Get the know-how to give a knockout presentationin a day!

Giving a Presentation In a Day For Dummies gives you a quick and easy rundown of the key points of presenting to an audience, including defining a purpose, organizing a message, using humor and body language, and overcoming anxiety.

Fast and proven tips for delivering an effective presentationShows you how to communicate your vision to an audienceA more focused and readable resource than a bulky book

The e-book also links to an online component at dummies.com that extends the topic into step-by-step tutorials and other "beyond the book" content.

Malcolm Kushner (Santa Cruz, CA) is an internationally acclaimed consultant on humor and communication as well as a professional speaker and trainer. His clients have included IBM, Hewlett-Packard and AT&T. The creator of the Cost of Laughing Indexa price index of the 16 leading humor indicators in Americahe has been profiled inTime,USA Today, and theNew York Times and has appeared on CNN, National Public Radio, and "The Larry King Show."

Introduction 1

What You Can Do In A Day 1

Foolish Assumptions  2

Icons Used in This Book  2

Chapter 1: Preparing to Deliver a Great Presentation 3

Hitting the Essentials of Effective Presentations 4

What makes a presentation 4

What breaks a presentation 6

Preparing the Presentation 8

Timing for Maximum Impact 10

Making your presentation time out just right 10

Filling time or trimming back 11

Chapter 2: Overcoming Stage Fright 13

Changing Your Perceptions 14

Realizing how your audience really feels 14

Visualizing success like a pro 15

Talking yourself into a great speech 16

Transforming Terrified to Terrific 17

Discovering stress-busting exercises 17

Discovering the real secret: Dont look nervous 18

Preventing and Handling Stage Fright 19

Writing out your intro and conclusion 19

Practicing makes perfect and confident 20

Anticipating problems and preparing solutions 21

Arriving early 21

Double-checking your visuals and equipment 22

Watching what you drink 22

Dividing and conquering 22

Using your nervousness 22

Having water handy 23

Keeping your breathing even 23

Avoiding Popular Cures That Dont Fight Fright 23

Imagining the audience naked 24

Taking booze and pills 24

Chapter 3: Using Body Language to Enhance Your Message 25

Understanding Body Language 25

Sending a message with facial expressions 26

Punctuating your speech with posture 27

Giving the right message with gestures 28

Making Eye Contact Count 30

Mastering Physical Positioning and Movement 31

Managing entrances and exits 31

Moving around 33

Getting into the power position 34

Working from a podium 34

Paralanguage: Engaging the Audience with Your Voice 36

Chapter 4: Handling the Audience 39

Reading an Audiences Reaction 39

Checking the energy level 39

Noticing body language 40

Asking questions to gauge the audience 40

Making the Audience Comfortable 41

Handling a Tough Audience 43

Examining types of tough audiences 43

Haggling with hecklers 47

Dealing with other distractions 49

Handling a Nonresponsive Audience 50

Reviving interest in your presentation 50

Getting a volunteer from the audience 52

Chapter 5: Fielding Questions 53

Discovering the Basics 53

Anticipating questions 53

Answering questions at the end 54

Avoiding letting a few people dominate 54

Letting the questioner ask a question, not give a speech 55

Listening to the question 55

Repeating the question 55

Guessing isnt the answer 56

Ending the Q&A strongly 56

Coming Up with a Perfect Answer 57

Treating the questioner properly 57

Designing your answer 59

Delivering your answer 60

Using Question-Handling Techniques 61

Reversing the question 61

Redirecting the question 61

Rephrasing the question 61

Exposing a hidden agenda 62

Putting the question in context 62

Building a bridge 63

Dealing with Common Types of Questions 63

Chapter 6: Where to Go from Here 65

Taking Your First Steps 65

Visiting dummies.com 66