USAFA Library Guides: MGT 472 (Strategic Management Capstone): Giving Presentations

DFM Guidance & Tips for Presentations

Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash.

Find DFM guidance and suggestions for student oral presentations as well as library materials to help improve oral communication and visualization skills that can have a positive impact on your course success.

DFM Oral Communication Rubric
DFM rubric for evaluating oral communication proficiencies
PSL: Strategies for Group Presentations & Data Visualizations
Slide deck of ASC Public Speaking Lab workshop held Oct 2022
PSL: Strategies for Presenting, Organizing & Displaying
Slide deck of ASC workshop presented in March 2022

Academic Success Center & Library

Public Speaking Lab (PSL), Fairchild Hall, Rm 1A75

Academic Success Center (Video)
Watch 4 min. video introduction about ASC resources & support
Appointment Scheduling Portal
For booking an appointment with the PSL, QRC & Writing Center
Communication Strategies Center
ASC units assist cadets with writing, reading and public speaking. The PSL in Fairchild Hall (Rm 1A75) can be reserved to practice and record individual & group presentations.

Library Rooms for Collaboration

Reserve a Study Room
Cadets can book a room in the Library for individual or group study including work on group projects like oral presentations
Events and Spaces in the Library
Read information on reserving spaces from McDermott Library

SAGE Communication & Interpersonal Skills

Modules in SAGE Knowledge to help develop your communication and interpersonal skills so critical to being a successful student.

Giving a Successful Presentation
Practical steps for preparing & delivering an effective presentation
Online Communication
Provides tips for creating a professional & diverse online presence

Short Readings

3 Tips for Presenting in English When You're Not a Native Speaker
Harvard Business Review article by Deborah Riegel
A 4-Step Plan to Make Your Q&A More Audience-Friendly
HBR article to help frame the Q&A for business presentations
How to Give a Killer Presentation
Harvard Business Review article by Chris Anderson of TED Talks
How to Improve Your Presentation Skills
Helpful tips from the University of Sheffield
How to Shine When You're Put on the Spot
A guide to spontaneous communication by M. Abrahams in HBR
Present Your Data Like a Pro
Harvard Business Review article by Joel Schwartzberg
Tips for Presenting to Small Groups
Recommended tips to speakers by Richard Freishtat

Informative Videos on Public Speaking

Delivering Dynamic Presentations
Presents important strategies & practical steps for students to deliver dynamic presentations. (Kanopy, 36 min.)
TED's Secret to Great Public Speaking
Presented by Chris Anderson with a summary of his main guidelines for presenting an idea to an audience:
1. Focus on one major idea. 5:05
2. Give people a reason to care. 5:33
3. Build your idea with familiar concepts. 6:10
4. Make your idea worth sharing. 7:15
TED Talks
Browse to discover ideas and talks on a host of topics
Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast
Podcast series on ways for getting your message across
Class Takaways -- Essentials
Ouline of the five key points for giving a presentation in strategic communication by Matt Abrahams (Stanford Business, 5.51 min.)

Better Presentations (eBooks)

Better Presentations: A Guide for Scholars, Researchers, and Wonks
Provides clear examples for what to do (and what not to do) with best techniques to display work & tactics to help win over audiences.
Everyday Business Storytelling: Create, Simplify, and Adapt a Visual Narrative for Any Audience
An indispensable guide to making your communications stick in the minds of your audience.
Get to the Point! Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter
An indispensable step-by-step guide for anyone who must communicate in speech or writing.
HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations
A guide to give you the confidence and the tools you need to develop your skils and get results for making effective presentations.
Mastering the Art of Oral Presentations: Winning Orals, Speeches, and Stand-Up Presentations
A great tool for those who speak to influence, to promote, and to sell--aiding you in making positive and lasting impressions on potential customers, team members, and decision makers.

Better Visualizations

Better Data Visualizations: A Guide for Scholars, Researchers, and Wonks
This book details essential strategies to create more effective data visualizations.
The Big Book of Dashboards: Visualizing Your Data Using Real-World Business Scenarios
A reference source with real-world solutions.
Good Charts, Updated & Expanded: The HBR Guide to Making Smarter, More Persuasive Data Visualizations
Microsoft PowerPoint Best Practices, Tips, and Techniques: An Indispensable Guide to Mastering PowerPoint's Advanced Tools to Create Engaging Presentations

12 Dashboard Design Tips for Better Data Visualization
Tips for all forms of dashboard designs (Geckoboard, 9.50 min.)

Explore Further

University and professional guides on developing oral presentations, often supported with visual images and data:

Essentials of Strategic Communication
Provides key aspects of strategic communiction with recommended materials to explore from Stanford Business
Guide for Giving a Group Presentation
Help in preparing a group presentation for academic and business situations by VirtualSpeech
Resources: Tip Sheets
A list of tip sheets for communication from UNC Greensboro
Support for Oral Presentations
Top 10 tips for speaking to an audience, guide for seminar presentations, and help with visuals from UNSW Sydney