ce; this is not the time to impress the audience with how much I know and how little they do not.
Once I determine the audience, I am able to focus on what I want to communicate. In the case of speaking to patient groups, I may want to explain specific procedures and what to expect. When I am speaking to my peers, I may want to explain the organization and the processes that we use on a daily basis. When I am speaking to a budget committee, I am interested in conveying the importance of our group and its staffing levels and the need for the equipment that we either have or are trying to procure (an ongoing discussion in this field).
Wherever possible, I try to make use of visual aids since I typically have access to an overhead projector. This helps the audience remember what I am speaking about and also helps me to organize my presentation. Following the adage, "tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, and tell them what you've told them," one of my first visual aids lists the main points of the presentation. While text aids are helpful, I also try to include pictures or diagrams to illustrate my points.
However, there is a danger in relying too much on visual aids, and I continue to maintain eye contact with people throughout my presentation. If I do not establish a rapport with the audience, the personal presentation is no more effective than if the entire project were presented on videotape.
Typically, I do not use a microphone, although I have done so on occasion. This means that I have to project my voice so that the people in the back can hear while the people in the front are not under the impression that I am shouting. Since my presentations are often to groups under 50 people, this is generally not difficult.
Although I have become accustomed to public speaking, I do get nervous before particular types of presentations. I find that rehearsing the speech helps, and I have the advantage of ...