Group work

Group work is a brilliant way of getting stuff done however it also has its downsides

When you are first placed into a group there are lots of things to consider these are:

Who is your strongest link?
Who is your weakest link?
Who will take what role?
Who has the skills?
Is this person suited better for this then that person?

You must answer all of these before you start creating a idea.

After you have done this its time to start brainstorming ideas, because you are working in a group you will form many ideas. Which will also form many opinions, which may lead to disagreements.

If you have a disagreement within your group you need to ensure that you stay calm and resolve it professional and as quickly as possible.

Effective Presentation Styles

There are many ways to create a presentation, but to do it well there is certain rules that you must abide.

Effective presentation are a mixture of elements. You need to know what the audience wants. You need good interesting content which will keep the audience interested in what you have to say. Confidence is a big part of making a presentation if you come across uncomfortable whilst standing infront of people, they may become uninterested in what you have to say.

Balancing all the elements to making a good presentation isn't easy, especially when you combine it with the natural anxiety often felt before giving presentations, it's no wonder that many people struggle.

To help with this natural anexity and stress about giving the presentation, you must plan and prepare the present so that you can present well and with confidence.[1]

- http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_96.htm

Understanding your audience can be tricky job, there are a few things you need to be to be able to understand them.

First off you need to determine who the members of the audience are you then need to recognise what they need to learn, also what types of attitudes are in your audience. The audience may already know about the topic how are you going to keep them interested?

Ideally you should create a outline for your presentation, then ask for advanced feedback on the content.

As you are carrying out your presentation when people start nodding and smiling you will know that are interested this should motivate you into keeping your confidence high so that you fly though it.[1]

The only way to satisfy your audience's needs and expectations is to make sure you deliver the content that want. If you don't give the correct information, or you give the correct information in the wrong sequence you can end up leaving the audience confused, frustrated or bored.

There are many ways to structure your information however it all depends on what type of presentation you are giving here are some principles:

Identify a few key points - This will help the audience remember what you are saying to them.

Dont include every detail - Good presentation inspire the audience to learn more, and ask further questions to maximize the understand of the issue.

Use an outline - At the beginning include a contents page, let the audience know what you intend to do. This build anticipation and interest from the start.

Start and end strongly - Capture peoples intrest as soon as you begin, and then leave them with message they won't forget. Be sure to capture peoples interest at the start otherwise they might lose interest.

Use examples - Where possible, use lots of examples to support your points. Look for ways to liven things up by telling storys, and talking about real-life examples. Use metaphors to engage the audience.[1]

A special type of presentation is one that seeks to persuade. Monroe's Motivated Sequence, consisting of five steps, gives you a framework for developing content for this kind of presentaiton.

Get the attention of your auidence  - Use something interesting to open up with, like a shock statistic. Be proactive and energetic.

Create a need - Convince the audience there is a problem, explain how it affects them - and presuade them that things need to change.

Define your solution - explain what needs to be done

Describe a detailed picture of success - Give the audience to visualise.

Ask the audience to do something right away - Get the audience involved from the work go. It is then much easier to keep them engaged and active in your cause.

Even the best information can be useless if your presentation style contradicts or detracts from your message.

Here are some tips to delivering confidently

Practice to build confidence - Some people think that if you practice too much, your speech will sound rehearsed and less genuine. Don't necessarily memorize your presentation, but be familiar with the content so you can speak fluently about it.

Be flexible - This is easier to do when you are more confident with the material. Don't attempt to present something you learned the night before. You need to know your material enough to answer statements.

Manage your stress - Confidence has a lot to do with managing stress levels. If you feel nervous or anxious, then these emotions will shows. [1]