Presenting
Present information in a way that is engaging and memorable.
Tight Five
Establish vision and accomplishments in the first 5 minutes. They're deciding early.
| Element | Function |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Recognizable visual associated with your work |
| Slogan | Simple phrase that acts as a handle |
| Surprise | Unexpected finding or insight |
| Salient Idea | One idea that truly stands out |
| Story | How you did it and why it matters |
Guidelines
Open Strong
| Rule | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Empowerment Promise | Tell them what they'll learn — gives reason to pay attention |
| No jokes | Promise beats entertainment. Jokes can fail; promises create stakes |
Keep Them With You
| Rule | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Cycle on Subject | 20% distracted at any moment — repeat key ideas so everyone catches them |
| Build a Fence | Distinguish your idea from others — prevents confusion |
| Verbal Punctuation | Announce transitions, enumerate points — lets people "get back on the bus" |
| Ask Questions | Not too obvious, not too hard. Allow 7 seconds of dead air for responses |
Time and Place
| Factor | Optimal |
|---|---|
| Time | 11:00 AM — awake, not post-meal fatigue |
| Lighting | Well-lit room keeps audience awake |
| Density | Room should feel populated, not empty |
| Recon | Case the venue beforehand for weirdnesses |
Close Clean
- Final slide should be obviously final
- End with clear final words (not "that's it" or "any questions?")
- Practice with people unfamiliar with your topic — their feedback is more valuable
Tools
Assets of persuasion.
Slides are for exposing ideas, NOT for teaching.
- Minimum 40-50pt type
- Slides failure modes:
- too many slides
- too many words
- reading aloud