i} UNIT10 > ONLINE oUSINESS Presentations: thinking on your feet | Sophie Rawlings 100 What would you say or do in these situations? 1. You are just about to start your presentation hen vou realise that the projectar is not working. The audience of 50 people is looking at you expectantly 2 You are finishing a formal dinner with ssome important clients from abroad. Your buss suddenly asks you to give an after-dinner poech, thanking your hosts on behalf of your organication. 3. Youare in an interview for your ideal job. The interviewer asks you, ‘What can you dg for us that other candidates can't?” 4 Your manager tells you some auditors are coming and you need ta give them a tour ‘of your place of work. You shouta start with afve-minute presentation, giving Lief overview of your company. You have only 20 minutes’ notice. 5 You are responding to questions at the end ofa presentation, and the same member of the audionce keene acking your dificult questions. There ae still 10 minutes let. +4) c03.26 Sophie Rawlings is Head of Information Management in a UK government department. Listen to her giving a talk about creating web pages for small businesses. How does she deal with each of the questions? What other strategies could you use for dealing with questions? +4) (03.26 Complete the gaps with expressions the speakers use to introduce their questions. Listen again and check your answers. When do you use these kinds of question? : "wore the main diferancos botweon government wehstes and those inthe private business sector? . * haw a company can improve its online sales through web-page design. 2 about copywriting. "what kindof language you think works well fon wensites? . ° there was any kind af languaee that vou would avoid using? Look at the strategies for dealing with questions in the Useful language box on the opposite page. When might you use each of these strategies? Can you think ofany other cimilar expressions?BLAVING FoR TIME Funnily enough, I'm often asked that question That's an interesting question. Sorry, could you ust repeat the {question because | don’t think ‘everyone heard. What | usually say is. Frm pleased yrs igor that point UNIT10 >> ONLINE BUSINESS Look at what a speaker Is thinking, What would he actually say? Compare your answers with a partner. 4 twisn you naan‘t asked me nar question. ‘As Ive already told vou al befor. | don't really want to talk about that right now. | realy haven't gota clue what youre talking about That’ not wat this talk is about. | don't know the answer but I'l make a guess so that | don’t appear stupid ‘We realy don’t have time to ga into that kind of detail now. At laat! Someone who thinks like me! Dut the reat of the audience looks bored Look at these tips for giving a five-minute presentation. Which ones do you find the most/least useful? Compare your ideas with a partner. The five-minute presentation How can | get anything across fing five-minute presentation? ( Iti not es daunting as it seems, Advertisers can get a story across in less than 20 seconds, s0 five minutes should he fine. The structure could be 5 60/7, a8 follows 1S «2D / ?> freee eee 25 PAS PX + Start with an ‘attention grabber’, e.g. a surprising tact or tigure, or a funny story. + Make one main point in the presentation and use a few slides and examples to Illustrate I. Dreok this point down inty three main wunuepls + End on @ high point, e.g. a pertinent quote, a memorable image or a call for action. Experts say this makes a psychological impact and will be what people remember most, along with the start. Work in groups of two pairs. Each pair is going to give a five minute joint presentation. Before you give your presentation, anticipate any challenging questions you may be asked. ‘Students A and B: Turn to page 166 Studeinty Cad 0: Tur W page 162, REDEATING IDEAS DELAVING AN ANSWER As We already sad, Do you mind if we deal with that ater? As my colleague pointed out, “Actually, be coming to that point acer Wel, i's really what !was talking about in my talk at the start of my talk. {don’t want to go into too much deta at this stage, a. AVING YOU DON'T KNOW Could come back to you about that ‘'m afeald | don't have that information late? Areata (de happy tocecues thie with you after my tlk 11m sorry, but that's not really my fold / iva uF esearch ''m afraid | don't have the answer to atone, CCan get back to you on that one?