Drama & Movement

Drama

Try to remember a time when you were little, sitting on grandmas knee and hearing one of her tales.
It might be helpful to think of a story related how she had to walk 10k up hill to school.

Story telling has been an effective presentation skill since childhood. They create word-pictures that create images in the listeners mind. These pictures and stories stick with us more thoroughly then simply being lectured.

When thinking of a presentation try to look at it as a type of theatre. Where you are conveying a story through a form of entertainment.

This form of theater needs gestures, emphasis and modulation.

I remember my first Geography class in grade 9; a gentlemen was going over the guidelines and expectations in his class. We had heard these several times that day and he was speaking in a monotone voice. I can remember approximately the first 5 minutes of what he said and then the next thing I knew my friend was waking me up because I had fallen asleep.

You do not want to scream at your audience, but as a presenter you want to avoid speaking in a monotone voice. Varying the pitch or level of your voice is a great idea. Also, the right pauses will make the audience hang on to every word with anticipation and excitement.

Movement

Vary your position. Do not stand at the lectern during the entire presentation. Going towards your audience, using slight hand gestures to emphasize your points can be very powerful techniques.

Although movement keeps the audience alert, do not pace from side to side. Try not to over exaggerate everything you say or the key points will not stick out. Too much movement has a negative effect and your audience will start to simply pay attention to your movements not your presentation.