Introduction
The ability to communicate well is an important skill for that is
required for any practitioner in the field of health information management. In
addition, possessing excellent communication skills among other things, health
information practitioners should be able to present their topics and research
results fluently. A good presentation in health information management and
health care promotion and development require a persuasive approach, thorough
preparation of content and a good presentation style.
required for any practitioner in the field of health information management. In
addition, possessing excellent communication skills among other things, health
information practitioners should be able to present their topics and research
results fluently. A good presentation in health information management and
health care promotion and development require a persuasive approach, thorough
preparation of content and a good presentation style.
Impact of good presentation techniques
To make a impact on the audience during a presentation, the presenter be
in control and look for measures to get absolute attention of the audience. For
this purpose of achieving this especially in health information management, the
following are some of the presentation techniques and their impact.
in control and look for measures to get absolute attention of the audience. For
this purpose of achieving this especially in health information management, the
following are some of the presentation techniques and their impact.
1. Good preparation
Making a presentation in health information management, there is no easy
way out. Giving an excellent presentation is all about the preparation that
goes into it, and this theme applies to every single aspect that is included in
the presentation. A good preparation gives the presenter the confidence, skills
and necessary knowledge required in making the presentation.
way out. Giving an excellent presentation is all about the preparation that
goes into it, and this theme applies to every single aspect that is included in
the presentation. A good preparation gives the presenter the confidence, skills
and necessary knowledge required in making the presentation.
2. Focus on the audience
When making preparation for a presentation in health information
management, there is one thing the presenter should always keep in the back of
his or her mind: the audience. The sole purpose of a presentation is to
communicate whatever the presenter wishes to say to an audience. The presenter
should position his or herself in their shoes and answer the following
questions: who, what, why, how?
management, there is one thing the presenter should always keep in the back of
his or her mind: the audience. The sole purpose of a presentation is to
communicate whatever the presenter wishes to say to an audience. The presenter
should position his or herself in their shoes and answer the following
questions: who, what, why, how?
Who are the audience and who is the presenter? It is essential to know
who the audience will be: for example, are they fellow health information
management practitioners? Health care seekers? etc. and what the audience know
about you. Do you need to inform them? Do you need to introduce yourself?
Different audiences have different needs, and different audiences may need
different communicative approaches.
who the audience will be: for example, are they fellow health information
management practitioners? Health care seekers? etc. and what the audience know
about you. Do you need to inform them? Do you need to introduce yourself?
Different audiences have different needs, and different audiences may need
different communicative approaches.
What do they want? What do they know? What can you tell them? Knowing
this information will help the presenter to decide what content to be included
in the presentation.
this information will help the presenter to decide what content to be included
in the presentation.
Making a presentation in health information management is very much like
a journey. The presenter needs to guide the audience through the content by
using signposts to indicate what he or she is presenting and where he or she is
going. Examples of signposts are, “Next, I will discuss..”, “Now I would like
to move on to….”, and “Finally, …” or “To conclude..”. Signposts are also great
tools to keep you audience awake, focused and engaged.
a journey. The presenter needs to guide the audience through the content by
using signposts to indicate what he or she is presenting and where he or she is
going. Examples of signposts are, “Next, I will discuss..”, “Now I would like
to move on to….”, and “Finally, …” or “To conclude..”. Signposts are also great
tools to keep you audience awake, focused and engaged.
3. Communicate
A presentation in health information management is never a one way
communication, despite the fact that the presenter is the only one speaking.
Communication is always two ways. Although the presenter does not want the audience
to interrupt his or her speech, he or she should make it engaging: the
presenter should look at the audience, speak to the whole audience, ask rhetorical
questions, use short pauses when he or she is, for example, changing the
subject or moving on to another topic. Rhetorical questions will often raise
the audience awareness as the presenter pauses.
communication, despite the fact that the presenter is the only one speaking.
Communication is always two ways. Although the presenter does not want the audience
to interrupt his or her speech, he or she should make it engaging: the
presenter should look at the audience, speak to the whole audience, ask rhetorical
questions, use short pauses when he or she is, for example, changing the
subject or moving on to another topic. Rhetorical questions will often raise
the audience awareness as the presenter pauses.
4. Prepare the little things
There is truth in the old saying “It is the little things that count”.
Often when preparing a presentation most presenters prepare the content, the
slides, the general story line, but it is often the little things that catch
them off guard. For example, how do you start the presentation? The presenter
should know what to start with. Is it appropriate to say “hello”, “hi”, “good
morning/afternoon/evening everybody”, “dear audience”, etc.? How can the
presenter end the presentation? What can he or she say? For example is it appropriate
to say “thank you”, “thank you for your attention”, etc. The presenter should
prepare signposts such as, “next”, “finally”, etc. Also, the presenter should
think of the specific terms to use to describe what is on the slide, for
example the presenter can use picture, or more specifically a graph, table,
chart, etc.?
Often when preparing a presentation most presenters prepare the content, the
slides, the general story line, but it is often the little things that catch
them off guard. For example, how do you start the presentation? The presenter
should know what to start with. Is it appropriate to say “hello”, “hi”, “good
morning/afternoon/evening everybody”, “dear audience”, etc.? How can the
presenter end the presentation? What can he or she say? For example is it appropriate
to say “thank you”, “thank you for your attention”, etc. The presenter should
prepare signposts such as, “next”, “finally”, etc. Also, the presenter should
think of the specific terms to use to describe what is on the slide, for
example the presenter can use picture, or more specifically a graph, table,
chart, etc.?
