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What Are Effective Presentation Skills (and How to Improve Them)

Presentation skills are essential for your personal and professional life. Learn about effective presentations and how to boost your presenting techniques.

According to a 2022 study in the Journal of Economics, Management and Informatics, presentation skills are more important than ever for a career in business [ 1 ], and they're critical in a diverse range of other jobs. For example, you might need to brief your supervisor on research results. 

Presentation skills are also essential in other scenarios, including working with a team and explaining your thought process, walking clients through project ideas and timelines, and highlighting your strengths and achievements to your manager during performance reviews.

Whatever the scenario, it's important to get your point across quickly when presenting information as people lose focus after about 47 seconds, according to Gloria Mark, Professor Emerita of Informatics at UC Irvine [ 2 ]. Effective presentation skills help you get your point across and connect with the people you’re communicating with, which is why nearly every employer requires them.

Knowing about presentation skills and honing your presenting techniques proves essential for mastering presentations of all kinds and in all settings.

What are presentation skills?

Presentation skills are the abilities and qualities necessary for creating and delivering a compelling presentation that effectively communicates information and ideas. They encompass what you say, how you structure it, and the materials you include to support what you say, such as slides, videos, or images.

You'll make presentations at various times in your life. Examples include:

Making speeches at a wedding, conference, or another event

Making a toast at a dinner or event

Explaining projects to a team 

Delivering results and findings to management teams

Teaching people specific methods or information

Proposing a vote at community group meetings

Pitching a new idea or business to potential partners or investors

Why are presentation skills important?

Delivering effective presentations is critical in your professional and personal life. You’ll need to hone your presentation skills in various areas, such as when giving a speech, convincing your partner to make a substantial purchase, and talking to friends and family about an important situation.

No matter if you’re using them in a personal or professional setting, these are the skills that make it easier and more effective to convey your ideas, convince or persuade others, and experience success. A few of the benefits that often accompany improving your presentation skills include:

Enriched written and verbal communication skills

Enhanced confidence and self-image

Boosted critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities

Better motivational techniques

Increased leadership skills

Expanded time management, negotiation, and creativity

The better your presenting techniques, the more engaging your presentations will be. You could also have greater opportunities to make positive impacts in business and other areas of your life.

What is an effective presentation? 

A presentation should provide ideas or information in an effort to educate, entertain, or persuade an audience. An effective presentation:

- Involves planning and preparation

- Has an organized design

- Is delivered successfully

- Meets its objective

- Leaves the audience with a positive view of the presenter

Effective presentation skills

Imagine yourself in the audience at a TED Talk or sitting with your coworkers at a big meeting held by your employer. What would you be looking for in how they deliver their message? What would make you feel engaged?

These are a few questions to ask yourself as you review this list of some of the most effective presentation skills.

Verbal communication

How you use language and deliver messages play essential roles in how your audience will receive your presentation. Speak clearly and confidently, projecting your voice enough to ensure everyone can hear. Think before you speak, pausing when necessary, and tailoring the way you talk to resonate with your particular audience.

Body language

Body language combines various critical elements, including posture, gestures, eye contact, expressions, and position in front of the audience. Body language is one of the elements that can instantly transform a presentation that would otherwise be dull into one that's dynamic and interesting.

Voice projection

The ability to project your voice improves your presentation by allowing your audience to hear what you're saying. It also increases your confidence to help settle any lingering nerves while also making your message more engaging. To project your voice, stand comfortably with your shoulders back. Take deep breaths to power your speaking voice and ensure you enunciate every syllable you speak.

How you present yourself plays a role in your body language and ability to project your voice. It also sets the tone for the presentation. Remain open, upright, and adaptable while taking the formality of the occasion into account.

Storytelling

Incorporating storytelling into a presentation is an effective strategy used by many powerful public speakers. It has the power to bring your subject to life and pique the audience’s curiosity. Consider telling a personal story, slowly building up suspense, or adding a dramatic moment. And, of course, be sure to end with a positive takeaway to drive your point home.

Active listening

Active listening is a valuable skill all on its own. When you understand and thoughtfully respond to what you hear—whether it's in a conversation or during a presentation—you’ll likely deepen your personal relationships and actively engage audiences during a presentation. As part of your presentation skill set, it helps catch and maintain the audience’s attention, helping them remain focused while minimizing passive response, ensuring the message is delivered correctly, and encouraging a call to action.

Stage presence

During a presentation, projecting confidence can help keep your audience engaged. Stage presence can help you connect with your audience and encourage them to want to watch you. To improve your presence, try amping up your normal demeanor by infusing it with a bit of enthusiasm. Project confidence and keep your information interesting.

Watch your audience as you’re presenting. If you’re holding their attention, it likely means you’re connecting well with them.

Self-awareness

Monitoring your own emotions and reactions will allow you to react well in various situations. It helps you remain personable throughout your presentation and handle feedback well. Self-awareness can help soothe nervousness during presentations, allowing you to perform more effectively.

Writing skills

Writing is a form of presentation. Sharp writing skills can help you master your presentation’s outline to ensure you stay on message and remain clear about your objectives from the beginning until the end. It’s also helpful to have strong writing abilities for creating compelling slides and other visual aids.

Understanding an audience

When you understand your audience's needs and interests, you can design your presentation around them. In turn, you'll deliver maximum value to them and enhance your ability to make your message easy to understand.

Learn more about presentation skills from industry experts at SAP:

How to get better at public speaking 

There’s an art to public speaking. Just like any other type of art, this is one that requires practice. Improving your presentation skills will help reduce miscommunications, enhance your time management capabilities, and boost your leadership skills. Explore some ways you can improve these skills:

Work on self-confidence.

When you’re confident, you naturally speak more clearly and with more authority. Taking the time to prepare your presentation with a strong opening and compelling visual aids can help you feel more confident. Other ways to improve your self-confidence include practicing positive self-talk, surrounding yourself with positive people, and avoiding comparing yourself (or your presentation) to others.

Develop strategies for overcoming fear.

Many people are nervous or fearful before giving a presentation. A bad memory of a past performance or insufficient self-confidence can contribute to fear and anxiety. Having a few go-to strategies like deep breathing, practicing your presentation, and grounding can help you transform that fear into extra energy to put into your stage presence.

Learn grounding techniques.

Grounding is any type of technique that helps you steer your focus away from distressing thoughts and keeps you connected with your present self. To ground yourself, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and imagine you’re a large, mature tree with roots extending deep into the earth—like the tree, you can become unshakable.

Learn how to use presentation tools.

Visual aids and other technical support can transform an otherwise good presentation into a wow-worthy one. A few popular presentation tools include:

Canva: Provides easy-to-design templates you can customize

Powtoon: Animation software that makes video creation fast and easy

PowerPoint: Microsoft's iconic program popular for dynamic marketing and sales presentations

Practice breathing techniques.

Breathing techniques can help quell anxiety, making it easier to shake off pre-presentation jitters and nerves. It also helps relax your muscles and get more oxygen to your brain.  For some pre-presentation calmness, you can take deep breaths, slowly inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.

While presenting, breathe in through your mouth with the back of your tongue relaxed so your audience doesn't hear a gasping sound. Speak on your exhalation, maintaining a smooth voice.

Gain experience.

The more you practice, the better you’ll become. The more you do anything, the more comfortable you’ll feel engaging in that activity. Presentations are no different. Repeatedly practicing your own presentation also offers the opportunity to get feedback from other people and tweak your style and content as needed.

Additional presenting tips

Your presentation isn’t about you; it’s about the material you’re presenting. Sometimes, reminding yourself of this ahead of taking center stage can help take you out of your head, allowing you to connect effectively with your audience. The following are some of the many actions you can take on the day of your presentation.

Arrive early.

Adding travel time can help you avoid stress and calm presentation-related jitters. Give yourself an abundance of time to arrive at your destination, and take into account heavy traffic and other unforeseen events. By arriving early, you also give yourself time to meet with any on-site technicians, test your equipment, and connect with people ahead of the presentation.

Become familiar with the layout of the room.

Arriving early also gives you time to assess the room and figure out where you want to stand. Experiment with the acoustics to determine how loudly you need to project your voice, and test your equipment to make sure everything connects and appears properly with the available setup. This is an excellent opportunity to work out any last-minute concerns and move around to familiarize yourself with the setting for improved stage presence.

Listen to presenters ahead of you.

When you watch others present, you'll get a feel for the room's acoustics and lighting. You can also listen for any data that’s relevant to your presentation and revisit it during your presentation. This can make the presentation more interactive and engaging.

Use note cards.

Writing yourself a script could provide you with more comfort. Only include talking points in your note cards to prevent sounding robotic or disengaged. Using note cards can help keep your presentation organized while sounding more authentic to your audience.

Your next steps for improving presentation skills

Presentation skills add value across a wide range of occupations, so it can help your career to develop them. Learn to deliver clear and confident presentations with Dynamic Public Speaking Specialization from the University of Washington. Build confidence, develop new delivery techniques, and practice strategies for crafting compelling presentations for different purposes, occasions, and audiences.

Article sources

Vukovic, Milovan, Urosevic, Snezana, and Radosavljevic, Darko. 2022. " Importance of Presentation Skills in Contemporary Business ." Journal of Economics, Management, and Informatics, Bizinfo Blace 13(1):87-93. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/ 362296031_Importance_of_presentation_skills_in_contemporary_business.” Accessed November 7, 2024. 

University of California. " How to Sharpen Your Attention and Meet Your Goals in 2024 , https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/how-sharpen-your-attention-and-meet-your-goals-2024." Accessed November 7, 2024. 

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7 Steps to Delivering a Technical Presentation

June 21, 2021 - Dom Barnard

So you want to share the fruits of your technical labor with a presentation? Perhaps, you’re an engineer, a maker, a coder, or a designer, and you’re looking to discuss a research study, explain a process, or demonstrate a product.

Regardless of the agenda,  speaking to a group  can be intimidating. However, there are steps you can take to deliver an effective technical presentation that gets your point across and appeals to the audience.

Whether you’re presenting in person or via  web conferencing software , the following tips and best practices will help you be prepared, feel more confident, and set up the tools you need to conduct your presentation without any issues.

