Here are some FREE tips to improve your next technical presentation.
20 Tips to Help Dry, Technical Presentations Come Alive!
Facts don’t speak for themselves. Make them come alive and show how they support your points.
- First, be clear on the business outcome desired from the presentation.
- Provide listeners a roadmap so they know where you are going with the data.
- Research and know the material. Practice and rehearse talking with, not at listeners.
- Grab the listener’s attention by asking a question.
- Streamline the information into bite-size, easy to digest pieces.
- Limit details.
- Explain technical facts in a non-technical way.
- Communicate the benefits (what’s in it for them?)
- Define technical terminology.
- Add a “touch of humor” for relief from the stream of data.
- Enlist listener participation and interaction. Encourage questions.
- Use colorful graphics.
- Use examples to convey difficult concepts.
- Use visuals and props to help retention.
- Use amazing or shocking statistics.
- Use profound or bold statements.
- Use comparisons and analogies.
- Use a story to reinforce retention of the material.
- Use repetition to drive home an important point.
3 Common Pitfalls to Avoid with Your Technical Presentations
- Information overload: An overload of technical information wears the audience out.
- Not connecting it: Presenting a lot of detail without strong “links” to your main point confuses listeners.
- Hesitancy or uncertainty: Listeners will become skeptical if you look unsure or unclear, or not prepared or organized.