How to optimally prepare for presentations as a Psychologist

Welcome along to the aspiring psychologist podcast. Let's think today about presentations. Now, presentations are something which can be a big part of your journey, not only as an aspiring psychologist, but as a qualified psychologist too. Um, so when I, um, was working in, um, in the NHS most recently, um, we would, um, present, um, you know, information at multidisciplinary team meetings about clients or, um, you know, situations that we were working with. And it's important that you are able to get your information across concisely and in a way that helps the audience to, you know, understand what it is you're telling them and why, you know, what the outcomes would be. So it can be useful when we are doing, um, case discussions in that way to perhaps think about opening up with what you are looking for from this situation. This can also be useful for supervision as well.

01:41:

So certainly as the, as my career has advanced, um, you learn to use supervision for helping stuckness. You know, there might be a specific question that you want to answer from supervision. So I would often, you know, begin my presentation, um, my communication with what looking to gain. So, you know, I'm really hoping that, you know, out of today, um, the outcome would be that I find a way to work through this problem that feels a bit stuck. So I'd welcome your opinion on why, um, why this stuckness might have, um, um, might have cropped up and what, um, I, and we can do with the client to help, to help shift that and to have a different outcome. Um, you know, the same is true, um, in MDT meetings as well. So if I want something specific, if I want, um, you know, for example, a are all to psychiatry, or I would like, um, another member of the MDT to think about assessing them, then I'm, you know, I'm beginning my communication with that, so that as people are listening to what I'm saying, um, they can be weighing up for themselves, whether they think that is a useful, um, a useful intervention, a useful next step.

03:11:

So it's always useful to have that, um, yeah, the direction of travel, you know, the intended death donation as you are, um, as you are starting it, um, and other types of presentations of course, will include something a bit more PowerPointy, um, or a bit more cany. I much prefer can, can is so whizzy. Um, if you've not checked out, can then please do, um, grab a link in my, in my show notes. Um, okay. So why might you need to do a presentation as an aspiring psychologist? I hear you cry. Well, I have, um, had an number of times when, when I've been called to, into of you. Um, I have been asked to prepare a presentation, um, and for some of you that may, may leave you, you know, quaking in your boots and just thinking, no, I hate presentations.

04:17:

So what I'm hoping, um, that we get out of today is to help you feel more confident, both in putting together your presentation, practicing it, and then, you know, smashing it out the park when you give it I'm a little bit outside normal limits, because I actually really enjoy a presentation, um, which is perhaps why I've ended up doing podcasts and things, because I don't mind speaking, you know, if, um, you are in a group exercise and someone says, well, who's gonna feed back to the group. I'm like, I'll do it. I'm alright with that. Um, people are like, whew, oh, we got Marianne in the group. She doesn't mind speaking, but there's of course so empowering about encouraging yourself to do things that might feel a little bit uncomfortable, you know, feeling the burn and doing it anyway. So let me help, you know, inspire you to be able to do presentations, um, yourself so that you don't always have to ask the chatty one in the group to help, um, support you with that.

05:25:

So the first of my techniques is, um, we are going to just put a little bit of structure together when we are creating the presentation. So what we're gonna do is we're going to tell people what we're going, tell them before we then tell them it. Um, so the first strategy is tell them what you are going to tell them, obviously not in full detail, but you're just giving a little bit of structure. Um, even if it's a 10 minute presentation, you know, I'm taking people through what we're gonna do. So if I was going to give you, you know, the plan for today's podcast episode, I'd be saying, you know, welcome along to this session on thinking about optimizing your presentations. I'm just gonna break down the structure of what to expect from what we're going to achieve within our time together. So the, um, the way that that's going to look is I'm going to share with you, um, three, um, sections three top tips, um, to be able to, you know, supercharge what you are doing, um, and get the maximum benefit from it.

06:36:

And then the is going to be, you know, I dunno, there'll be an opportunity for questions. Um, I'm then going to summarize what we've spoken about, think about the main take home learning points, and then there will be an opportunity for questions at the end. So I hope you'll find this a really useful overview. Now, of course, as a one way, um, communication device of a podcast, I'm not going to be able to get your feedback on whether this was useful, but that's the kind of thing I'd be saying in, um, in a presentation situation for real. So yet we're telling them what we're going to tell them. And for the next two tips, I'm gonna come back to you just after this break. Hope you, you find it useful.

Jo:: 08:05

I'm Jo. And I work as an assistant practitioner in a camhs service in Lancaster. I bought and read Marianne's book, the clinical psychologist collective to accompany me while completing the clinical psychology training application. It proved to be really good company. I found it sparked ideas of how to build experience and skills, but more than that, it offered the chance to get lost in people's stories. It provided a timely reminder not to get so caught up in an end goal and to value and enjoy each job we fulfill along the way, because the work we do now is important and matters to those. We sit alongside as well as ourselves. It also gave the reassurance that there are eclectic roots into clinical psychology, which is important for me as someone who's had a meandering journey and not a typical route to the profession. I wholeheartedly recommend the book for both personal and professional reasons. Be prepared to put evening tasks on hold for a while though, because once you've started reading, it's tough to put it down

09:53:

Okay, welcome back. So we covered before the break, we covered our first top tip, um, for the structure of our presentations. Um, and that was, we're going to tell them what we are going to tell them. The second top tip is that we are then going to tell them, we're gonna tell them the stuff that we are gonna, we told them we're gonna tell them. Um, this is a lot of telling isn't it? Um, so I often think the best way to do this is not by putting all the information on every slide. That is the way to lose me. If you are standing in front of me, reading what is on the slide that I, I am gonna be busy doing other stuff in my mind, cuz I've already read it probably before you've started even talking. So I've gained my, um, important points and it feels like there's less need to listen to what you are saying.

