Contents

This edition first published 2012 © 2012 by George M. Hall and Neville Robinson

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

How to present at meetings / [edited by] George M. Hall, Peter Neville Robinson. – 3rd ed.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-470-65458-3 (pbk.)
1. Communication in medicine. 2. Lectures and lecturing. 3. Communication of technical information. I. Hall, George M. (George Martin) II. Robinson, Neville.
[DNLM: 1. Communication. 2. Congresses as Topic. 3. Professional Competence. 4. Speech. HF 5718.22]
R118.H69 2012
610.69′6–dc23
2011024960

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This book is published in the following electronic formats: ePDF 9781119962090; Wiley Online Library 9781119962120; ePub 9781119962106

List of contributors

Martin Godfrey
Public Relations, UK

Charlotte Green
Newsreader
BBC Radio 4
London, UK

Angela Hall
Emeritus Reader in Clinical Communication
St George’s
University of London
London, UK

George M. Hall
Professor of Anaesthesia
St George’s
University of London
London, UK

William Harrop-Griffiths
Consultant Anaesthetist
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
London, UK

Roger Horton
Emeritus Professor of Neuropharmacology
St George’s
University of London
London, UK

Sir Alexander Macara
Public Health Physician
Bristol, UK

Alan Maryon-Davis
Honorary Professor of Public Health
King's College London
London, UK

Peter McCrorie
Professor of Medical Education
St George’s
University of London
London, UK

Mal Morgan
Emeritus Reader in Anaesthetic Practice
Imperial College London
London, UK

Philip M. Sedgwick
Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics
St George’s
University of London
London, UK

Richard Smith
Executive Director, UnitedHealth Europe
London, UK

Sir Terry Wogan
Broadcaster
London, UK

Preface to the third edition

We are pleased that Sir Terry Wogan has kindly agreed to write a foreword for the third edition and we are most grateful for his wit and wisdom. In this edition Philip Sedgwick has contributed a new chapter on the production and presentation of posters for scientific meetings and William Harrop-Griffiths has written a chapter that should enable all novice presenters to cope with the idiosyncrasies of PowerPoint presentations. We are most appreciative of all the other contributors who have revised their chapters and thank them for their continuing support.

G. M. Hall and Neville Robinson

Preface to the second edition

The call for a second edition of this book has enabled the authors to revise their chapters. I am delighted that Charlotte Green, a doyen amongst BBC Radio announcers and newsreaders, has contributed a chapter on how to present a talk. I have encouraged overlap between authors on the basis that repetition aids learning and understanding; a view supported by two eminent medical educationalists in Chapter . Once again I am grateful for the enthusiasm of the contributors; the book's success is their success.

G. M. Hall

Preface to the first edition

Many trainees in medicine, while competent in their speciality, struggle to give a good presentation at a meeting. The aim of this book is to provide a basic framework around which a proficient talk can be built. The content covers not only the essential parts of a presentation, preparation, visual aids and computer-generated slides, but also provides advice on how to sell a message, how to appear on stage and how to deal with questions. All contributors are experienced speakers and provide simple didactic advice. I am grateful for their enthusiastic cooperation.

G. M. Hall

Wogan's wisdom: how to ‘read’ an audience

The first thing to remember is that Audiences Differ and Presenters Die. Accept this, the first principle of public speaking, and you can move into the Circle of Fear. Make no mistake about it, if you agree to address a meeting, you will know fear, such as you have never known before… . So, my second word of advice is: Don't do it! What so-called friend conned you into doing it in the first place? You could be at home with your feet up and a nice cup of tea, enjoying ‘‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and here you are, already in a flop-sweat, with a baying crowd ready to rush the platform. That's the way I feel anyway, every time I'm foolish enough to agree to make a speech, at everything from a Rotarian gathering to a crowd of sneering conventioneers.

Mind you, there are audiences, and there are audiences. If you're addressing a Prayer meeting, there's no need for a racy gag to open proceedings. Just bring your rosary beads. If it's a Board meeting, as long as they have coffee and biscuits, all they'll want are the facts. Don't even bother smiling. If it's a Meeting of Minds, everyone will agree with every word you say anyway. But if it's a crowd, you'd better gird your loins… . I realise that you're expecting me to regale you with many a shrewdly-observed observation on how to worm your way into the hearts and minds of the numpties sitting expectantly before you, and I wish I could, but if it were that simple, the world and his wife would be at it. And you know as well as I do, having attended more than your share of gatherings, from lunches, to dinners, to bar-mitzvahs, that public speaking is an arcane art, and one bestowed on very few. I know of many comedians and presenters whose fame on TV and Radio is legendary, but who run a mile when asked to speak at a charity or celebrity lunch or dinner. For it's a completely different animal from standing on a stage, or in front of a camera, telling gags. It's much more difficult when they've had a few drinks… .

A couple of years ago, I was the ‘turn’ at a big ‘do’ at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, not known as an easy gig. It's a huge hall, the tables are all around you and even above you. You can't make eye contact with anybody, except those immediately in front of you, and they're talking to each other anyway. Still, it all went swimmingly; I played the audience like a stringed instrument and took away my brown envelope packed with crisp onecers with a light heart. There's no feeling like it, when you go down a storm. Just as there's nothing quite like dying like a dog in front of a couple of thousand disillusioned diners. Which is exactly what happened, the following year, at exactly the same ‘do’ in exactly the same blasted ballroom. The comedian who'd kicked things off hadn't gone well and, as ever with his ilk, couldn't let it lie, but continued to struggle well beyond his allotted hour. I came on a half an hour later than I had the previous triumphant year, the audience had had a couple of more drinks and it was Goodbye, Mr Chips… .

So, you see why it's not a bit of use me, or anybody else, trying to tell you how to interpret an audience's mood. There are too many imponderable factors beyond your control. They may not like the look of you, for a start. However, while you're there, here's a couple of tips that might save you from suffering too much:

• Always go on first. If you follow an eejit, it's hard to pick up the pieces, and if you're following some unknown who's played a blinder, it's even worse.
• Unless you're completely confident and relaxed, don't smile. You'll frighten the horses.
• Open with an apposite quotation, not with a gag. It makes you look intelligent.
• If you must tell a joke, keep it short. One of your famous long routines may set the boys in the snug of your local in a roar, but, trust me, you're not Les Dawson.
• Brevity is not only the soul of wit, it's the secret of a good speech. Leave ‘em wanting more. They want to get back to the drink and talking to their friends anyway.
• If the audience is there to listen, rather than enjoy itself, you're leaning against an open door. Just don't rush it; deliberately speak slowly, pause occasionally and drink plenty of fluids. No, not alcoholic! Oh, I don't know though, it depends on how it's going… .

And good luck – you're a brave little soldier.

Terry Wogan