How to make a great presentation. [INAUDIBLE] There's more than enough materials online. Any of you can go look. You can go, you can't Google. Bing! You can Bing, and you can find information online about all kinds of techniques and methods and instructions on how to make a presentation. That is not what I am teaching, I am teaching how to deliver a presentation. This is something you're not going to get from a book. It requires someone who actually went out and did this and has experience doing this, okay. Because you are the most important part of the presentation. It's true. If this Powerpoint died right now, I'd be okay. I mean, I might skip a few points, I might miss a few points, but I guarantee I could keep going for another hour and give you information, right? So, people who make, I deliberately made a very simple PPT because that's not the point. Everything on here, there's no big graphic pictures, no video inserts, no audio files, no click to this and click to that. None of that. Is very straightforward. Just to remind me about what to tell you because I'm the one who really is giving you information, not the PPT. That's a visual aid. If I needed pictures, which I really don't, then I would use pictures but you all know how to make PPTs by now so you can put pictures in there when you need to, right. So, you are the most important part. And this is a very important thing. There's the you. Thank you very much for that. Yeah, we got the you. Okay. Presenting the topic. Well, we're talking about speeches and presentations. And anytime you speak in front of a large group of people, whether a speech, a presentation or whatever, you might feel nervous. But let's go back in time, way back in time. Back before you were born, when I was a little kid, right? And I would go to school and have show and tell. Now, how is show and tell any different from a presentation? Not much. I get in front of the class. Hey everybody, look I got a turtle. And it's cool. It's a turtle. Look, it's got little legs on here, look, look at, and [INAUDIBLE] Wes has a turtle. What's the difference? You're interacting with your audience. You're giving them something they're interested in. You're showing something visual that they're excited about, and you're having a good time. And this is something that can help you overcome being nervous. Enjoy your speech, enjoy your audience, know that they're for you. When you walk into the room, they're not going, I hate this guy. They don't know you. You go in there and say, hi everybody, I like you and I love you. And I love you too over there. You're there to enjoy your audience because you really know what you're talking about, hopefully. Now, of course, if your professor gives you something to do and you've got a week to do it and you go play your computer games for four days and you go out to the bar and drink a little bit, and the night before you pump out a PowerPoint or some presentation. You get up in front of the class and go, okay, everybody. Well, you're in trouble, right? If you're really prepared and you know what you're doing, you'll be fine. Now I try to think of this. Like, for example, I know there's a young lady back and there's always smiling. She likes me, she thinks I'm funny. I don't look at her all the time, but I keep her in my mind. That's the person I'm talking to, this happy person that thinks I'm great. Now, this guy over here. Nobody's really over there. He's like, hm, hm, hm. I don't look at him very often. Still, I make eye contact, every once in a while. You need to make eye contact with your audience occasionally to let them know that you're actually participating with them. And that you're equal to them, they can ask a question. So you should make eye contact with the people. But try not to look at the guy that's really evil. Now, if there's a decision maker. Now, the decision maker means someone who has the power to give you something you want, like your boss, a customer. That's the person you're talking to carefully. We'll talk about that in a minute. The audience might be strangers. I've never met you before, but I have met lots of Beida students and I have a very good relationship. I've never had a real hard time. So, I don't feel nervous about being around Beida students. I don't know what's going to happen later when you have lots of questions, but we'll find out in the future what kind of questions you'll ask. Don't hurt me. Anyway, Beida students have a reputation for that. [COUGH] Anyway, even though they're strangers, you want to make them friends. How can you do that? Like I said in the very beginning, make a connection, be humorous, tell jokes, if you can. And that's hard to do, how to tell a joke. A funny story that connects you is enough. You don't have to, it's really hard to tell jokes. And I swear I have heard people many times try and tell me this Chinese joke and I go, and, well it's finished, ha, I didn't get it. And they go, what? But this is how its. Sometimes there's just a cultural gap that humor just cannot bridge sometimes. But try your best. A good story about your life or