Summary
Highlights
The speaker introduces the concept of bad presentations by referencing Richard Smith's satirical booklet on how to give a terrible presentation. Key elements of a bad presentation include lack of preparation, speaking German to Italians, delivering overly complex content to teenagers, extending beyond the allotted time, using distracting visual aids with excessive features, and delivering the presentation in a boring, mumbled, and monotone manner without audience engagement.
The presentation will focus on three core areas: preparation, visual aids, and delivery. Additionally, it will cover handling Q&A sessions and offer specific tips for scientists, based on previous audience feedback. The overall goal is to provide general pointers applicable across various fields.
The most crucial advice is to avoid simply reading a paper. A presentation should be an advertisement for your paper, aiming to interest the audience enough to seek more information. Paul Edwards' principles are highlighted: communicate arguments and evidence, persuade the audience of their truth, and be interesting and entertaining. The presentation should be a separate document from a written paper, considering three factors: oral vs. written communication, audience adaptation, and strict adherence to time limits.
Oral communication differs significantly from written communication because listeners have only one chance to grasp information. To ensure clarity, presenters should 'KISS' (Keep It Simple Stupid) by using short, declarative sentences and focusing on a few key points. Repetition of these points and the use of examples are essential for audience retention and comprehension.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream Speech' is used as an example of excellent audience adaptation. Speakers need to assess their audience's expertise, energy levels, and expectations. For a mixed-level audience, it is recommended to tailor the body of the presentation to experts while making the introduction and conclusion accessible to a general audience. The speaker cautions against 'dumbing down' content, as it can offend the audience.
Staying within the allotted time is paramount. Failure to do so is rude and unprofessional, infringing on others' time. The speaker recounts a personal experience where a presenter drastically overran, forcing others to cut their presentations short. Thorough practice is the key to ensuring presentations fit within the time constraints and identifying awkward phrasing before the actual delivery. Technology should also be practiced with, and speakers should be prepared for its failure.
Visual aids should emphasize points, add visual interest, and increase credibility. Good visual aids improve audience retention and comprehension. However, poorly used visual aids can be distracting. Handouts should ideally be distributed before the presentation starts, and the speaker should guide the audience through them page-by-page. Passing around single physical items during a presentation is strongly discouraged. The 'KISS' principle applies: slides should have minimal text, large fonts (nothing smaller than 24pt), and relevant pictures, graphs, or charts. Light backgrounds with dark text are preferred over distracting color schemes.
PowerPoint often becomes a distraction due to overuse of animation, varied color schemes on every slide, and lengthy text. Presenters are reminded to talk to their audience, not the screen, as the audience is the primary focus. Furthermore, always have a backup plan for technology failures, as they are common. The speaker shares a personal anecdote of having to deliver a job talk without any technology due to an ice storm.
Develop an extemporaneous speaking style that is neither memorized nor impromptu. Know your presentation well enough to make consistent eye contact with the audience while occasionally glancing at notes. Eye contact signifies engagement and allows the speaker to gauge audience interest. If the audience seems distracted, re-engage them with humor (small, non-offensive jokes) or vocal variety (pitch, rate, pauses, volume). While hand gestures can be natural, avoid putting hands in pockets, which signals discomfort. Standing generally conveys more authority, but adapt to the context of other presenters. Always begin with a greeting and end with a thank you.
The Q&A session often causes anxiety, mainly due to fear of not knowing an answer. However, tough questions indicate audience engagement and interest. It's crucial not to get defensive, as questions are typically about ideas, not personal attacks. If you don't know an answer, it's acceptable to say so; praise the question, suggest discussing it further later, and affirm that it deserves more thought. If a question is unclear, ask for clarification or rephrasing. Remember, smart ways to say 'I don't know' are better than avoiding the question.
Common mistakes for scientists include believing data speaks for itself, ignoring the audience's perspective (assuming they will be impressed by the data), and using 'scientific journalese' (overly technical language). It's essential to present material clearly, consider the audience's background, generate excitement for the topic, and translate written science into spoken, accessible language. Poor visual aids, cluttered with numbers, are another common issue. The speaker recommends 'Scientifically Speaking' by the Oceanography Society as a valuable resource for improving scientific and poster presentations.
If audience members ask questions during the presentation, you can either answer them immediately or politely defer them to the Q&A session. This approach ensures the presenter can finish their talk without offending the audience. The speaker reiterates that crafting a separate presentation from a conference paper, though more work, significantly improves quality. Consistent practice (even two full run-throughs) is vital for comfort, identifying awkward phrases, and ensuring smooth delivery, especially for non-native English speakers or those unfamiliar with the content. Active practice helps presenters become more comfortable and confident.