Know your Audience Make it Clear! The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures

& Pretty Pictures Prepare & Practice Zzzzzz … How You Say it Matters Not Compatible? Closure

In your field - can jump in with brief background; non-experts - need more set-up

Purpose of your talk (Convince? Update? Teach?)

Communicate with your audience * size matters * formal vs. discussion format

Convey your enthusiasm about your work

Don’t talk over their heads; don’t talk down to them

OUTLINE FIRST!!

Controls number of slides & provides balance

- Budget 2-3 minutes/slide (e.g. 30’ talk = 10-15 slides)

Have one story to tell:

- decide on underlying issue to be addressed

- divide into logical, heirarchical subquestions

- talk should be series of answers to these questions

Zoom-In (intro) and Zoom-Out (closure)

Style & format - use color to highlight & organize - be consistent (audience knows where to look)

Read through presentation and see if main points stand-out

- Heading = WHAT or HOW - Summary statement = CONCLUSION

“Speaker Support” - It doesn’t carry you -- you are the focus - It supports your message

Science talk vs. murder mystery -- don’t keep you’re audience hanging!

Know the fuzzy borders between experimental evidence and speculation (affects how you formulate your sentences)

One concept per slide - cluster examples rather than moving through series too quickly

Make sure you can be heard!

Frustrate your audience & you lose them!

Clear title

Highlight particular areas/words

Don’t crowd with too much info

Give credit where credit due - reference published data; borrowed

figures

Show bad

showing a lot of unreadable info “for effect” - bad!

if it can’t be read -- it’s a waste & it annoys audience

Show bad

GOOD(some showmanship here)

GOOD

Use one of Jen’s figure slides color-coded parts, etc.

Timing (how many slides & length of talk)

Memorize intro and first few lines

Beware of overpracticing

* Don’t memorize entire talk -- stiff & BORING!!

* 1X = 10-fold improvement

* 2X = twice as good

* 3X = polish

Talk to your audience (eye contact, conversational style)

Engage your audience by asking questions

Keep it interesting: - share interesting tidbits - give unique examples/analogies - humor disturbs slumber Tiny type kills (use at least 18 point font ... ?)

If you’re bored, you’re audience is snoring!

VERBAL SKILLS Slow down! Don’t read your

slides - use as cues Vary voice tone

(conversational) Genuine

enthusiasm SPEAK-UP

BODY LANGUAGE Eye contact Stand straight -

breathe Don’t overgesture

with pointer, etc. Face your

audience

Ask ahead of time what equipment provided:

- overhead projector vs. Powerpoint

What format used:

- PC vs. Mac?

What type of disk acceptable:

- floppy vs. Zip 100, Zip 250?

Emergency back-ups:

- overheads

- handouts

Summary of conclusions

Zoom-out (relevance or application of your work)

Next steps (if appropriate)

Acknowledgements

1. Know your audience & their needs

2. Tell them a clear story developing each point upon the previous

3. Show them the evidence (sharp figures)

4. Keep them awake by engaging them

5. Give them great delivery -- prepare, practice & SPEAK-UP!

6. Share your enthusiasm for your work

7. Sell your message with a strong summary of conclusions

Most importantly - Have Fun!