listened to and studied a recording of you voice, you do not know the real sound of your voice. You are likely to be surprised.