Don't say it, show it. After years of presentations, I've found the following to be key.
1. Practice Early, Practice Often. Practice Everything. -- if you need to plug the system in, and start it up. Do it all, step by step. There's nothing worse than someone struggling with the overhead projector into the start time of a presentation.
2. Don't read it. Say it. Words on screens can be read in an instant, being read to can feel patronizing.
3. Review your images in thumbnail only. If you can't read it at 8 to a page, then the back can't read it too.
4. Bring some drama. Have reveals, or One more things hidden in the presentation.
5. Create visual uniformity. Same color palette, same fonts, some photo tenor.
6. Predict questions and concerns and prepare for those. Think of all the problems and concerns that might come up, and if you still don't have an idea as to how to address the problem, at least you can say "We've thought about that carefully, and we are working on the problem as we speak."
7. Slow down. Take your time. Older people and younger people share information at different rates, find a middle ground for your speed.
8. Answer the questions "Why am I wasting your time" and "What I would really like you to do" in clear direct ways.
9. No rhetorical questions, people's answers in their heads might not be the ones you want. Just tell them your story.
10. If you allow questions, take your time and answer each question sincerely. Everyone is watching not just to see what you say, but how you answer it.
11. Have a partner on hand in case something goes wrong. Practice having then switch in and out at the last minute. Think of it like theater with an understudy.
12. Be hydrated, -- public talking drains your mouth of water.
13 Use the restroom right before, to check yourself in the mirror, check your dander, check your nose, check your tie.
14. And have an espresso 1/2 hour before you go on. That touch of energy that your bring to your presentation can be contagious to your audience.
I'm sure there's more, but those are just some suggestions from my humble experience, that come off the top of my head.
As someone who is prepping for a potential DEMO launch, these tips are extremely helpful. While not all are applicable to DEMO, all of the tips are fantastically useful. Thanks!
1. Practice Early, Practice Often. Practice Everything. -- if you need to plug the system in, and start it up. Do it all, step by step. There's nothing worse than someone struggling with the overhead projector into the start time of a presentation.
2. Don't read it. Say it. Words on screens can be read in an instant, being read to can feel patronizing.
3. Review your images in thumbnail only. If you can't read it at 8 to a page, then the back can't read it too.
4. Bring some drama. Have reveals, or One more things hidden in the presentation.
5. Create visual uniformity. Same color palette, same fonts, some photo tenor.
6. Predict questions and concerns and prepare for those. Think of all the problems and concerns that might come up, and if you still don't have an idea as to how to address the problem, at least you can say "We've thought about that carefully, and we are working on the problem as we speak."
7. Slow down. Take your time. Older people and younger people share information at different rates, find a middle ground for your speed.
8. Answer the questions "Why am I wasting your time" and "What I would really like you to do" in clear direct ways.
9. No rhetorical questions, people's answers in their heads might not be the ones you want. Just tell them your story.
10. If you allow questions, take your time and answer each question sincerely. Everyone is watching not just to see what you say, but how you answer it.
11. Have a partner on hand in case something goes wrong. Practice having then switch in and out at the last minute. Think of it like theater with an understudy.
12. Be hydrated, -- public talking drains your mouth of water.
13 Use the restroom right before, to check yourself in the mirror, check your dander, check your nose, check your tie.
14. And have an espresso 1/2 hour before you go on. That touch of energy that your bring to your presentation can be contagious to your audience.
I'm sure there's more, but those are just some suggestions from my humble experience, that come off the top of my head.