Presentations - Stuffing Them Up?

[Ikemi]

I've been asked to do a presentation tomorrow night. Supposedly there should be 40 people attending, which will be broken into 2 seperate presentations one after the other ... I'm hoping from the reply slips that only 12 people can make it - Fingers crossed!

I'm feeling pretty worried at the moment and I'm not looking forward to standing up and talking aloud. On the upside I will never see these people again and half-way through I will be getting the attendees to use some computers, so eyes off me ... On the downside, I haven't done many presentations and not to a group this size!

So to make me feel a bit better, does anyone have any good stories where presentations have gone wrong?

[Sleekitman]

I've been to a presentation when the guy got slow handclapped. He was the most boring person I ever met.

[AB]

Thats it, make him feel better!! Haha.

[CooperS]

Timing is important...

When you see them puffing and looking to the floor and then the eyes glaze over.. thats when your done.

Edited by CooperS on Tuesday 3rd March 10:43

[thehawk]

The best presentations are the ones that have something go wrong. it breaks the ice and introduces some humour.

[Hitch78]

I do loads of presentations in the course of my work, but also have to help clients present to their own colleagues quite often.

Two main tips spring to mind.

1. Know your subject. There is no substitute for this as it gives you confidence but more importantly if you lose your way it is much easier to get back on track without anyone noticing if you know what you are talking about.

2. Practice, in real time in front of real people(so no skipping through bits saying 'and then i'll do this...') at least three times.

Last little helper is that unless you're about to make people redundant your audience will either want to be there or not be bothered either way. They don't want you to fail as that will waste their time, for most people work is not school; they're there for the information rather than to see someone they don't know and don't care about fk up.

Good luck.

Edited by Hitch78 on Tuesday 3rd March 10:50

[skilly1]

Sorry no disaster stories, but my top tip is make sure you have a glass of water near you. Your mouth can go very dry !

[Gylen]

When I worked for a 'Large IT Corporation', we had a training session with a guy up from London who was going to be delivering 'competitive information training'.

We wandered into the training room only to be assailed by the strongest reek of booze you can imagine to find an absolutely clattered (at 11.30am!) trainer, frantically stuffing Extra Strong Mints into his mouth.

After skipping every video clip and slide on the basis that 'they're st', he tried to sit down, missed his chair and fell on his arse. I'd had enough at this point as I was busy (incredibly, everyone was politely pretending to listen) and just walked out. I found the boss, told him the story and got back to work.

Imagine my surprise when I saw our cowardly boss, escorting him off the premises and advising him to 'drive carefully' as he headed back to London!! I couldn't believe he didn't take his keys off him and send him back to his hotel...

[schmalex]

I once did a presentation of 3,500 people at a Symposium. I knew the subject matter pretty well & had spotlights on me, so I couldn't see anyone in the crowd. All was going well until I turned my head slightly & caught a glimpse of myself in the 30' high monitors that created the stage backdrop. It completely floored me & I lost my train of thought for a good 10 seconds or so (which felt like a lifetime).

[The Moose]

At Uni the first presentation I had to give was to around 150 people - some peers, some lecturers etc. I knew what I was talking about very well - he'll I had coded the damn program!!

Anyway was nervous as hell so I thought an ice breaker would go down well. I couldn't think of anything other than what I used.

So my opening line was (said loudly into the mic):
"FAT PENGUIN" (no good morning, just that)

To which point I persuaded a mate in the audience to leave it 5 seconds or so and go 'what the fk??'

That time felt like an eternity but eventually he said it and my reply was:

"Ah yes, just wanted to start with something that would break the ice. Now that that is done, morning..." and went from there.

Cheesy you may say?
Crap you may say?
Yep!!

But worked a charm and it kept their interest for 20 mins or so.

Enjoy it mate - u will be stting your self and thinking a mile a minute, but it's all good fun and people don't want you to fk it up.

Cheers

The Moose

[eldudereno]

Take deep breaths, they'll help you relax.

Good preparation is vital. Make sure that you compile some notes to help you along, don't rely on your memory.

[gwp]

Best information I ever heard was the 6 minute rule.
Let your presentation change direction(if it can) or look at another angle every six minutes.

We only have that length of genuine attention span and after that we get bored or forget the train of thought.

gwp

[The Moose]

Oh and FFS don't just read everything off your cards!!

[Asterix]

I was going to post a piccy of David Brent intoducing himself to the Swindon crowd...

and found this hugely disturbing image!

[schmalex]

Some good tips:

• Don't just read the bullet points off the slide (if there is a slide with bullets, read from the bottom to the top, or mix them up a little)
• Try not to make eye contact with anyone in the audience (look just above peoples eyeline)
• Remember to breath
• Remember to talk slowly
• Always know which slide is coming next
• Don't have too many slides that build (they take an eternity) unless you really need them
• If you start feeling the nerves coming on, ask a question or turn onto the next slide & take a few big breaths
• Make sure you know the subject matter & can talk around the slides

[MacGee]

big tip is mind mapping....use not as script but pointers..nothing worse than a prick just reading the slides. Ask uaience questions and for their thoughts. Have a friend who is IFA and can speak for hours. He had a challenge with colleague as to who could talk longest before showing first slide....he made it to 4 hours 15 mins....same guy is so shy when in small groups..amazing.

[Steamer]

Asterix said:

I was going to post a piccy of David Brent intoducing himself to the Swindon crowd...

and found this hugely disturbing image!

[img]A Freakin' scary picture [img]

What is going on in that photo?!

They have either caught the Aids / had a very heavy night / both had a stroke!

(or actually quite good, but scary, look-a-likes)

[andy-xr]

I always mess mine up, and they're better for it I think

[Zod]

Glass of water.

Don't make notes on the slides. You will not be able to read them or remember what their point was.

Don't keep turning round to the screen.

Don't stick slavishly to the slides.

Don't make jokes unless you are a highly acclaimed career comedian.

Know your subject and have genuine enthusiasm for it.

Look at audience members (can be difficult with a spotlight in your eyes) and interact with them.

[Hedders]

Steamer said:

Asterix said:

I was going to post a piccy of David Brent intoducing himself to the Swindon crowd...

and found this hugely disturbing image!

[img]A Freakin' scary picture [img]

What is going on in that photo?!

They have either caught the Aids / had a very heavy night / both had a stroke!

(or actually quite good, but scary, look-a-likes)

Look a likes, Brent is pretty good!