something interesting and funny that connects to what you're talking about is a relationship development tool. Now, today we have about an hour and a half, right? And I know you're here because you hope to learn something. You're Beida students. You have a lot of work to do, a lot of homework to do, a lot of things you could be doing. And I should respect that and not waste your time. You came here because you want to learn how to present a topic, or make a speech, and deliver it, and do well. In the future, when you graduate from this university and you go off into the world, hopefully something you learn here today will help you get that deal, hopefully make the boss happy, make a sale, right? I don't know, convince somebody to come over and have dinner with you or something, I don't know. These presentation skills are useful in all kinds of relationships. So, hopefully I won't be wasting your time. We talked about appearance already. I think that you need to look professional, but not overly formal. Americans, especially, are pretty relaxed about how they dress. Professors often just look like another student. Just older, but we look like students. We wear the same clothes. I don't wear my cap on the back though. I don't do that. But, when I'm at an American university I tend to look like somebody else. But, in China, I think most professors dress more formally, and I agree that in this situation, that's your culture I dress more formally. I don't mind. I think it's fine, whatever makes you comfortable, and makes my boss happy. So, appearance. I forgot about women. See, now, women's dresses and clothes and things like that, that's something I'm not really an expert on. I have never worn a dress. No, I never have worn a dress. I didn't have to think about that I'm just joking. But anyway, so I just know they have to business semi-formal. This is semi-formal, right? If I was wearing a white tie, and I'll say a white shirt maybe and a black tie, and a suit, I'd be business formal. If I was wearing, for example, a tuxedo and a black bow tie, or a white tie, well, that would be very formal. But for ladies, look good and look semi-formal. What you wear, I don't know. It's up to you. Generally, dark colors, not too bright, and that's about all I know about women's clothes. Sorry. Just don't do that. Okay, content. Okay, now I put some information here but usually the content comes from what I'm saying. If I'm doing something that is educational and informational, then I might have pictures, graphics, diagrams, things that might be useful for you. If it's a mathematical equation, it might be a quadratic graph or some kind up there, that might be useful. But I'm talking about delivery, this people to people so I didn't put anything like that in there. But you should be able to make the content fit to the needs of your audience. If they need pictures, they need graphics, put that up there, of course. And make it so that you can present it easily. If you have a picture, you step in, point at something in the picture, and step back out again. You don't stand in have lines all over you like this, words all over your face, and turn your back and scratch your butt. You just don't do that in front of an audience. Did I just do that to 10,000 people? Well okay, [LAUGH] I'm having a great time. Anyway, tthe knowledge you have, hopefully, fits the needs of the people. You provide the content that has all the graphs, information they need, and you have the knowledge to go along with this to integrate it, to put it together. If you enough knowledge, people can ask you questions. And you can respond. You can alter your PowerPoint to fit the needs of your audience, such as the questions I asked these young people earlier. Made me think, okay, I'll give them more, make them happy and make them attractive, right? because you influenced my presentation a little bit. So knowledge matters, knowing what you're doing. And be prepared, I mean, I was in college one time too, and I've had students the night before do their PowerPoint, and [INAUDIBLE] it's not so good. Okay. How you present your knowledge, okay? Confidently, friendly, but formal. I'm not here to sing and dance and jump around the screen. I'm here to provide you information that you, as university students, need. And, so I need to present it in a somewhat formal atmosphere. But, again, as a teacher, though, I have to show you the good and the bad. Now normally you don't see people acting out as much as I do but I'm trying to show you the extremes. Usually, professors don't move as much as I do perhaps and don't joke as much as I do but I'm trying to show you the extreme. It's like fashions. When you go to a fashion show, you go what is that? I mean, it's so big, and colorful. That's the extreme. Later when they make the clothes, they make it more refined, and much smaller, but to see it, some people don't have to artistic ability they have to really exaggerate it. So, I'm pretty much exaggerating quite a few things to get your attention. And let you know that this is something that you can do to attract people's attention, and