10:50:

So when you're structuring any visual aids with your presentation, I would make them look engaging. I would have a, a keyword or to on there if only to aid your memory of what you're going to say, but do not put all the content in these slides and do not read from the slides because that is gonna lead to a zoned out audience, especially in these, um, times that we've got. So if you're doing it via zoom, you're gonna have people in the background playing on their iPads whilst listening to you. And we want you to be communicating to your audience really well. We want, um, people to be really in tune in tune and engage with what you are saying and really want to, to be on board to learn what you are saying. So as you're talking, you might want to use any relevant references, um, to help, uh, to help you back up your points, um, to demonstrate your theory.

11:53:

Um, I often think even if it is, um, you know, for example, uh, a presentation where you're talking about, um, you know, your clinical suitability for a role, so you might be talking about some work that you did with a client. Um, I often think it's still useful to drop in the odd reference here and there. Um, especially because you are, you know, you're striving to be an academic. Um, it shows that you are, you know, well versed in linking theory and practice. So that's another useful thing. Um, if you've got, um, if it is linked to, um, some outcomes that you did it's can be useful to, to think about, um, you know, putting together some graphs that demonstrate your progress with the client, demonstrate the effectiveness of whatever the intervention that you are discussing is, um, I'm a big fan of a beautiful, um, presentation theme.

12:52:

So I used to have my go to, um, presentation theme for PowerPoint. Um, but yeah, it's just a whole lot more beautiful and easier to, to create in Canva. And you can still download as, um, a PowerPoint, um, from Canva, if you need to, or you can just download it as PDF. So, um, yeah, just check out camera, if you haven't already, like I said, there's a link in the comments. Um, it is ACE. It's gonna change your world. You can also put videos in there as well. If you wanted to add snippets or jingles, you know, I love a jingle. Um, so yeah, thinking about engaging your audience and thinking about, um, giving them something to look at, um, you know, something to listen to, which might be you, or it might be some other stuff that you've got going on. Um, you know, just trying to get as many of those, um, sense activated, you know, as you can to get them as engaged as possible.

13:49:

So we've, uh, we've told them what we're gonna tell them. And then we've told the stuff, you know, we've done it, we've told them it. And then the final point is we're going to tell them what we've told them. Um, we're gonna just briefly summarise what we've spoken about and if there was any question, um, for the presentation. So, you know, um, demonstrate how you used an intimate to alleviate the distress of a client you worked with, then that's the point where I'm gonna be really drawing their attention to, um, to the changes. So answering the question that you've been asked now, of course, if there is a specific question that you might well pepper, the appropriate words throughout when your telling them as well from the middle section, but this summary is where you are demonstrating that you are answering the question, um, and you are doing it in a succinct time balanced way that hopefully is enthusiastic and not too anxious, um, as a, as a presentation style to watch.

14:59:

So I think it can be really useful to have a practice, um, by yourself in an empty room with a timer on, um, just to check how you are doing for time. And it can also be useful if it's a really important presentation. It can also be useful to practice that with someone else in the room so that you get used to people, you know, hearing the words as they come out of your mouth. You might, if that feels a bit too exposing or you haven't got someone to ask, you might find it helpful to record it on zoom, um, so that you can see what it is like, um, to take away some of that Eek moments that you might have about, you know, talking in public, standing up. Um, so if you are gonna be actually doing this presentation in person might be useful to just think about what you're gonna be wearing.

15:53:

Um, check that you're gonna be comfortable check that whatever you are wearing is gonna help you bring your a game it's gonna help you. You know, like we said, about the millionaire, um, you know, the millionaire interview experience we want to help you think that things are going well. So your hair is looking like on point, you're feeling good because we don't want any reasons to be feeling, you know, like we are exposed or vulnerable, um, at that moment. So just making sure that you are, you're feeling, you know, good enough, um, ideally, uh, about the situation that you are in when you are giving that presentation. So it is short and suite from us today, but this is a special request. Someone had asked me to cover presentations and how they're important and how we can, you know, how we can optimize and maximize them.

16:43:

So if you have got, um, any specific requests, then check out the link in, um, in the show notes for how you can, um, get in contact, um, to nominate any podcast topics, because I want to make sure that this podcast is really useful for you, whatever stage of your career you are at. Thank you so much for listening. Um, please do come and connect with me on my socials. LinkedIn is Dr Marianne Trent, YouTube, good thinking psychological services, Facebook, good thinking psychological services, Twitter. GoodthinkingPS1 and Instagram doctor Marianne Trent, thank you again for being part of my world and for listening right to the end. We've just got a little bit coming up about the compassionate Q and a series, and then you can enjoy the jingle take care. And like I said, if you'd like to get involved with, um, your own story for the aspiring psychologist collective, then do check out the details in the, um, show notes for how you can rest request more information. But if you head to my, um, website, which is good thinking, psychology.co.uk, um, and then head to my books, there will be information there for

18:05:

You being well supported during any interview season is so important. I have therefore, uh, planned some compassionate question and answer support sessions for you. You are absolutely welcome to come along to all of them. Some of them, none of them, no need to book. And here are the dates for you Monday, the 28th of February from 7:30 PM, Monday the 21st of March 7:30 PM. Monday the 4th of April 7:30 PM. And Monday the 9th of May 7:30 PM. And they will all be live streaming via my so socials, uh, which includes Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. So you can absolutely pick your favourite, um, platform and they'll all be available on replay as well. Hope you find it so useful. And I will look forward to catching up with some of you. Then take care.