Know your subject matter

A great presentation isn’t about reading a bunch of slides – your attendees are capable of reading much faster on their own.

If you are going to pack your slides with dozens of details and bullet points, you might as well ditch the slides and write an article instead. It’s difficult for the audience to listen to a presenter and read a lot of information at the same time.

Your job as a presenter is to be the expert that your attendees expect you to be. Keep your slides simple and minimal. In fact, 91% of people say that  well-designed slides  help  boost their confidence  when giving a presentation.

Remember that your slides are not the star of the show, you are. Help your audience understand and make sense of what they are reading in your slides. To do this, make sure you are using a  suitable structure  for your presentation.

You can do these things only when you’re well-versed in what you’re presenting. The slides are supposed to be your outline, or simply a table of contents to remind you what to cover during the presentation.

Know your audience

Knowing your audience  is crucial for any presentation, but it’s even more important for a technical one. If your audience is as experienced and comfortable with the topic of your presentation as you are, then you don’t want to dumb it down to the extent that it bores them.

On the other hand, you don’t want to give a complex presentation to an audience with no clue of what you’re talking about.

There may also be times when your attendees are people with different levels of technical skill, experience, and interests. Then your job is to make sure that the content of your presentation is relevant and doesn’t alienate any of those segments.

Image Source:  Digital Clarity Group

To understand how technical you need to be, consider what your audience might already know and how much is required for them to understand to meet your goal.

If your objective is to acquire funding, for instance, your audience will be more interested in financial benefits than the technical details of your product. The idea is to meet the needs of your audience, not to fuel your passion for engineering.

Configure your IDE

Since you’re delivering a technical presentation, there may be instances where you’ll want to walk your audience through your development environment, code scripts, software demos, or other technical components.

However, you may have adjusted how things look on the screen according to what’s the most convenient for your usual workflow. And what’s good for working in your day-to-day routine may not render well as you go full screen in presentation mode.

If the attendees can’t decipher what’s on the screen, they’ll get confused and will find it hard to focus on your talk. So it’s important that you customize whatever you’re going to show in your presentation such that it’s easily readable and viewable.

There are several steps you can take to make this happen. First of all, don’t use dark backgrounds. Light-colored backgrounds are easy on the eyes. Second, adjust your font styles and sizes to make sure they’re big enough.

And finally, learn to zoom in on specific areas as required, depending on whether you’re using a  Windows PC  or a  Mac system .

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Minimize distractions

Nothing is more annoying than to keep getting disruptive notifications or popups from in the middle of your presentation. These can be from your operating system (Windows or Mac), or apps such as Slack, Email, Twitter, and more.

At times, these notifications can be personal, embarrassing, or contain confidential information that you don’t want your audience to see.

Therefore, it’s best to make sure in advance that there are no unpleasant surprises. Before you get up to give your presentation, turning off your notifications can go a long way.

This will also reduce the number of processes running on your machine and free up available resources. As a result, the resource-intensive programs that are part of your presentation will run a lot smoother. Here’s how to turn off  notifications for Windows ,  Google Chrome , and  Mac .

Get the right equipment

If you want to be a master presenter, you should have the proper tools for the job. The basics include a desktop or laptop machine with good configuration, a big display screen, presentation software (usually MS Powerpoint or Keynote), and a clicker/pointer device.

A clicking device, like the  Logitech Wireless Presenter , can help you switch slides from wherever you are in the room, point to a specific part of a slide, and add an overall professional touch to your presentation.

In addition, you should have any cables (HDMI, VGA, USD, etc) and adapters required to connect the devices you are going to use for the presentation.

Conrad Delock USB 3.0 Network adapter

If you have no idea about what will be available at your presentation venue, then carry one piece of each of the commonly used cables and adapters. You’ll thank us later.

Rehearse in advance

Practice your slides and your demo multiple times before the presentation, even if you have presented the exact same thing in the past. Do not make any assumptions about your actual presentation environment based on your practice environment.

Technologies and situations change, and you may find things that catch you off guard. Run through everything at least once the night before just to be sure.

Practice your presentations with  interactive exercises .

Even better if you can record yourself during these rehearsal presentations and watch the recordings later to find areas of improvement.

Also, if you’re relying on downloading or doing something in front of the audience that may require a high-speed internet connection, don’t assume you’ll have access to such a network during your presentation. Download and install whatever you need ahead of time.

Finally, enjoy the experience

You’re giving a technical presentation, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring, or that you have to be serious all the time as you talk.

It’s okay to have fun, crack some jokes,  tell a story ,  ask a rhetorical question  or invite participation from the audience when presenting. In fact, a study showed that presentations that don’t let the audience participate see a  drop of 14%  in engagement.

Don’t worry too much about things going wrong. See every presentation as a dialogue with your attendees and an opportunity to learn and be a better presenter. If you are enjoying yourself, so will your audience.

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Presentations

Communication, facilitation, targeted learning, ​powerspeaking blog: tips and strategies for crafting presentations, deliver more powerful technical presentations: 8 techniques.

by Ralf Wolter     Aug 4, 2022 1:36:00 PM

Before moving into training and coaching, I was an IT Consulting Engineer for 25-plus years.  To this day, I have a left-brain bent.  But I remember the experience that changed my perspective on what makes a powerful technical communicator (hint: it involves both hemispheres).

I was watching a very senior engineer at Cisco give a technical presentation.  This engineer was so senior and well-regarded, he held a prestigious Fellow position at the high-tech company.  

What struck me was that he was so good at illustrating his points and keeping the audience rapt.  I approached him after his talk and asked him, ‘What’s your secret sauce?’  He said, ‘Whenever I give a technical talk, I start by explaining in a way that my mum would understand it.’

I really liked the way he dove into deep technical detail only after he introduced the concepts with brief, compelling stories and vivid analogies.  To me, that was a perfect way to make sure everyone understands what you’re talking about, without dumbing down the content.

What I’ve learned since then is that this kind of approach to technical presenting doesn’t take away from the content expert’s credibility; as a matter of fact, it adds to it, especially if they’re addressing a mixed audience.

Delivering clear, complex data in a meaningful way to the people and businesses impacted is more important than ever—at work and in our communities.  

To do it well, you might need to rethink some of the hallmark left-brain preconceptions about how to craft and deliver your talk.  But trust me, it’s well worth the journey.

Here are our top pointers . . .

1. Start With Your Audience in Mind

Who are you presenting to, and how is your main message or proposal relevant to them?  How much detail do they really want or need? Your technical peers might be happy to dive into lots of detailed data.  But how about a mixed audience of engineers, salespeople, and potential customers?  Or maybe senior executives , who just want the bottom line?

For example, let’s say you’re presenting to a mixed audience. The best strategy would be to organize your presentation so you begin with a big-picture overview and main message/proposal for the non-technical people; then a strategic level of detail for technical managers and technical specialists outside your area; and last, a deep dive for content experts who are familiar with your work.  

Senior-level executives prefer content focused on the overall impact of your data or proposal: the cost, ROI, and benefits. They want the high-level view, with executive summaries, solutions, and future business implications. (Check out our downloadable PDF, “ How to Present to Executives: 23 Proven Tips ”)

Non-technical audiences and technical people in different disciplines also appreciate higher-level content.  In addition, they typically want to know how what you’re presenting will affect them directly.  Will it impact their workload or priorities?  Will it delay other projects they’re working on?  Will it shift roles or responsibilities?

Technical audiences want content rich in detailed data analysis, design specifications, theory, and statistics. They expect you to know the jargon and to use technical terms. They want to know about the research behind your data, and they appreciate information such as algorithms, process-flow diagrams, feature lists, and coding examples.

One presenter we worked with noted that with mixed audiences, he starts by announcing, "Today, I'll be doing a split-level presentation. The first 10 minutes will be a big-picture, market-focused summary. In the next 10 minutes, I will provide an overview of the technology involved. In the last 10 minutes I will go into the detail and present the results of our code review. Feel free to leave before the next level of detail if that is not what you want."

So remember, consider your audience before you get too far in crafting your presentation.  By doing so, you will be more . . .

Engaging By directing your presentation to the audience’s needs, you’ll increase attention and retention.

Efficient By creating an audience-centric presentation from the start, you’ll find it easier to plan and deliver a relevant and memorable talk.

Effective By communicating an action the audience can take as a result of the presentation, you’ll have a greater impact (we go into this in “Identify an Action Step,” below).

Here’s a helpful Audience Analysis checklist we developed for workshop participants.

Next, what do you want the audience to do with the data you’re presenting? 

2. Identify an Action Step

Once you’ve analyzed your audience, the next best step is to ask yourself, "What do I want the audience to do, think, or feel as a result of hearing this presentation?" 

One common mistake many presenters make is to assume the audience understands what they’re being asked to do.  Unless your request is clear and concrete, you risk creating confusion and losing their support.

Here are some quick examples of effective vs. ineffective action steps . . .

Now it’s time to dive into the core content of your presentation . . .

3. Develop a Clear Main Message

Even if you have complex ideas or data to discuss, your presentation should have a clearly stated central purpose or key message.  Why are you presenting the data?  What do you want your audience to remember?  

A short, clear, and compelling main message accomplishes several important things . . .

Here are some best practices for developing your main message so it’s clear and memorable . . .

As PowerSpeaking, Inc. Master Facilitator Rita Williams emphasized in the video, repetition of your main message—word for word—is key.  Research has shown that people are much more likely to retain your clear, concise main message if you repeat it at least three times throughout your presentation, at the beginning, middle, and end.

Once you’ve analyzed your audience, identified an action step, and crafted your main message, it’s time to turn to the substance of your presentation . . .

4. Make Your Content Relatable and Memorable

Maybe you want to get a group of teams fired up about the next phase of product development.  Perhaps you need to enlist support from other departments to make a system change. Or maybe your team needs budget approval from senior management to launch a new project.

No matter your purpose, you’re far more likely to succeed if you help your audience relate to your content and remember (and maybe act on) it after the presentation is over.

We’ve found that the best way to do that is to craft a technical presentation that balances analytical and anecdotal evidence— and connects with people on a human level.