make people pay attention to you and, hopefully, love you and laugh a little bit, right? Any questions? >> I have a question. >> Yes, a question. I'm so happy, thank you so much. Okay, great. >> Not about this topic. At first, you said we should always ask questions, but I think what I meant of foreigners. I really want to say [INAUDIBLE] all things. It's really hard for me to open my mouth. I think a guy would think I'm a student. Why I would say hello to him or her? How should I do in this situation. >> Well, generally I would suggest you wait for the proper moment. You're crossing the street. Hey, excuse me. Can I talk to you for a minute? >> [LAUGH] >> What? What? [SOUND] Can I talk to you? They might be a little irritated about that. And actually, a lot of foreigners here in are really quite friendly people. And I would have to say that most of the time, if a young lady came up to somebody, a guy or a girl, and says, hello. I have what country are you from sort of. I have this really big question I'm just dying for someone to tell me the answer to. Can you help me? And most people say, yes, I would be glad to help you. But if you just say, hi, can we talk for a while, they might not be that happy because a lot of people are busy, they have their own plan. I have 10 minutes to go from here to there. But like I said go to [FOREIGN] on a Friday Saturday night. Or go over here to [FOREIGN] they have a English corner 7 o'clock on Friday nights. It's a 1,000 people sometimes out there. You'll always find somebody to talk to. Not too many foreigners though. But you might find somebody over there. But really, you wait for the right moment. You're just looking around. If they're looking for something, hello, can I help you? Maybe they go into a market, can I help you? One of my most favorite cities in China is this beautiful place. Everybody is so friendly and helpful, [FOREIGN]. Now, people go, [FOREIGN], why? It's just another city, but for some reason, every time I've ever been there, somebody will come up and say, hi, welcome to [FOREIGN], can I help you? What would you like to do? It rarely ever happens anywhere else in China, Chengdu may be number two. Shamian, number three, maybe. Bay dock, I mean Beijing, so so. But really [FOREIGN] people are super friendly. And this is something that really impresses me and you'll find if you go out and meet people and you're friendly, people will talk to you. But try to find the time when they look like they have free time. And they're busy walking, walking, walking. Can I talk to you? [INAUDIBLE] Don't do that, okay. And remember, you're not a native English speaker. If you make an English mistake or an error, they don't mind. Don't be embarrassed. It's something you cannot, you weren't born in America. Now, I've known Chinese who were born in America and they eat hotdogs, and hamburgers, and go play football, and act just like any Americans, speak like that, but you don't have that background. I'm not a native Chinese speaker. And so, long ago I realized, no matter how well educated I am, I sound like an idiot when I speak Chinese. And I had to get over that ego problem. And eventually I realized I'm not Chinese so I can make mistakes, and so I don't care anymore. I make mistakes, people laugh, and we go on. Try that. Okay. >> I've got a question. >> Yes, this gentleman here >> So, I don't have to check something about the as a foreigner, the over impression of the Chinese students- >> The overall impression? >> Yeah, and also, I noticed one of the key points you have just said, remember you are the most important part of the presentation. But sometimes that kind of thought itself can be a psychological burden in your head when you're standing on this stage. So, I think we need to elaborate a little bit more how to strike a balance. >> Okay, so thinking of yourself as the most important part of the presentation can cause you some kind of mental block, or slow you down? I've never felt that, but have you ever heard that before. >> Sometimes, you might focus on that thought [INAUDIBLE] and ignore other`s reaction. >> I think if you enjoy your presentation, you're well prepared, you're communicating with the people as much as you can, you probably enjoy yourself and they probably enjoy you too. So, I've never noticed that and I haven't noticed my students feel that way. They might be nervous because they're speaking in front of people for the first time, or it's a very important meeting. They must make this presentation perfectly, or they won't get the contract or something. Which, that stress can cause you nervousness, yeah, when you must succeed at this. Now, I'm facing, may be a few people here, but I am facing another 10,000 out there, but I haven't felt anything personally because I just like people and I feel comfortable with people. And so there's 10,000 people watching me, that's okay. Give me another 10,000. Let's go for 20,000 next week,right? Hopefully. Okay, well anyway I think we need to stop here for a moment, for a short break, so everybody can think of their questions. And I'll be right back.
