How to give a great presentation

9 July 2012

AgendaGoing to look at how you can give a great talk!Why? Cause you will do one this weekAlso you will always need to give talks

Future proofing

Covering all you need to know at a high levelYou need to go away and apply it – this won’t make your talk great, but it will put you on the right path.

Why are people coming to your talk?

To hear you speak!

It is about youNot the slidesNot the gimmicksBe honestBe unique, but don’t be nuts

Failure

FailureNo one in the room wants you to failExpect itHave a one click/resetYou should be able to give a talk without the slides & demosSome of the best talks come from failureHave backup plansKnown the weak spots & prepare the audience for itA little superstition helps

Preparation

PrepKnow the goal (change the brain)Story boardsReference DemoRe-evaluate slides & ordersFinding a good starting point for the demo (demo shell)RefinementPolishWriting the ScriptPractise

Expectation SettingTitle for the session is importantDescription is less importantIf the title or description is wrong, change it.These should tell the audience what to expect, no playing games here!

Purposeful

Tone & EnergyUniversity is the worst place to learn to presentPresentations are not information dumpsIf you are not energized, the audience won’t beEnergized != excitedNeeded to be Energized? Then Care DeeplyVOICE SHOULD BE HEARD ALWAYS

MovementMake every movement countMovement gives time for mental breathersSitting is bad

Often used in business talksStanding shows respect thoughStanding for shock & awe works too

Worried about fiddling? Bring a pen, pin or something small to hold

Shock & AweThe single most dangerous thing you can doDo something unexpected

Something Very RadicalPure SilenceSomething Offensive

You had better be able to take the reputation knockLeading down the wrong path

Makes the audience feel stupid

Colours

SlidesYou should not need themThey are a presenters tool – NOT THE PRESENTATIONIf they can read the slides they do not need you!Impact

Full Bleed ImagesMaybe loosely related to the talkTake the audience one way, then switch them

Comedy for the comedy impairedEvery time you change the slide you lose audience focus

Have you noticed my slides are bad in this talk??

The presentation comboAgenda (light)Content (IMPORTANT)Review (light)

The presentation comboAgenda (light)Content (IMPORTANT)Review (light)

SetupDemoRecapSetupDemoRecapSetupDemoRecapSetupDemoRecapSetupDemoRecap

Group Presentations

Group presentationsWhen possible avoid themCan’t avoid? Then apply the combo

Presenter 1: SetupPresenter 2: DemoPresenter 3: Recap

Have different people handle different sections (becomes two or three mini-talks)

NEEDS CAREFUL PLANNING

One speaker, one typist also worksOne MC (initial setup & recap), rest handle areas

MC needs more energy than the rest

Practise together!Pick a captainFocus on the speakerAvoid banter that isolates the audience

Practising

PractiseIn the mirror, or better on your phoneHave others review your talksKnow the room

Get to it early on the day too

Do your system check ahead of timeThere is nothing wrong with cheat sheetsTiming – get the timing right (always under, never over)

Take a watch/cellphone to the talk if you are tight on timeHave bits you can drop or give a light treatment to

Technical PractiseScreen Resolution

Expect 1024x768

Network connectivityLarger fonts

Know your quirksLisp, thinking words (um), words you pronounce oddlyWork on improving themPlay with themNOTHING IN YOUR POCKETS!

Don’ts

Don’tsDon’t underestimate the audienceDon’t assume you must know everythingDon’t pretend you know everythingDon’t take someone else’s talk – own your talksDon’t present without preparation Don’t pitch up tired or hung overDon’t pitch in the wrong clothes

Questions?

Referencehttp://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/TheChannel9Team/Don-Box-What-goes-into-a-great-technical-presentation

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/11TopTipsForASuccessfulTechnicalPresentation.aspx

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/HanseminutesPodcast250ProfessionalTechnicalSpeakerTipsFromScottWithDrewRobbins.aspx

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/TipsForPreparingForATechnicalPresentation.aspx

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/TechnicalPresentationsBePreparedForAbsoluteChaos.aspx

http://www.sadev.co.za/content/how-i-build-presentations-series-index

http://venkatarangan.com/blog/2005/02/tips-for-doing-effective-presentations/