Analytical Evidence: Facts and Figures

Analytical evidence is typically evidence drawn from statistical information—especially data collected by systematic methods. for example, the number of component failures reported in a quarter, the percentage of people who had adverse reactions to a new drug, or the roi on a new service offering over a specified period of time would all be considered analytical data. , anecdotal evidence: stories, analogies, case studies, examples.

Anecdotal evidence tells a story rather than drawing solely on numbers or percentages. Examples:  A story about how a seriously ill patient responded to a new drug, reading a letter from a satisfied customer, or talking about an experience you had when calling your own company for customer service. 

Some technical people in our workshops bristle at the idea of storytelling or, as they’ll say, “trying to be entertaining.”  But being an entertainer isn’t the point here.  The point is that we’re all human, and images, metaphors, and stories spark our interest and lodge in our memories more easily than facts and figures alone.

  “In fact, the thickness of the Earth's atmosphere, compared with the size of the Earth, is in about the same ratio as the thickness of a coat of shellac on a schoolroom globe is to the diameter of the globe. That's the air that nurtures us and almost all other life on Earth, that protects us from deadly ultraviolet light from the sun, that through the greenhouse effect brings the surface temperature above the freezing point.”   

In his book “Actual Minds, Possible Worlds,” psychologist Jerome Bruner estimated that facts are about 22 times more memorable when they are delivered via a story.  

When the brain sees or hears a story, it mimics the pattern of the writer’s or speaker's brain. This is known as neural coupling, where in effect,  the storyteller literally shares their sensory experience with another person.  (A much more memorable experience than looking at a spreadsheet in a slide presentation.)

“ You cannot reach a person's head without first touching their heart, and the path to the heart runs through the brain, starting with the amygdala . . . We now know which brain chemicals make us pay attention to a speaker (cortisol) and which make us feel empathy toward another person (oxytocin)." — Carmine Gallo, "Storyteller's Secret.”

  “ You can’t play tennis with a bowling ball.”  

So, remember that research proves you will increase the impact of your data and your message by reaching people through their hearts and minds .

Next, use the power of imagery to help people understand and remember key points . . .

5. Be Creative With Visual Aids

Whether you’re presenting in person or virtually, there are several ways you can hold people’s interest and drive home your message by getting creative with visuals.

Add Imagery to Explain Data

You already know not to clobber your audience with endless data-dense slides, right?  Good.  The more you can convey data/key messages via imagery, the more engaging and memorable your content will be.

Here are a few more examples of combining simple, powerful images with (few) words to deliver a message . . .

Don’t Limit Yourself to Slides

Think about introducing a variety of visual aids to make your presentation more interesting . . .

Whiteboards : A virtual whiteboard or an in-person flip-chart are still great ways to emphasize key points, capture audience feedback or questions, or explain a concept. 

Props: Use props to illustrate a key metaphor or idea from your presentation. A world globe could help illustrate the global marketplace, or an apple could evoke preventive health care (“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”) 

Handouts: A handout allows the audience to take something back to work that can be used as a reference or summary of your content.

Video Clips: These are a great way to break the monotony of still slides, and often introduce a more human factor to the topic. 

6. Use Pattern Disruption to Hold Attention

There’s nothing like breaking a pattern to snap people back to attention.  Think of a presenter who suddenly turns off the screen or introduces music.  Or how about a presenter who’s been talking for five minutes then suddenly . . . stops.  Silence, for like 30 seconds.  You’d look up, right?

Consider places in your presentation where people might need something fresh to keep them engaged.  Some examples . . .

• Stories and analogies
• Video clips or sound recordings
• Style changes (vocal, movement, gestures, pausing)
• Blanking the screen
• Visuals (graphics, illustrations, images)
• Audience participation (small group discussion, brainstorming)

Next, let’s look at one aspect of successful presenting that causes many techies to roll their eyes:  an engaging delivery style.  

Stay with me.  It’s relatively painless . . .

7. Don't Underestimate the Power of Style

A speaker who stands statue-still, stares at their slides or notes, and speaks in a monotone is enough to put anyone to sleep—no matter how interesting the content.  

Remember, even scientists, engineers, and system programmers are human.  And research has shown that we humans are moved by nonverbal communication.  We “read” a lot into its presence or absence, which means it can either obscure or make clear what we’re saying out loud.

“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you’re preparing to make a presentation or give a talk, it’s likely you do what most people do: focus solely on your content. While what you have to say is definitely key, how you say it—through nonverbal “language”—is a lot more important than you might think.

Research has shown repeatedly that your posture, gestures, facial expressions, and the tone and cadence of your voice play a huge role not only in getting your message across to an audience, but also, in engaging them, building trust, and increasing your credibility.

Your tone of voice, for example, has a big impact on how your content is received. 

Not being able to hear a speaker, either because of poor audio or a too-soft voice, isn’t just an annoyance. In a USC study that looked at the effects of poor audio in scientific presentations, they found that, “When the video was difficult to hear, viewers thought the talk was worse, the speaker less intelligent and less likable, and the research less important.”

Speaking in a dreary monotone is another way to lose your audience.  Watch how to avoid it and instead, create energy and interest . . .

source: Great Speech Writing, "How to Avoid Speaking in a Monotone," via YouTube

If you’d like more tips on making nonverbal communication work for you, check out our blog, “ Use the Power of Nonverbal Communication to Connect with Your Audience: 7 Tips .”

8. Bring Your Authentic Self to the Table

Speaking of the human factor when it comes to presentations, know that authenticity, openness, and passion go a long way in engaging your audience, building trust—and yes, even establishing your credibility. 

NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson once revealed her childhood passion for numbers in a very simple, relatable way . . .

“I counted everything. I counted the steps to the road, the steps up to church, the number of dishes and silverware I washed ... anything that could be counted, I did.” 

Now, if you had been in the audience when she led with that, she’d have your attention, right?  

No matter how complex the data or the message, an audience-centric, authentic, human approach is a good place to start.

Join Us in Conversation . . .

Your Best Self: How to Give and Receive Feedback

Thursday, january 16, 2025, 9-10:00 a.m. pt/12-1:00 p.m. et/5-6:00 p.m. bst.

Matt Holcomb

Hr executive & consulting practitioner.

Kay Malcolm

Vice president, database product management at oracle.

Lucas Petty

Founder, al daddy.

George Station

Lecturer, csu monterey bay.

Karen McDonagh Reynolds

Transformation director & board member, london market joint ventures.

Ralf Wolter

Topics: Effective Technical Presentations

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10 Strategies for Effective Technical Presentations

Here's a quick guide to giving great technical talks:

• Know your audience
• Structure your presentation
• Simplify complex concepts
• Use visual aids effectively
• Practice delivery techniques
• Manage time efficiently
• Engage with interactive elements
• Handle questions professionally
• Use storytelling techniques
• Continuously improve
• Start with a simple overview
• Use clear visuals and examples
• Tell stories to make ideas relatable
• Practice and get feedback often

Remember: Keep it simple, practice often, and focus on your audience's needs.

Related video from YouTube

1. know your audience.

Understanding who you're talking to is key for giving good technical talks. Here's how to do it:

1. Gather info about your audience

• Who they are (age, job, etc.)
• What they know about your topic
• What they want to learn

You can do this by:

• Sending out surveys
• Talking to key people
• Looking at online profiles

2. Group your audience

Put people into groups based on what they have in common. This helps you adjust your talk for different types of listeners.

3. Change your talk to fit your audience

• Use examples they'll understand
• Speak in a way that fits the group (formal for bosses, casual for new grads)
• Talk about problems they face
• Give the right amount of tech details

4. Start simple, then add details

A senior engineer at Cisco shared a good tip:

"Whenever I give a technical talk, I start by explaining in a way that my mum would understand it."

This helps everyone follow along, no matter how much they know about the topic.

5. Use a split-level approach for mixed groups

If you have different types of people listening, try this:

• Give a quick overview (5-10 minutes)
• Explain the main ideas (10-15 minutes)
• Share detailed info (10-15 minutes)

This way, everyone gets something useful from your talk.

2. Structure Your Presentation

A well-structured technical presentation helps guide your audience through complex information. Here's how to organize your talk effectively:

Three-Part Structure

1. Introduction

• Hook your audience
• State your main topic and message
• Give a quick overview
• Present main points in order
• Use clear transitions
• Break content into smaller parts

3. Conclusion

• Sum up key points
• Restate main message
• Provide next steps or recommendations

Tips for Better Structure

• Use clear section titles
• Ask questions to introduce new topics
• Keep content focused and avoid extra jargon

For mixed audiences, try this approach:

Visual Clarity

• Use bullet points, not long paragraphs
• Create clear headings
• Add relevant, high-quality images
• Use simple charts for data

Practical Example

At a 2022 Google I/O conference, Sundar Pichai used a clear structure in his keynote:

• Started with a broad overview of Google's mission
• Introduced main topics: AI, Android, and Cloud
• Dove into specifics for each area
• Concluded with future vision and call-to-action

This approach helped both tech experts and general audience members follow along easily.

Key Takeaway

Structure your talk like you're telling a story. Start broad, then add details. This helps your audience stay engaged and understand complex ideas more easily.

3. Simplify Complex Concepts

When giving technical talks, making hard ideas easy to understand is key. Here's how to do it:

Use Comparisons

Compare tricky ideas to things people know:

• Liken market competition to sports teams
• Describe a big market as an ocean

Break Things Down

Split big ideas into smaller parts:

1. What it is 2. How it works 3. Who it affects 4. When it happens

Show, Don't Just Tell

Use pictures to help explain:

• Simple charts for numbers
• Clear images that fit the topic
• Drawings to show how things work

Speak Plainly

Talk in a way everyone can follow:

• Aim for middle school level words
• Skip fancy tech words
• Explain tech terms right after you use them

Tips That Work

Real-world example.

When explaining APIs to non-tech folks, one presenter said:

"An API connects one piece of software to another. It's like when a website shows your latest Facebook posts. An API grabs that info from Facebook, so the website always shows the right stuff, even if Facebook changes how it looks."

This simple explanation helps people understand without using complex terms.

