1. Presentation
Tips &
Techniques
#presotips
Russ Unger | @russu
Image Source © Time Inc.

2. I
Introduction

3. Introduction
Who Am I?
Russ Unger
Where Do I Work?
What Do I Do?
User Experience Director
Uh...
3

4. Introduction
Who Really Cares?
Hint: Rhymes with “no one”.
4

5. II
What I’m Going To Tell You

6. What I’m Going To Tell You
Presentation Tips & Techniques
• Preparation • On Stage
• Structure •Q&A
• Timing • General Niceties
• Pre-Gaming
6

7. III
Preparation

8. Preparation
Structure
•Tell ‘em
•Tell ‘em
•Tell ‘em
8

9. Preparation
Timing
• Creation Hours
• Slides Per Minute?
• Minutes Per Slide?
• Average adult attention
span: 15-30 seconds
Image Source © Time Inc.
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10. Preparation
How I Prepare A Presentation
Research Notes / Outline Cards
Slides Practice
10

11. Preparation
“
Whitney Hess
I walk through each section, writing in any
voice-over that I want to be sure to hit into
the Notes area for each slide.
11

12. Preparation
The Clicker
•Buy a Good One!
•Logitech RS800
(pictured) is Jared Spool’s
Current Favorite
http://t.co/dX8aG2D
12

13. IV
Pre-Game

14. Pre-Game
“
Chris Fahey
You aren’t going to sleep the night before, so
get plenty of sleep during the week leading
up to the night before.
14

15. Pre-Game
Light & Easy
• Easy on the caffeine
• Light meals / snacks
• Find your happy place
15

16. Pre-Game
“
Jesse James Garrett
Have something small to eat, not a full [meal]
or anything heavy. If you’re going to have
coffee, do it well before you have to be on
stage.
16

17. Pre-Game
Case the Joint
17

18. Pre-Game
“
Alex Dittmer
I always go pee when they call “five minutes
to places”. I’m not sure how I started that
habit, but it seems to relax me.
18

19. Pre-Game
“
C.E. Lane
It seems like there’s some sort of inverse
formula stating the harder you are about to
rock, the more silent you will become
beforehand. Before the biggest solo show I
ever played, I fell asleep under a card table.
19

20. V
On Stage

21. On Stage
Stage Fright!
• Prepare!
• Prepare!
• Prepare!
• Remember: You’re the
Pro and Authority on the
Topic!
Image Source © Time Inc.
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22. On Stage
“
Eytan Mirsky
I try to do some [content] I am most
comfortable with in the beginning because I
know that if/when those go well, I will
become more relaxed.
22

23. On Stage
“
David Armano
Try to focus your presentations on something
you feel passionate about. ﬔat’s one of the
reasons my stage fright is pretty minimal.
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24. On Stage
Break the Ice
24

25. On Stage
“
Scott Berkun
If you prepared correctly (meaning you
practiced, have clear points, are enthusiastic
Image Sour
ce © Nath
anael Boeh
m
about them, and understand why the
audience showed up) you’ll look like a rock
star.
(On talking to a bored audience)
http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2010/speak-to-bored-audience/
25

26. On Stage
Stage Presence
• Posture
• Podium use / reliance
• Mics - handhelds,
lavalieres, how to use
• Know your clicker
• Don’t T-Rex
Image Source © Time Inc.
26

27. On Stage
“
5 Tips for a Good Stage Presence
1. Stand Tall
2. Keep your head and eyes UP
3. Smile
4. Never retreat
5. Move with purpose, energy & enthusiasm
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28. On Stage
Enthusiasm! YEAH!
• Love it
• Or Leave it
• A story: How I Sucked.
Image Source © Time Inc.
28

29. On Stage
Authoritah
• Stand up
• Sit down
• I own you
Image Source © South Park Digital Studios LLC
29

30. On Stage
Presenting
•Slow down
• Let people absorb your
information
• Don’t read your slides
• Look at/face the audience
• Kill the sarcasm
Image Source © Time Inc.
30

31. On Stage
“
Lee Iacocca
You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t
get those ideas across, they don’t do
anybody any good.
rce:
Image Sou f/enwiki/143626
/dic.ns
cademic.ru
http://en.a
31

32. On Stage
Source: ﬔe Internet
5%
Who uses the
“Disabled” toilet
95%
People Like Stats
Perception of Spoken Message in Regards to Communicating Feeling & Attitudes
60
45
30
15
0
Words (7%) Voice (38%) Non-verbals (55%)
Source: Monarth & Kase, “ﬔe Confident Speaker”
32

33. On Stage
Reading the Crowd
• Quiet != Bad
• Note takers (& Sketchers!)
• ﬔe Twitters
Image Source © Time Inc.
33

34. On Stage
Hostiles & Haters
• Diplomacy wins
• YOU have the microphone
• Be nice
• Until you can’t
Image Source © Time Inc.
34

35. On Stage
Losing Your Flow
• Don’t make a scene
• Find your bearings
• If all else fails: be honest
and forge onward
Image Source © Time Inc.
35

36. On Stage
“
Erik Soens
A simple retort such as “Whew... that got
away from me, let me reiterate” works just
fine.
36

37. On Stage
“
Eytan Mirsky
Most times people are not as aware of any
mistakes as you might think. ﬔey are not
focusing on things the way you, as the
performer, are.
37

38. VI
Q&A

39. Q&A
Basics of Q&A
• Repeat the question
• IDK is OK (just follow-up)
• Being wrong: also OK
• Manage the questioneer
• Get out of the way!
Image Source © Time Inc.
39

40. VII
General Niceties

41. General Niceties
Appreciation
• Organizing is hard work
• Mistakes happen
• Audience is there for you
• Be classy
Image Source © Time Inc.
41

42. VIII
Take Aways (What I Told You)

43. Take Aways
Presentation Tips & Techniques
• Preparation and Rehearsal are your best friends
• Pre-Gaming rituals help you find your “A” game
• Be aware of your stage presence
• Find ways to engage your audience
•SLOW DOWN
• Don’t forget to think about Q & A
• Be nice, be appreciative, stay classy
43

44. IX
Resources

45. Resources
Books
45

46. Resources
Quotes & Interview Experts
Image Source © Nathanael Boehm
Alex Dittmer David Armano Scott Berkun Jesse James Garrett
C. E. Lane Erik Soens Whitney Hess Chris Fahey Eytan Mirsky
46

47. X
Closing Slide

48. Thank You!
#presotips
Russ Unger | @russu