Effective Technical Presentations

A presentation is story telling

Organizing Your Ideas Be clear about what the story-line is Remember a story has a BEGINNING – MIDDLE – END Use an outline to help keep you organized Don’t leave your audience behind

Know your audience What do they know? What do they want? What do YOU want then to know? What do they expect?

Put it on paper Use an outline - not a full text Don’t Read the text

Say that again Use repetition Say it more than one way

Body language Yes, you can use your hands! Please don’t play with your keys (or your jewelry) Let the audience see your enthusiasm for the subject

Some Graphics are Worth a Thousand Words some others…. fuggetaboutit Visible Simple Understandable Relevant

No No Number 1: Too busy!

No No Number 2: Jaggy Images

No No Number 3: Distorted Images

Converse with Your Audience Remember that a presentation is a two way conversation Never speak to the screen or the board Look at your audience Pay attention to what the audience is saying to you

Extending the Two-way Conversation Questions and Answers Q and A is an important part of the presentation. Depending on the circumstances it can also be one of the toughest aspect of the presentation. But getting lots of questions is one sign that you have engaged the audience. (Sometimes it is a sign that you have confused your audience.) Embrace questions because it gives you an opportunity to show your full mastery of the subject and to expand on themes that were not covered in the formal presentation. But… Please answer the question what was asked. It is better to say “I don’t know” than to try to bluff the audience.

Teamwork Remember that these are group presentations. Know your team members names. Work out the logistics before hand. It is not my presentation but our presentation. Support your other team members by looking engaged during their time on the block. Try to integrate the parts to get a seamless flow and a coherent whole.

Prepare and Practice Prepare Practice, Practice, Practice