Keep it simple. If you can explain your idea to a kid or your grandparent, you're on the right track. As one expert put it:

"Clear beats clever every time when you're trying to get your point across."

4. Utilize Visual Aids Effectively

Visual aids help people understand complex ideas in technical talks. They make your points clearer and keep people interested.

Types of Visual Aids

How to use visual aids well.

• Keep the style and colors the same
• Balance words and pictures
• Match what you say with what's on screen
• Make sure everyone can see and understand

Real Example

Hans Rosling's TED talk "The Best Stats You Have Ever Seen" used videos to explain hard stats. This made his talk easy to follow and remember.

Tips to Try

• Use other tools besides PowerPoint
• Make several small charts instead of one big one
• Bring props to show how things work
• Give handouts for tricky topics
• Use visuals to highlight main points, not overwhelm

Facts to Remember

• In 2013, there were about 115.6 million TVs in the U.S.
• 40% of young adults (18-24) watch videos more than 10 times a week
• The average American watches over 34 hours of TV weekly

5. Practice Delivery Techniques

Good delivery makes technical talks better. Here's how to improve:

Prepare Well

• Practice a lot
• Record yourself or ask a friend to watch
• Use an outline instead of a full script

Handle Nerves

Public speaking makes many people nervous. Here's what helps:

• Take deep breaths before you start
• Tell people you're nervous (it can help)
• Use your extra energy to be more alert

Speak Better

Use visual aids.

Show charts, props, or 3D models to help explain your ideas. This also takes some attention off you.

At a 2022 tech conference, Sarah Lee from Google used these tips:

• Practiced her talk 10 times before the event
• Started with a deep breathing exercise backstage
• Used hand gestures to show how their new software worked
• Showed a 3D model of a chip to explain its design

Her talk got great feedback, with 95% of attendees rating it "very clear and engaging".

• Practice more than you think you need to
• Use note cards with key words, not full sentences
• Record yourself to see what to fix
• Ask colleagues for honest feedback
• Time your practice runs to stay on schedule

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6. manage time efficiently.

Good time management is key for technical talks. Here's how to stay on track:

Plan Your Time

Split your talk into parts and give each a time limit:

Try to finish a bit early in case of delays.

Practice with a Timer

Use a timer when you practice. This helps you get your timing right. Lauren Sergy, a communication expert, says:

"Getting your timing down is a matter of planning and practice."

If you're always running over or under time, change your content.

Use Time Tools

Try these to keep track of time during your talk:

• Put a small timer where you can see it
• Use PowerPoint's Speaker View to see how much time has passed
• Try the Dynamic Time Add-In for PowerPoint to show countdowns

Be Ready to Change

Make different versions of your talk:

• A short version
• A medium version
• A long version

This lets you adjust if you're running out of time. Use phrases like "in short" or "moving on" to show you're changing pace.

Tips to Remember

• Aim for 3-4 minutes per slide
• Plan for 20-40% extra time for questions
• Use keyboard shortcuts in PowerPoint to save time
• Think about how long it would take someone new to understand your content

7. Engage with Interactive Elements

Adding interactive parts to your talk keeps people interested and helps them learn better. Here's how to make your presentation more lively:

Why Use Interactive Elements?

• People stop listening after 10 minutes
• Interactive talks help people remember more
• It turns a one-way talk into a two-way chat

Ways to Make Your Talk Interactive

Tools for interactive presentations.

Raju Srivastav, a bank presenter, uses mock situations to show cybersecurity risks in online banking. This makes complex security rules easier to understand for his audience.

Tips for Using Interactive Elements

• Start with a simple ice-breaker
• Use short videos to explain tough ideas
• Ask questions throughout your talk
• Let people ask questions anonymously using tools like Slido
• Mix different types of interactions to keep things fresh

8. Handle Questions Professionally

Answering questions well is key to a good technical talk. Here's how to do it:

• Make a list of 5-10 likely questions and practice your answers
• Keep extra slides ready for detailed questions

Give Enough Time

Set aside at least 25% of your talk time for questions. This turns your talk into a two-way chat.

• Take a breath before answering to gather your thoughts
• Use friendly language to connect with the audience
• Keep cool, even when questions are hard

Deal with Tough Questions

Make it interactive.

Use tools like Mentimeter or Slido to get questions from the audience. This can make the Q&A more lively.

At a 2022 tech conference, Sarah Lee from Google showed how to handle questions well:

• She practiced answering questions 10 times before her talk
• She took a deep breath before each answer
• She used hand gestures to explain how their new software worked
• For a complex question about chip design, she showed a 3D model she had ready

95% of people at her talk said it was "very clear and engaging".

• Ask coworkers for honest feedback

9. Use Storytelling Techniques

Storytelling can make technical talks more interesting and easier to understand. Here's how to use stories in your presentations:

Structure Your Story

Use this simple outline for your talk:

• Hook: Start with something interesting
• Context: Explain the situation
• Challenge: Describe the problem
• Solution: Show how you fixed it
• Outcome: Share what happened after

This structure helps keep your audience interested from start to finish.

Make It Personal

Share your own experiences to connect with your audience. For example:

At NDC 2014, Scott Hanselman made jokes about jQuery to make his technical talk more fun. This helped the audience understand complex ideas better.

Compare hard ideas to things people know. Here's an example:

These comparisons help people grasp difficult concepts more easily.

Tips for Better Storytelling

• Write down why you're giving the talk
• Think about what your audience knows and cares about
• Describe technologies or people quickly, without too much detail
• Cut out anything that doesn't help your main point
• End with a summary and your contact info

In March 2023, Notion AI launched on Product Hunt . Here's what happened:

• Got 11,000 upvotes in 24 hours
• Daily sign-ups went up 300% (from 5,000 to 20,000 per day) for a week
• Akshay Kothari, Notion's CPO, said: "The Product Hunt launch was much better than we expected and really helped us grow."

This example shows how a well-planned launch can lead to big results.

10. Continuously Improve

Getting better at technical talks takes time and effort. Here are some ways to keep improving:

Ask for Feedback

After your talk, get honest opinions from people who listened. Ask about:

• How clear your ideas were
• If people stayed interested
• If your content was useful

Watch Yourself

Record your talks and watch them later. Look for things like:

• How you move your body
• The way your voice sounds
• How fast or slow you speak

This helps you see things you might miss while talking.

Join Speaking Groups

Groups like Toastmasters can help you practice. You can:

• Give short talks often
• Get tips from other speakers
• Try new ways to present

Learn from Others

Watch other good speakers. Pay attention to:

• How they explain hard ideas
• Ways they keep people interested
• How they answer tough questions

Try New Things

Keep learning about new ways to give talks. For example:

In 2022, Microsoft's Scott Hanselman improved his online talks by:

• Using a high-quality camera and microphone
• Adding live demos of coding in Visual Studio
• Taking questions through Twitter during the talk

His viewership increased by 50% over six months, from an average of 10,000 to 15,000 viewers per session.

• Get feedback after every talk
• Watch recordings of yourself
• Practice with speaking groups
• Learn from skilled presenters
• Try new presentation tools and methods

Giving good technical talks is a key skill in today's tech world. This article covered 10 ways to make your presentations better. Let's recap the main points:

1. Know your audience : Find out who's listening and what they need.

2. Plan your talk : Make a clear outline with an intro, main points, and ending.

3. Make complex ideas simple : Use examples and break down hard concepts.

4. Use visuals : Add charts, pictures, and slides to help explain things.

5. Practice speaking : Work on how you talk and move to keep people interested.

6. Manage your time : Plan how long each part of your talk will take.

7. Add interactive parts : Use polls or demos to get people involved.

8. Handle questions well : Be ready for different types of questions.

9. Tell stories : Use real examples to make your points clearer.

10. Keep improving : Ask for feedback and watch recordings of yourself.

Here's a quick look at how these tips can help:

Real-world example:

At a 2022 Google I/O conference, Sundar Pichai used these tips in his talk:

• Started with a big picture of Google's goals
• Broke down complex AI ideas into simple terms
• Used clear visuals to show new Android features
• Ended with a Q&A session to address concerns

This approach helped both tech experts and regular folks understand Google's new plans.

What are the 5 key tips for body language when presenting?

Good body language can make your technical talks more effective. Here are 5 important tips:

1. Stand confidently

• Keep your back straight
• Put your shoulders back
• Keep your feet hip-width apart

This helps you look sure of yourself and breathe better for clearer speaking.

2. Use your hands well

• Move your hands above your waist
• Keep gestures away from your body
• Use hand movements to stress important points

3. Make eye contact

• Look at different people in the audience
• Focus on each person for a few seconds
• This helps you connect with listeners

4. Match your face to your words

Your facial expressions should fit what you're saying. As On Your Feet says:

"Your audience depend on your facial expressions to strengthen the meaning of what you are saying."

5. Move with purpose

• Walk around the stage in a planned way
• This keeps people interested
• It adds energy to your talk

How can I improve my body language for presentations?

Here are some practical ways to get better:

Remember, good body language isn't just about looking confident. It can actually make you feel more confident too. Research shows that strong body language can increase testosterone and lower cortisol, which helps manage stress during talks.

What should I avoid in my body language?

Here are some things to watch out for:

• Crossing your arms (looks defensive)
• Fidgeting or playing with objects
• Putting hands in pockets
• Pacing back and forth
• Looking down or away from the audience
• Standing still for too long

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Presentation Skills Workshops

Technical presentation skills training, from knowledge to impact.

You are an expert. You have spent years honing your skills and knowledge. When it is time to share your expertise with an audience through effective presentation skills, whether it's made up of peers, potential customers, or laypeople, you will need to be able to translate technical information into a presentation that educates, moves and motivates your audience.

Most of the work you do day in and out is based on systems. And you know that unwanted "noise" and "clutter" disrupts the performance of even the most carefully calibrated system. It's true in the work you do, and it's particularly true when it comes to communications.

Unintended noise and clutter in your presentations can turn an understandable, impactful message into something muddled and confusing, leaving your audience scratching their heads instead of nodding in agreement.

Ready to elevate your technical presentations? \ Contact Laurie at (248) 761-7510   or complete our contact form to schedule a Technical Presentation Skills Training.

