Coastal Services Center

A recent series of presentations at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal Services Center really got the staff thinking. Even though the type of information was very similar, the way presenters delivered their ideas varied greatly, from good to—frankly—not so good.

Afterwards, a staff member compiled some of the comments from the audience to make the following public speaking tips. Hopefully, readers can use this information to start a conversation about what they feel are good communication practices and common pitfalls.

1. Prepare.


The quality of the speech is directly proportional to the thought and practice that go into the presentation. There is no way around this fact.

2. Don't start with an apology.


"My throat is acting a little strange today." "My plane was late, so I'm a little off this morning. . ." Statements like this usually don't elicit sympathy from the audience. In fact, the audience may unconsciously begin to tune a speaker out after this heads-up about the possibility of a sub-par performance. Even if something has happened, give it your best shot without the excuses.

3. Have a definite middle, beginning, and end.


An audience is only going to remember three to five key points. Decide in advance what those points are, and be sure to state them plainly and clearly at the beginning of your presentation. Use the middle of your talk to offer evidence for or further explanation of these points, and restate your case at the end.

4. Pay attention to the closing.


Many people neglect thinking about how they are going to end their presentation. This results in poorly chosen parting words and awkward moments. Don't ruin the memory of your speech with a less than graceful exit.

5. Keep to the prescribed time limits.


Time your practice sessions, and have someone in the audience give you signals if necessary. It is better to cut out some facts than to go long.

6. Know your audience and your subject matter.


Don't fall into the trap of telling the audience what you want them to know. Focus on what they are interested in. Don't use unknown jargon or acronyms.

7. PowerPoint can be evil.


It is difficult for the audience to pay attention to two sources of information (think of the news crawls that run on the bottom of the TV screen). If you need the crutch that PowerPoint provides, use it the way it works best, which is to show visuals or outline the main points of your presentation.

8. Practice, practice, practice.


This is the only way to improve your presentation skills. Practice among co-workers, find additional speaking opportunities, or better yet, join a local public-speaking club, or start one at your office.

For more information about the Center's products and services, visit the organization's Web site at www.csc.noaa.gov, or e-mail Donna.Mccaskill@noaa.gov.