If a speaker spoke in a forest And no-one did anything different Did they really speak at all? Apologies to Plato !

Technical Presentation Essentials

 Serious subjects must be treated seriously  Audiences need the information  The quality of the engineering speaks for itself

Our Program  Why Entertain  How to be entertaining in a technical context

Entertain !! Change attitude Change attitude Keep attention Keep attention Make memorable Make memorable HP study HP study

TODAY’S SURVEY In recent technical presentations you have seen, was the Detail presented Detail presented Entertainment incorporated Entertainment incorporated Enthusiasm of the speaker Enthusiasm of the speaker TOO LITTLE ABOUT RIGHT TOO MUCH

TODAY’S SURVEY In recent technical presentations you have seen, was the Detail presented Detail presented Entertainment incorporated Entertainment incorporated Enthusiasm of the speaker Enthusiasm of the speaker TOO LITTLE ABOUT RIGHT TOO MUCH

TODAY’S SURVEY In recent technical presentations you have seen, was the Detail presented Detail presented Entertainment incorporated Entertainment incorporated Enthusiasm of the speaker Enthusiasm of the speaker TOO LITTLE ABOUT RIGHT TOO MUCH

WHAT IS ENTERTAINMENT ? Humour / Surprise Humour / Surprise Conflict / Suspense / Drama Conflict / Suspense / Drama Violence / Mayhem / Horror Violence / Mayhem / Horror Sex Sex Categories from “Media Entertainment- the psychology of it’s appeal” by Zillmann & Vorderer

WHAT IS ENTERTAINING FOR YOU? Humour / Surprise Humour / Surprise Conflict / Suspense / Drama Conflict / Suspense / Drama Violence / Mayhem / Horror Violence / Mayhem / Horror Sex Sex

Entertain !! 1. Build in humour 2. Build suspense 3. Use stories 4. Make it relevant 5. Be unique, creative, appeal to the senses.

Build in Humour Smile, relax, speak with not at. Smile, relax, speak with not at. Quotes and 1-liners Quotes and 1-liners Good News v’s Bad News Lists Good News v’s Bad News Lists Rule of 3’s Rule of 3’s Unlikely props Unlikely props Parody a famous book or movie Parody a famous book or movie Exaggeration Exaggeration

Some manuals The Entertaining Speaker Humorously Speaking Storytelling Speaking to Inform Technical Presentations Speeches by Management

Technical Presentation Essentials  Serious subjects must be treated seriously  Audiences need the information  The quality of the engineering speaks for itself need balance references & motivation to look at them presenter the quality of the engineering

The next steps Find what works for you Build confidence Practice Tuesdays, noon til 1.00, Township Toastmasters

2. It’s a conversation (not a presentation)  Relax – the audience wants you to succeed. (Breathing helps)  Be yourself and give of yourself  Give audience opportunity to be involved and respond to that involvement

3. Entertain

10. Practice delivery and reception  Can you deliver what you planned?  Did everyone respond as you expected?

10. Practice delivery and reception  Venue, Equipment  Stories  Variety & feedback are key Toastmasters provides them both  Tailor-make evaluation sheets for focused feedback.

10. Practice delivery and reception  Venue, Equipment  Stories  Variety & feedback are key Toastmasters provides them both  Tailor-make evaluation sheets for focused feedback.

10 ctd How to practice with Toastmasters  Practice starts, finishes, and stories  Use the manuals  Set the scene  Notes to the speaker from all  Multiple evaluators  Focused questions

10 Tips 1.Know why you are speaking 2.It’s a conversation 3.Build shelves for clarity 4.Entertain 5.Less is more

6.Communicate with everybody 7.Remember: start and finish 8.Be enthusiastic 9.Make main thing the main thing 10.Practice delivery and reception 10 Tips

7. Audience remembers start (and so should the speaker)  You start in the elevator  Build a bridge to the audience. Starts with introducer

7. Audience remembers finish (and so should the speaker)  Finish the speech once  Have post-question finish  Be prepared to finish early.

8. Be enthusiastic  Enthusiasm communicates trust.  Enthusiasm = Passion x Energy  Big audience = big everything  Passion is Power

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm Ralph Waldo Emerson Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm Ralph Waldo Emerson

8. Be enthusiastic  Enthusiasm communicates trust.  Enthusiasm = Passion x Energy  Big audience = big everything  Passion is Power

Enthusiasm = Passion x Energy More P Think of the big picture Think of the big picture More E The circle The circle Move Move Breathe Breathe Act as if Act as if