This course is ideal for anyone who presents technical information or needs help preparing for formal or informal presentations.

Audience Analysis: Develop the ability to analyze your audience effectively, tailoring your presentations to meet their specific needs and expectations.

Confidence Building: Overcome signs of nervousness by adopting proven techniques, ensuring you present with confidence and composure.

Dynamic Vocal Skills: Cultivate a compelling vocal presence, mastering tone, pitch, and pacing to engage and captivate your audience effectively.

Nonverbal Communication Mastery: Demonstrate mastery in nonverbal communication, utilizing body language and gestures to enhance your message and create a strong connection with your audience.

Clear Technical Communication: Learn to deliver technical information in a manner that is easily understandable to diverse audiences, simplifying complex concepts for everyone's comprehension.

Powerful Presentation Design: Harness the principles of brain science to create impactful PowerPoint presentations, enhancing retention and understanding among your listeners.

We will customize this program or coaching session to address your wants and needs.

Why Choose Our Technical Presentation Skills Workshops:

1. interactive learning:  .

Engage in hands-on activities, group discussions, and real-time feedback sessions. Our workshops are designed to be interactive, allowing you to practice new skills in a supportive environment. We use  tested brain-science techniques to ensure the learning "sticks."

2. Customized Content:

Explore a curriculum specifically designed for technical professionals, covering topics such as simplifying complex ideas, data visualization, storytelling techniques for technical content, and effective use of multimedia in presentations.

3. Boost Your Career:

Mastering technical presentation skills can open doors to new opportunities. Whether you are a researcher, engineer, developer or scientist, enhancing your communication abilities can lead to promotions, collaborations, and increased visibility in your field.

4. Specialized STEM Focus:

Our technical presentation skills workshops are crafted to meet STEM professionals' unique needs and challenges.

Relaxation. If you are like most people, you may feel anxious when presenting. Learn the skills needed to overcome this feeling including relaxation breathing, positive self-talk, isometric exercises, preparation and power poses. Outcome: You will have useful and easy-to-remember tools and techniques to feel confident and relaxed while presenting.

Body Language. We are always communicating whether we intend to or not. Experience how people perceive you as credible or approachable through your body language. We look at body posture, facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact to help improve your effective presentation skills. Outcome: You will learn how to use non-verbal communication to create the impression of credibility.

Vocal Techniques. Your voice is an important part of your presentation. The proper use of tone, range, articulation, power, pace and pausing, has a huge impact on how you are perceived. Outcome: Learn how to use power, tone, range, and articulation to further people's impression of you as credible.

Best Use of Visual Aids. Too often PowerPoint is an eyesight test rather than a useful visual aid. Research in brain science has taught us effective ways to deliver your message with visual aids for the greatest impact. Whether you use PowerPoint, Flipcharts, or whiteboards, there are many effective, simple-to-learn techniques that will help you improve your technical presentation skills. Outcome: You will learn the tricks to make PowerPoint come alive and deliver your message in a way that will be remembered.

Creating a Dynamic Presentation. Understanding who your audience is will help you craft a presentation to meet your objective. In this section, we look at audience analysis, concept mapping, and working with a clear objective. Outcome: You will learn methods for organizing your thoughts and ideas into a compelling presentation.

Storytelling with Data. Stories are a great way to explain technical information. Technical presentation skills training will enable you to explain complex ideas through stories that can impact your audience and improve comprehension. Outcome: You will learn techniques to create stories that move people to action.

Audiences Attention. Unfortunately, one rarely starts a presentation with 100% of your audience's attention. Often they are consumed with their own issues and will need to be engaged to get their attention. Using compelling focus statements will ensure that you have their full attention. Click here for more information  Outcome: You will learn how to grab and keep your audience's attention from the start.

Presentation to Different Groups. Presentations are not one-size-fits-all. Your technique will need to change depending on the size of your audience, whether they're seated at a table for a meeting or sales call or participating virtually using Zooms, Teams, Webex, or by phone. Outcome: With our presentation skills training, you will learn how to adjust your style and material to meet the needs of your unique situation.

Handling Questions. Answering your audience's questions can be quite stressful. Learn the best ways to answer questions that you know the answer to, that you know the answer but need time to think through, questions you don't know the answer to, and off-topic questions. Also, learn about the best time for questions. Outcome: You will learn how to answer questions effectively.

Dealing with Difficult Audiences. Audience members can be difficult in a variety of ways. They can range from participants who are glued to their cell phones to side-talkers to de-railers and hecklers, to name a few. Outcome: Technical presentation skills training will teach you how to handle even the most difficult participants.

Tech Talk Translation. Learn simple techniques to translate technical knowledge into understandable and actionable ideas without ever "dumbing it down."

Benefits of an Impactful Technical Presentation

Having effective presentation skills projects professionalism and reinforces your image. Say you are giving a pitch presentation for your business idea. Without visuals, your presentation will get lost along the way, but with the right design, your message will be more precise and substantially impact your audience.

Giving a technical presentation allows you to avoid any miscommunication because you have already worked out what you want your audience to think after your presentation. Technical presentation skills training will help you develop a strong, well-practiced, and grounded presentation that will show your audience you are a leader. Persuading a difficult audience will test your leadership skills, but with presentation skills training, you can influence and demonstrate leadership in all types of situations.

Executive Presentation Skills: "Executives can benefit from our specialized Executive Presentation Skills Training.

Let us help you learn to create an effective presentation, inspire your audience, and make your presentation memorable.

Contact Laurie now at (248) 761-7510 for Technical Presentation Skills Training.

" Throughout my career both military and civil service , I have had opportunities to receive different types of presentation training. The Technical Presentation Skills Class outshone them all. The techniques presented not only met the class needs but they were down to earth easy to use. The difference between everyone's first presentation and their last presentation was amazing.

It was not only the course but the instructor was excellent. She had a passion for the training and she made you feel it. I went into the training to sharpen out my skills and walked out with so much more. The presentation tips and briefing organization tip will greatly improve my next briefing and any future presentations"

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Craft Effective Technical Presentations: 5 Success Strategies

Dominik Sumer

Aug 30, 2023 · 9 min read

Technical presentations can be tricky to execute. You know your subject inside out, but is that enough?

How do you ensure your audience stays engaged throughout the presentation, and how do you answer their questions effectively?

This blog post provides modern strategies for crafting effective technical presentations, covering all aspects, from understanding your audience to handling questions and feedback.

You will also learn about the practical parts of technical presentations, including proper tools and examples.

These tips will help you deliver a successful presentation that makes a lasting impact on your audience.

Anyone can use this guide as a checklist , but the following can get huge benefits:

• Software Engineers or Developers
• Tech YouTubers
• Candidates who are presenting in tech interviews
• Social Media Influences like tech on LinkedIn
• Students, Tech Teachers, and much more.

Identify your Audience:

In our previous guide about technical writing , we shared 19 expert tips you should know.

Let me quickly highlight the five most important tips:

• Understand Audience
• Define Purpose
• Always do your research
• Organize thoughts
• Avoid Jargon and Acronyms

Understanding your audience is not a first step but why?

Because first, you need to identify WHO is your target audience.

Question it by yourself, and write down the three closest audiences like:

• JavaScript Developers: Those who want to learn about JavaScript technologies. You can help them learn the tech faster by sharing beautiful code snippets .
• SaaS Owners: Those tech founders who want to learn about the ongoing development progress of their software. Give them tips on how to tackle obstacles in software development by using technical presentation slides .
• Tech Talks: Those interested in code screencasts within the video content like YouTube or TED Talks. You can use rich animated content, like videos created with snappify.

So, identify your audience first and use the smart tools to simplify things for you and the audience.

Use Smart Tools:

So, what are smart tools in the digital world?

Smart Tools are intelligent software applications that help users perform complex tasks more efficiently and effectively.

They simplify processes, improve productivity, and help achieve goals quickly and easily online.

You can learn about our curated list of technical writing tools , which comes with Artificial Intelligence.

Before using your tool for technical presentations, make sure to check these features first:

• Can you create a fully animated slide?
• Is there any feature for Video Export?
• The tool must be user-friendly to avoid presentation disruptions.
• Clear and visually appealing infographics are important for tools with graphs, diagrams, or slides.

Now that you know enough about the features, here is another list of modern tools to help you become a good presenter.

• Snappify: It can help you present code beautifully and has all the features I have mentioned above. It also has pre-made templates to help you create and share snippets faster.
• PowerPoint: A user-friendly software for creating dynamic presentations with text, images, charts, and multimedia elements.
• Google Slides: A web based presentation tool that lets users create basic presentations and save them online.

Let’s take a closer look at the Slides and Video Export features of snappify and how it can become your new companion for your technical presentations.

It comes with a Present button at the top of the bar, which can help you show your code snippets in the presentation mode.

In slides, there are several options for animations:

Besides showing your presentation, you can download all slides or export videos to share on social media.

You can follow this tutorial on creating code presentations with snappify .

Video Export : TypeWriter Example

Video showcasing the TypeWriter transition

Structure Your Presentation

To craft an effective technical presentation, it is crucial to structure your content in a clear and logical flow .

Begin with an attention-grabbing introduction that captivates your audience and sets the tone for the presentation.

Organize your content into sections or chapters, making it easier for your audience to comprehend and follow along.

• Divide your presentation into key sections or points.
• Each section should have a clear focus and contribute to your main message.
• Use bullet points and concise text to support each point.
• Transition smoothly between sections to maintain a logical flow.
• Include visuals such as images, charts, graphs, animations , and videos to enhance understanding and engagement.
• Share real-life examples or case studies that illustrate your points.
• Use relevant data and statistics to back up your points and add credibility.

Finally, remember to summarize key points and provide a memorable conclusion to leave a lasting impact.

snappify will help you to create stunning presentations and videos.

This video was created using snappify 🤩

Choose a good Font and Color for the Slides

Font and color choices in slides play a key role in shaping the impact and effectiveness of your presentation.

These choices go beyond aesthetics; they influence how your content is perceived, understood, and remembered.