5. Good presentation structure
The purpose and content of a presentation in health information
management needs to be carefully considered. How much detail can the presenter cover
in the allotted time? What does the audience already know about the topic? What
do they need to know, and more important, what is the take-home message? What
do you want your audience to remember?
management needs to be carefully considered. How much detail can the presenter cover
in the allotted time? What does the audience already know about the topic? What
do they need to know, and more important, what is the take-home message? What
do you want your audience to remember?
Most presentation will have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The
presenter should introduce his or herself in the introduction, the topic, and
what they will cover during the presentation. The presenter should remember
that this part can be as short as 30 seconds. The body will include key points,
new knowledge, trends in the presentation data, or progress to date. The level
of detail may depend on the task and time available. The presenter should
remember to signpost! Highlight the implications of his or her discussion or
possible applications of his or her findings in the conclusion and finish with
a good take-home message.
presenter should introduce his or herself in the introduction, the topic, and
what they will cover during the presentation. The presenter should remember
that this part can be as short as 30 seconds. The body will include key points,
new knowledge, trends in the presentation data, or progress to date. The level
of detail may depend on the task and time available. The presenter should
remember to signpost! Highlight the implications of his or her discussion or
possible applications of his or her findings in the conclusion and finish with
a good take-home message.
6. Good voice control
It is important for a presenter to maintain a good voice control in
making a good presentation in health information management. The presenter
should know his or her strengths and weaknesses. For most presenters, giving a
presentation is a learning process and definitely not something they do on a
daily, weekly or even monthly basis, so finding a good voice control may be
very challenging, but with a good practice and adequate preparation the
presenter improve on his or her voice control.
making a good presentation in health information management. The presenter
should know his or her strengths and weaknesses. For most presenters, giving a
presentation is a learning process and definitely not something they do on a
daily, weekly or even monthly basis, so finding a good voice control may be
very challenging, but with a good practice and adequate preparation the
presenter improve on his or her voice control.
7. Presenter should avoid verbatim reading from the slide
When giving a presentation, from a communication perspective, speaking
is always better than reading. However, when a presenter find his or herself in
the situation where they have to read, there are a few techniques that they can
use to make it more enjoyable for the audience (remember your audience). They
should always address the audience, even when reading. They should make sure
they take their eyes off the paper and look at the audience. Highlight parts in
the text that they wish to stress, e.g. keywords, signposts, words that evoke,
etc.
is always better than reading. However, when a presenter find his or herself in
the situation where they have to read, there are a few techniques that they can
use to make it more enjoyable for the audience (remember your audience). They
should always address the audience, even when reading. They should make sure
they take their eyes off the paper and look at the audience. Highlight parts in
the text that they wish to stress, e.g. keywords, signposts, words that evoke,
etc.
8. Non-verbal communication
There are of course cultural differences as well as individual
differences during a presentation, but in general the presenter should use the
motions of his or her hands and arms to support the content of their speech.
differences during a presentation, but in general the presenter should use the
motions of his or her hands and arms to support the content of their speech.
9. Slide design
A good slide design is very important in making a good presentation. One
essential criteria to remember is, however, the following: the presenter should
not put anything on a slide (text, images, pictures, tables, and graphs) if he
or she is not going to talk about them, or mention them. It will only confuse
the audience (unless they are either part of the template, or faded in the
background). In addition, the presenter needs to respect the audience, do not need
to overload the slides with text and read this text to them. Most likely the
audience will have finished reading your text before the presenter. Less is
more and presenter should remember that he or she do not need to write in complete
sentences on his or her slides.
essential criteria to remember is, however, the following: the presenter should
not put anything on a slide (text, images, pictures, tables, and graphs) if he
or she is not going to talk about them, or mention them. It will only confuse
the audience (unless they are either part of the template, or faded in the
background). In addition, the presenter needs to respect the audience, do not need
to overload the slides with text and read this text to them. Most likely the
audience will have finished reading your text before the presenter. Less is
more and presenter should remember that he or she do not need to write in complete
sentences on his or her slides.
10. Practice, practice, practice
The presenter should adequately practice and time his or her presentation.
Practice delivering the speech out loud. Record his or her presentation using
the record tool available in PowerPoint. Practice delivering the presentation to
an audience, for example, his or her peers. If presenter does not have an
audience, he or she should practice in front of a mirror.
Practice delivering the speech out loud. Record his or her presentation using
the record tool available in PowerPoint. Practice delivering the presentation to
an audience, for example, his or her peers. If presenter does not have an
audience, he or she should practice in front of a mirror.
Conclusion
To achieve the basic purpose
of health information management which is proper collection, management and use
of information within healthcare systems, a good presentation techniques is
required this will enable health information management practitioners to be
able to able to convey information to other health care practitioners and
health care seekers.
of health information management which is proper collection, management and use
of information within healthcare systems, a good presentation techniques is
required this will enable health information management practitioners to be
able to able to convey information to other health care practitioners and
health care seekers.
References
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of Public Speaking. Boston: Allyn & Bacon
of Public Speaking. Boston: Allyn & Bacon
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Voice”. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication: 51–58.
“High School Public Speaking Curriculum: Assessment Through Student
Voice”. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication: 51–58.
Womack, M. &
Bernstein, E. (1990). Speech for
foreign students. Cairo: C.C. Thomas.
Bernstein, E. (1990). Speech for
foreign students. Cairo: C.C. Thomas.
Zakahi, W.
(1988). “Communication Education”. West Virginia: Speech
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(1988). “Communication Education”. West Virginia: Speech
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