Today I am thrilled to bring you an article by Pam Stanton, 'The Project Whisperer':

The Project Manager as Orator: Top Ten Presentation Tips

Project Management requires a broad range of skills. I joke sometimes that it requires being a "coach, den mother, drill sergeant, teacher, and therapist"-all rolled into one.

In addition to understanding project management methodology and group dynamics, we are often called upon to serve as spokesperson for the team. We find ourselves standing in front of a room full of executives explaining the project or requesting funding. This adds "orator" to the long list of leadership skills we must command.

The ability to speak in front of an audience doesn't come naturally for many of us. It may surprise some to know that I started out twenty years ago absolutely terrified to even introduce myself in a group meeting. I can attest that training and practice can produce a presenter who actually loves to be on stage. If this is something that doesn't come naturally to you, don't be concerned. For most people, it requires training and practice.

Here are some of my best presentation tips gleaned over the years. There are many books and resources available to learn presentation techniques. Make sure you're ready to hop up in front of that conference room and deliver an effective message.

Top 10 Presentation Tips for Project Managers:

1. Know What You Want: Make sure you understand the purpose of the presentation, or the desired outcome. If your boss asks you to come to an executive session to update the leadership team, dig in further. Do you need their support or approval for a particular aspect? Is there anything that's controversial? What do they need to know, and why?
2. Structure Your Presentation Around the Desired Outcome: Start off the presentation stating your intent. Don't leave this as a surprise punch line for the end. It's a tendency for Project Managers to want to build the case, and then deliver the "ask" at the end. This can confuse your audience, especially if they are senior executives who will be thinking "what do you want from me?" For example, if the purpose of your presentation is to gain support for a change in business process, then start out by saying that. Tell them you will be providing the supporting details and then at the end you will open it up for a discussion. This primes your audience to be listening better.
3. Make Your Visuals VISUAL: Challenge yourself to use as few PowerPoint slides as possible. The best presentation I ever saw was one slide with one graphic on it, which the speaker used to illustrate his points as he talked through the presentation. Use images and pictures whenever possible. If translating complicated words into simple graphics doesn't come naturally to you, find someone who has this ability and ask for suggestions.

You definitely want to click here and read the remaining 7 tips!

About Pam Stanton

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Pam Stanton is the owner of Heart, Brains, & Courage, LLC, the parent entity for "Pam Stanton, The Project Whisperer" and "Perspectives Gallery".

Pam lives in the western woods of New Jersey with her husband, daughter, step-daughter, and five furry critters. She enjoys visiting foreign cultures, pistol shooting, fishing, art photography, and all holidays involving food or gifts.
 

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