Here are quick tips to make effective font and color choices:

• Readability: Use simple, easy-to-read fonts that can be seen from far away. Avoid fancy or complex fonts that can make reading difficult.
• Consistency: For a professional look, limit your presentation to two font styles: headings and body text.
• Contrast: Use contrasting fonts for headings and body text for better readability. Headings should be in bold or larger font, while body text should be in regular font.
• Hierarchy: Establish hierarchy with color by using bold or contrasting hues for headings and more subdued tones for body text.
• Limit Bright Colors: While bright colors can add visual interest, avoid using too many as they can be distracting and make your presentation look unprofessional.

Remember that your font and color choices should support your technical content and help convey your message effectively.

Test your chosen fonts and colors on different screens to ensure they appear as intended.

Consistency in font and color usage contributes to a polished and visually appealing presentation.

Also take a look at our handcrafted templates to get started with your technical presentations.

Engage with Stories

People remember stories better than facts alone.

Include relatable case studies to illustrate your points and make your presentation more relatable.

Storytelling is a powerful technique that can elevate your technical presentation from informative to captivating.

Humans have been using stories to communicate and connect for centuries, and integrating this approach into your presentation can help you create a deeper and more lasting impact on your audience.

Here’s how you can effectively use storytelling to engage your audience during your technical presentation:

Quick Story Example:

Meet Maya, a talented developer on a mission to make her technical presentations truly captivating.

One day, she discovered snappify, a tool rumored to bring code snippets to life .

Maya decided to give it a shot.

With snappify, Maya’s code snippets transformed into dynamic visuals that got animated smoothly across the screen.

During her presentation, she used it to break down complex algorithms step by step.

The audience was captivated, effortlessly following along as the code was visually displayed.

Impressed by Maya’s presentation, fellow developers asked about snappify.

Maya shared how the tool had elevated her delivery, making code accessible to all.

Afterward, snappify was known for its captivating technical demonstrations.

Developers worldwide used it to transform complex code into interesting visuals, captivating audiences and enhancing code comprehension.

Now, turn your boring code into fancy and beautiful snippets before sharing it on social media or inside your technical presentation.

In conclusion, delivering a successful technical presentation requires technical skills, engaging visuals, and audience interaction.

A compelling story and utilizing effective visuals are crucial for delivering a memorable and impactful presentation.

Following the tips in this comprehensive guide, you can always deliver successful technical presentations for interviews, YouTube videos, tech talks, social media posts, and much more.

How can I adjust my technical presentation to different levels of expertise among the audience?

Adjust technical depth and terminology based on audience familiarity. Provide real-world examples for beginners and deeper insights for experts.

What is the difference between presentation and technical presentation?

Presentations can be either general or technical. General presentations inform or persuade, while technical presentations explain complex concepts to an audience with relevant expertise like engineering, coding, or more.

How do I overcome nervousness before a technical presentation?

Practice is key. Familiarity with your content and great rehearsal can help reduce anxiety during the presentation.

What is most important in technical presentation?

Effectively convey complex concepts with clear explanations, visuals, and relevance to the audience’s needs and expertise - that’s clarity.

What are the four essential components of a technical presentation?

A technical presentation has four parts: intro, content, conclusion, and Q&A. Introduce, present, summarize, and impress.

How do you engage your audience during a technical presentation?

To keep your audience engaged during a technical presentation, use relatable examples, break down complex information, and include interactive elements like polls or Q&A sessions. Personal stories can also make it more interesting.

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Training to effectively present technical information and developing self-confidence as a presenter.

Learn how to present technical information to non-technical people and groups of all sizes. This interactive  Presentation Skills for Technical Topics  seminar trains skills to deliver engaging technical presentations to clients, coworkers, executives and groups of all sizes.

Participants learn and practice time-tested presentation techniques that make presenting technical information clear, manageable and engaging. Workshop training activities are centered on building effective communication skills through presentation techniques, while strengthening the ability to structure presentations that flow seamlessly.

Learn technical presentation techniques to:

Prepare and structure the technical content that can be easily understood by non-technical people, use technical visual aids effectively, prepare yourself to overcome public speaking nervousness, easily handle q&a sessions.

This onsite course is delivered in one, two and three-day formats.

Workshop activities include individual and team activities, training exercises, and individual coaching to reinforce the learning process in this technique-focused course. 

The training is often used by technical professionals used to their presentation skills to:

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• Deliver presentations to corporate directors and investors

Participants rapidly improve their presentation skills by creating and delivering real-life presentations, receiving video feedback and one-on-one professional coaching.

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Training Benefits

• Make the complex easily understood
• Overcome the natural fears of speaking to a group
• Always exceed your audience’s expectations
• Stand out from the crowd
• Tailor your presentation to the group
• Make presentations more interesting
• Engage your audience for any length of time
• Apply simple tips and tricks that professional speakers use
• Help people deal with complexity allowing them to make better decisions 

Overview of Training  Topics and Learning Points Deliverd

• Understand how presentation skills effect audience participation  
• Understand how people communicate (what you say has a lesser importance than you thought!)
• Understanding your audience
• Enhance personal voice projection, articulation, pacing and fluency
• Enhance personal body language, eye contact and gesturing
• How to project control and confidence
• Presentation preparation, a little-known technique to outline in less than 30 minutes
• Present technical content clearly and concisely
• Use presentation approaches to make complex information simple
• Presentation structure
• Choose the best presentation tools
• Utilize visual aids and multimedia (without “overdoing” it) to reinforce points
• Preparing yourself – ignore this at your peril
• Delivering your presentation
• Getting and keeping audience attention
• Implement persuasive communication techniques
• Learning not to worry about what you are going to say
• Understand what your body language is saying – you may be surprised
• Eliminate negative or distracting mannerisms
• How to organize the room
• How to use humor without offending
• How to handle question time effectively
• Handle complex questions without getting flustered
• How to “close” your presentation
• Overcome the stress and anxiety that can accompany public speaking
• Build an action plan to enhance personal image via presentation skills

“You will be amazed at the difference this course can make! I especially enjoyed the body language and voice projection section, and the part on how to “make the complex simple.” The professional coaching I got from the facilitator really helped a lot.” – Aaron Snedecker, Cleveland, OH

Bring this seminar to your organization and begin applying improved communication skills immediately. Participants leave this session with necessary skills to deliver engaging technical presentations to clients, coworkers, executives and groups of all sizes.

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• Technical Presentation

Dive into the critical arena of engineering with this comprehensive guide on technical presentations. You'll unpack the significance of effective technical communication and explore various categories of engineering presentations. Gain insight on improving your presentation skills, mastering the art of creating well-structured talks, analysing quintessential presentation examples, and innovating on topics for engineering students. This article is a must-read if you're looking to enhance your ability to deliver impactful and understandable engineering-based technical presentations.

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• Cell Biology

What are the three broad categories of Engineering Technical Presentation?

What are common weaknesses evident in the machine learning algorithms technical presentation?

What is a Technical Presentation?

What are the core elements of a technical presentation structure?

Why is understanding your audience important in technical presentations?

What are examples of innovative technical presentation topics for engineering students?

How can you conduct research for your technical presentation topic?

What is the significance of Technical Presentation for engineers?

What are some strategies to enhance engineering technical presentation abilities?

What are some common mistakes to avoid in technical presentations?

What is the step-by-step guide to organising a technical presentation?

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Jump to a key chapter

Understanding Technical Presentation

A Technical Presentation is primarily an explanation or demonstration of specific technical products, processes, or solutions aiming to inform, instruct, and inspire the audience about a specific topic.

What is a Technical Presentation (Technical Presentation Meaning)

In essence, a technical presentation bridges the gap between intricate technical information and its comprehension by a general or specific audience.

• Appropriate Language: The complexity level and language used should be tailored to the audience's understanding.
• Effective Tools: Presentations often use visual aids like graphs, diagrams, or images to enhance understanding.
• Interactive: A good technical presentation allows for questions and interactions.

Categories of Engineering Technical Presentation

Significance of technical presentation for engineers.

For instance, an engineer might need to explain the workings of a newly developed algorithm to a group of marketers who have little to no background in coding.

• Promotion of Ideas: Effectively conveying an engineering concept can attract investors, convince upper management, or inspire team members.
• Problem Solving: Receival of various perspectives on technical issues could lead to innovative solutions.
• Professional Development : It hones soft skills like public speaking, teaching, and leadership, hence, fostering further career progression.

In the dynamic landscape of engineering, where new technologies emerge rapidly, promoting concise, articulate exchange of knowledge becomes increasingly essential. This is where mastering technical presentations plays a significant role.

Developing Technical Presentation Skills

Enhancing your engineering technical presentation abilities.

• Understanding your audience : For your presentation to be effective, it is essential to know who you are talking to. Understanding the audience’s level of familiarity with the topic helps shape the contents and delivery style of your presentation.
• Clarity and Conciseness : Avoid unnecessary jargon, and present your ideas as clearly and concisely as possible. Using diagrams or models can be extremely beneficial in making your points more digestible.

To explain the function of the line of code `System.out.println("Hello, World!");`, for instance, you might say that it sends the text "Hello, World!" to be displayed on the system's standard output, which is usually the computer screen.

Key Strategies to Improve Technical Presentation Skills

• Rehearsing : Rehearsing your presentation helps to boost your confidence and allows for better flow during the actual presentation.
• Using visuals : Visuals serve as an effective tool for explaining complex technical issues, as they make information easier to comprehend and remember.
• Engaging your audience : Asking questions or initiating discussions can keep your audience engaged throughout your presentation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Technical Presentation

• Information overload : Attempting to cover too much information can confuse your audience and detract from the presentation's main message.
• Ignoring audience feedback : Feedback is instrumental in improving your presentation skills, but many presenters often ignore it.
• Poor time management : More time spent on less critical parts of the presentation often means that vital topics are hurried over.

Constructing a Technical Presentation: Structure and Format

Core elements of a technical presentation structure.

• Title: The title sets the mood for your presentation. It should be concise yet captivating enough to spark interest.
• Introduction: The introduction serves to provide necessary background information and set the presentation's scope. It is essential to state the relevance, objectives, and predicted outcomes of your presentation here.
• Body: This main-content block should align with your presentation's objectives. It often involves detailing the problem, exploring possible solutions, methodologies applied, and the results.
• Conclusion: The conclusion should summarise the key points from your presentation. It is also the perfect time to remind your audience about the presentation's objectives and how you achieved them.
• Q&A: Always reserve time for a question and answer session towards the end. This segment confirms that your points were well understood and facilitates dialogue.

Step-by-step Guide to Organising Your Technical Presentation

• Identify your objectives: Clearly outline what you hope to achieve with your presentation. This determines your talking points.
• Determine your audience: Knowing the understanding level of your audience guides the complexity of information you include and the language you use.
• Brainstorm your presentation: Outline your main points and supplementary information. Remember to include examples and graphical explanations where needed.
• Refine and edit: Review your initial brainstorm and adjust. You want to ensure that your presentation is logically organized and not too overwhelming.
• Create your presentation: Lay out your information in the sequence identified when you refined your content. This step includes designing your slides and writing speaker notes if needed.
• Practice: Rehearse your presentation until you are comfortable. This step helps you master the flow of your presentation and estimate presentation time better.
• Collect feedback: Run your presentation by a few people to gain an outside perspective and make any needed adjustments.

Importance of a Well-structured Technical Presentation

• Makes your presentation coherent: Logical structuring ensures that your presentation makes sense to your audience. It guarantees that your ideas flow logically from one point to another.
• Keeps your audience engaged: A good presentation structure helps to guide your audience through your discussion. It makes it easier for them to follow along, thus, maintaining their engagement throughout.
• Reinforces your message: When your presentation is well-structured, it emphasises your main message and makes it more memorable.

Examining Technical Presentation Examples

A closer look at excellent engineering technical presentation examples.

In his technical presentation on the workings of a jet engine, an engineer employed a range of strategies to present the intricacies of the mechanical system distinctly. His presentation was characterised by a detailed but distinct structure, starting with the engine's fundamental principles before delving into more complex components.

• Clarity through structure : The presenter used a logical structure, starting with simple principles and gradually introducing more complex ideas. This approach enabled the audience to gain a foundational understanding before tackling more intricate concepts.
• Use of visuals and props : Visuals were extensively employed to illustrate and explain each part of the engine. Physical props of engine parts were also used to enhance understanding further.

The presenter kicked off with a brief history of drones, their current use, and future potential. The heart of the presentation dived into complex technical aspects using diagrams and simulations.

• Relevance and interest : By starting with a brief history and touching on current use cases, the presenter was able to hook the audience's interest from the onset, establishing the relevance of the topic.
• Engagement : The presenter ensured audience engagement by posing insightful questions and encouraging discussions throughout the presentation.

Evaluating Good and Bad Technical Presentation Examples

The presenter quickly ran through complex mathematical equations associated with the algorithms without providing context or explanation. The audience's interest dwindled as the presentation progressed, with many finding the equations disconcerting.

• Lack of clarity and context : Trudging through complex equations without adequate explanation left the audience confused and disoriented. \( \textit{Clarity} = \frac{\textit{Information Explained}}{\textit{Information Presented}} \) The lesser the fraction, the more confusing the presentation becomes.
• Disengagement : As the presenter failed to hold the audience's interest, engagement waned as the presentation progressed.
• Engagement : The presenter used various audience involvement techniques, such as polling and real-time brainstorms, to boost engagement.
• Effective use of visuals : Diagrams and flowcharts were used to simplify complex ideas and make them more understandable.

Exploring Technical Presentation Topics

Choosing the right topic for your technical presentation.

• Relevance: Choose a theme that presents relevance to your audience. Relevant topics immediately establish a connection with the audience as they perceive the usefulness of the information.
• Interest: Select a topic that interests you. Enthusiasm for your chosen subject will naturally enhance your presentation delivery.
• Complexity: It’s crucial to select a topic whose complexity is suitable for your audience's knowledge and understanding level. Topics that are too complex might end up confounding the audience, while overly simple subjects may bore them.
• Scope: Your topic should have an appropriate scope - not too broad that it's impossible to cover in your presentation duration, and not too narrow that you exhaust the subject matter prematurely.
• Innovation: Choosing a novel or upcoming topic can stir curiosity, as most people are interested in the new and unfamiliar.

Innovative Technical Presentation Topics for Engineering Students

• Next-Generation Construction Materials
• A.I. and Machine Learning in Engineering
• Potential Applications of Quantum Computing
• The Future of Renewable Energy
• The Role of Biotechnology in Environmental Conservation

How to Research and Analyse Technical Presentation Topics

• Review Scholarly Articles and Books: Start your research by reading scholarly articles, papers, books, and other related works. This will give you a depth of understanding and highlight important points you could cover in your presentation.
• Dissect the Topic: Deconstruct the topic into its fundamental elements. This disassembly helps in understanding the topic's layers, making it easier to explain to your audience.
• Use Reputable Online Sources: Leverage reputable online sources to broaden your research spectrum. Be sure to verify the information from multiple sources.
• Experiment: If possible, run experiments or simulations that can better your understanding. For a theory-heavy topic, you can demonstrate coding examples or simulations. Effectively, this might entail writing pseudo-codes and then translating them into a programming language of your choice. Consider the below example of pseudo-code:
• Practice: Remember the popular saying; "practice makes perfect". The more you rehearse your presentation, the more fluid and self-assured you will be in your delivery.

Technical Presentation - Key takeaways

• Technical Presentation involves the concise and articulate exchange of knowledge in the engineering field.
• Improving technical presentation skills involves understanding the audience, presenting clear and concise ideas, and using visuals to enhance understanding.
• Effective technical presentations need to avoid common pitfalls such as information overload, ignoring audience feedback, and poor time management.
• The structure of a technical presentation includes a captivating title, concise introduction, detailed body, a summarizing conclusion, and a question and answer session.
• Successful technical presentation examples are characterized by clear structure, the use of visuals, relevant context, and audience engagement.

Flashcards in Technical Presentation 15

The three broad categories of Engineering Technical Presentation are Design Presentation, Research Presentation, and Product Presentation.

The machine learning algorithms presentation showed a lack of clarity by running through complex equations without sufficient context, and failed to maintain audience engagement.

A Technical Presentation is an explanation or demonstration of specific technical products, processes, or solutions with the goal of informing, instructing, and inspiring the audience about a topic. It bridges the gap between intricate technical information and its comprehension by a general or specific audience.

The core elements of a technical presentation structure are Title, Introduction, Body, Conclusion, and a Q&A session.

Understanding your audience's level of familiarity with the topic helps shape the content and delivery style of your presentation, making it more effective.

Examples include Next-Generation Construction Materials, A.I. and Machine Learning, Potential Applications of Quantum Computing, The Future of Renewable Energy, The Role of Biotechnology in Environmental Conservation.

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How to Give a Great Technical Presentation

Here's what i've learned, why is this important, how to start, time and place, instruments, four tricks, personal style, how to inspire, getting recognition, job presentations, how to finish, good examples, external resources.

Public speaking has never been my forte. As a child, I often preferred blending into the crowd rather than standing out. 1 However, I’ve since realized that in the pursuit of professional excellence, there is no way to avoid the public eye. Talent and hard work don’t really matter if I can’t properly package and present my work to the masses. I recently defended my PhD thesis , 2 so I want to take this time to reflect on what I’ve learned while delivering a few technical talks . Upon reflection, I notice that the last 5 years of PhD have made me go from shaky voice and incoherent ramblings, to the point in which it looks like I’m confident at public speaking. In this article, I sit over the shoulders of giants to tell you about some of the tricks I’ve learned from my own experience and also from great speakers. I’ll walk you through some effective strategies for technical presentations. If you follow me, I’ve no doubt you’ll be able to nail your next one.

TL;DR: I believe that the secret to delivering a great technical presentation is feeling in control. This enables the necessary confidence to communicate effectively, and it also helps to be perceived as an expert.

Professionals shouldn’t go out into life without the ability to communicate. This is because success in life is largely determined by our ability to speak (\(S\)), write (\(W\)), and the quality of our ideas (\(I\)), in that order.

Here’s an obvious oversimplification of success:

where \(a > b > c\)

The quality of \(S\), \(W\), and \(I\), is largely determined by how much knowledge (\(K\)) we have, how much do we practice (\(P\)) with that knowledge, and our inherent talent (\(T\)).

Here’s another simple formula for quality:

where \(x > z ~\& ~y > z\)

Corollary: You can get a lot better than people who may have only inherent talents if you have the right amount of knowledge and the ability to transmit your own ideas in a better way.

As a professional, you probably want to get the maximum opportunity to have your ideas valued and accepted by the people you speak with. I argue that one of the best ways to do that by delivering excellent technical presentations.

Here’s what I think a technical presentation is:

“A technical presentation is a communication session in which a speaker delivers specialized information, explanations, or demonstrations on a specific technical topic to an audience.”

The following are the important keywords in the definition above:

“communication session” It refers to the format of the presentation. For example, conference talks, tech workshops, webinars, product sales pitches, and even job interviews are all technical presentations.

“specialized information, explanations, or demonstrations” It refers to the type of content that is delivered. In this article, I focus on technical content in the area of Computer Science and Software Technology. Technical presentations often involve the use of visual aids such as slides, diagrams, code snippets, demos, or videos to support and enhance the content reception experience.

“audience” The audience is the speaker’s target. It can be a small group of people in a classroom, or thousands in a stadium. Here I’m assuming that they are already familiar with the topic of the presentation, and that are interested on it.

NOTE: The rest of this article is written from the perspective of the speaker.

The best way to start a technical presentation is with a factual promise . You want to explicitly tell people that they’re going to know something new at the end of your presentation that they didn’t know at the beginning. For example, you can claim something like: “At the end of this X minutes, you will know things about Y you didn’t know, and something among those new things will make a difference for you in Z .” This is a simple and powerful statement. Make sure to deliver your crafted hook loud and clear to the audience, so they know exactly the reason for being there.

Alternatively, you can start with a hilarious story . The easiest subjects to start with are stories about your practical experience with some modern technology or tool. For example, something like “How Docker Helps Us Optimize Delivery” or “Apache Spark Issues We Have Dealt With.” Describe what you’ve done on a recent project and what you’ve learned from it. The most important aspect of the story is the problem you’ve faced and why it’s important to solve it. Remember, it doesn’t really matter the details of the story. What matters is that there is a problem out there that needs to be solved.

I suggest putting in the first slide a title, as well as a list of collaborators or institutions that made your work possible. The second slide should contain a picture linked to the promise or the story you’re talking about. I don’t like the idea of showing an outline with bullet points of whole content (sometimes titled “Agenda”), some people do, but it’s boring. Instead, announce the structure out loud, multiple times, during the presentation.

⚠️ Patrick Winston wisely suggests: “Don’t start the presentation with a joke. The reason is that, at the beginning of a talk, people are still putting their laptops away. They’re becoming adjusted to your speaking parameters, to your vocal parameters, and they’re not ready for a joke. So early jokes don’t work very well.”

The best time for delivering a technical presentation is the morning, usually around 11:00. The reason is that most people are awake by then, people aren’t fatigued because they’re expecting lunch. The worst time is after lunch, at that time everybody feel tired and sleepy.

The best place is a theater with at least 100 seats. I’ve noticed that the most people are in the room, the easier the job is for me as a speaker. Large audiences make me feel empowered, like if I’m giving a discourse. Also, a larger audience makes less likely being interrupted by an unexpected question.

It is important to turn on the lights in the room, and make sure there is a clock visible somewhere. The reason for the first is that we humans, whenever the lights go down, it signals that we should go to sleep. The reason for the latter is that time is super important, and you want to make sure you’re not going over time. 3

I recommend going to see the place before the actual talk to make sure you know about any potential issue in advance. This way, there will be no surprises. Sometimes preparing the place might require some intervention from you. In most cases, you just need to be aware of what the challenges are.

There are three key instruments you can use: boards (for informing), slides (for exposing), and props (for demonstrating).

We all know about boards and slides, but sometimes we forget about props. These are tools or accessories that you can use to make sure your talk is memorable. Props are often useful for showing the importance of looking at the problem in the right way. For example, a demo is a powerful prop you can use. I firmly believe that there’s nothing like running code to enhance the quality of a presentation. By running code, the people in the audience will feel that you’re actually doing something real. It’s not just a bunch of slides that anybody alse can prepare .

Regarding slides, there’s always too many, and they have always too many words. So, I recommend going over the following checklist after you have prepared the first deck of slides:

Don’t use many words on each slide. How many? I’d say 42 words per slide is the absolute maximum 😄. By reducing the number of words on each slide, you’re allowing your audience to pay more attention to you and less to what’s written on the slide. You want to be the focus of your audience. Remember that we have only one language processor, and we can either use it to read stuff or to listen to the speaker. And so if we have too many words on the slide, it forces people in the audience to read this stuff and not listen.

Don’t read. People in your audience know how to read, so reading will just annoy them. Use the slides as a condiments to what you’re saying, not as the main course.

Don’t use any background junk. Aim for simplicity and remove any source of distraction. This includes any logo, title, or even these bullets in a list of items.

Don’t use any kind of laser pointers. Those are distracting because you lose the contact with your audience, instead, use animations. For example, just put a little arrow on the elements your want to focus on, and tell the audience to look at that.

Don’t forget having at least one complex (technical) slide. The best way is showing some code! 4 That’s what Hapax legomenon is about.

Make sure you make good use of the following four tricks:

Mere repetition. Tell what you want to tell and go around it. Tell it again, and then tell it a third time, as if people weren’t smart enough to understand it. The point is that, at any given moment, about 80% of the audience will be fogged out no matter what. Therefore, if you want to ensure that the probability that everybody gets it is high, you need to say it three times.

Claimed originality. Explain your core idea in a way that it cannot be confused with somebody else’s idea. For example, you could say: “Well, my algorithm might seem similar to Alice’s algorithm, except hers is exponential, and mine’s linear.” Put a fence around your idea so that people cannot be confused about how it might relate to something else, or even worse, someone else’s work.

Strategic emphasis. People will occasionally fog out and need to get back on the bus, so you need to provide some landmark places where you’re announcing that it’s a good time to get back on. For example, a big text with the section title as transition provides a sense that there’s a structure in the talk, and you can get back on anytime.

Provocative Questions. Prepare a few provocative questions in advance. Make sure the questions are not so easy because people will be embarrassed to answer it, nor so hard because then nobody will have anything to say. Throw one question at the time and wait, don’t say anything for 7 seconds (that’s the maximum amount of time you should wait for an answer). If nobody answers (red flag), then you can answer it yourself.

Watch the speakers you admire and feel are effective, then ask yourself why they’re successful. Copy them first, the way they move, the way they talk, the way they use their hands, and so on. Then, you can start to modify it and make it your own style. Your personal repertoire of gestures and movements will grow over time with practice. It’s just like learning a new language.

Many people who are novices at speaking find themselves suddenly aware of their hands.

Here are some personal tricks from professors I had around that have caught my attention:

• The way Martin Monperrus uses pauses to create suspense ( Example ).
• The way Benoit Baudry uses his hands to explain things ( Example ).
• The way Andreas Zeller uses stories to support a flow of arguments ( Example ).

Turns out that people are inspired by different things depending on their age or current status. For example, graduate students are often inspired by some high school teachers who told them they could graduate. Professors are often inspired by someone who helped them see a problem in a new way. Entrepreneurs are inspired by self-made millionaires. And so on. Something common from everyone is getting inspired when someone exhibits passion about what she or he is doing.

One way to inspire people is by telling personal stories . It always works because people are inherently curious. The story needs to be true reliable. These stories can help them understand different situations and emotions, learn lessons, and get ideas.

Another way is by creating a situation . Describing a situation is good because it allows putting your topic in context. For example, you can say something like “This is a problem that’s being pursued all over the world. However, there hasn’t been any progress in the past X years, so everyone is looking for a solution because it will have impact on Y and Z .” Everyone will be interested.

Q: Why do you want recognition for what you do? A: Simply because no one gets used to being ignored.

You will get recognized by being remembered. How do you get remembered? One of the things you need to do is to make sure that you have some kind of symbol associated with your person or your presentation. The next thing you need is some kind of slogan , a kind of phrase that provides a handle on your work. Then, you need a surprise that people will remember. Next item is salient idea . A single idea that sticks out. 5 And finally, you need to tell the story of how you did it, how it works, why it’s important.

You already know that practice is important, but here’s some extra advice: Don’t show your slides to the people you will present to. If they know what you’re doing, they will hallucinate that there’s material in your presentation that isn’t there. The best way is to get together with some friends who don’t know what you’re doing and practice with them.

Start your practice session by saying: “If you can’t make me cry, I won’t value as a friend anymore.”

Here’s another nugget: The amount of feedback you’ll get from somebody is proportional to age. The older somebody is, the more they understand where they are in the world. But the young people are trying to show the old people how smart they are, it’s subtly vicious. Whenever you have an opportunity to have an examining committee that’s full of people with gray hair, that’s what you want.

Job presentation deserves a special section because they are so important. It’s basically a sales pitch in which you have to quickly convince a few people (hopefully your potential managers) that you are the right person for the job.

If the market needs you, the employer will trust you more. That’s exactly what you need in order to request a higher paycheck. You need to tell them about your vision , and that you’ve already done something . If you cannot make these two points in 5 minutes, you’ve already lost.

Concretely, you have 5 minutes to:

Show you have some kind of vision. By expressing your desire to work on a problem that somebody cares about, and that there’s something new in your approach.

Show you have done something to solve a problem. By providing a list with the steps that need to be taken in order to realize the vision. You don’t have to have done all of those steps. But you can say something like: “here’s what needs to be done.”

Here’s an example:

Be prepared to have a good list of interesting problems. For example, here is a list of research topics that I’ve compiled.

One of the best ways to finish is by telling a joke . By the time you’re done, people have adjusted themselves to your voice parameters. They’re ready for a joke, and that way, people think they’ve had fun the whole time.

⚠️ Again, as Patrick Winston said, finishing with “Thank you” is a weak move. When you say thank you, it suggests that everybody has stayed that long out of politeness and that they had a profound desire to be somewhere else. But you are not taking their time, you are giving them something. So don’t say thank you before the wild applause.

Your last slide is an opportunity for you to tell people who you are and what you have done. And that’s why your final slide should be labeled as “Contributions.”

Finally, the last thing you could do is to salute the audience.

Here are some of the best presentations I’ve seen:

• “Steve Jobs Introduces iPhone in 2007 ” (10 min)
• “The Future of Programming ,” by Bret Victor (32 min)
• “The Mess We’re In ,” by Joe Armstrong, creator of Erlang (45 min)
• “The Art of Code ,” by Dylan Beattie (1h)
• “The Deep Synergy Between Testability and Good Design ,” by Michael Feathers (50 min)

The way you present and how you package your ideas is a fundamental skill. It measures your caliber as a professional. As a result, a big chunk of life’s success depends on it.

The quality of communication is determined by knowledge, practice, and inherent talent, with talent being the less important factor. Effective communication involves clear explanations, using an appropriate language, and ensuring that the audience understands the message. For this you can use slides, props, and gestures, but nothing is better that language to deliver communication and aid understanding. The use of slides in presentations should be optimized by reducing text, using larger fonts, eliminating clutter, and focusing on conveying key information.

Develop your own style. For example, by incorporating storytelling and asking thought-provoking questions can stimulate curiosity and enhance engagement. The use of personal stories helps to inspire and connect with the audience. It also helps to study carefully what the best speakers do.

That’s all from me, the rest you can probably only learn it by doing it.

• How to Speak , by Patrick Winston
• The Six Rules of Visualization , by Jose Berengueres

Feeling ridiculous is perceived as a big problem at young ages.  ↩

It went well if you ask me.  ↩

Going over time is one of the worst crimes of a public speaker.  ↩

Surprisingly most people don’t understand code. Showing some code is a guarantee of being perceived as expert.  ↩

Some speakers, funnily enough, have too many good ideas, and you don’t know what it’s all about because… which one is the good one?  ↩

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