4 ms·

Presentation anti-patterns

75 points by lawn 11y ago

joezydeco 11y ago
I cracked up when the author mentioned launching his browser in incognito mode, but a great detail to mention. I've seen way too many embarrassing things pop up in omniboxes during live demonstrations.
jedberg 11y ago
This is a great summary. If you do a lot of speaking, there is a whole book on this stuff that is fantastic: http://presentationpatterns.com http://presentationpatterns.com It certainly made me a better speaker. My solution to "The Notifier" is to take advantage of the fact that I can have multiple logins on my Mac. I have a "Presenter" account that has nothing installed, and has read/write access to my Presentations folder on my main account. Then I'm 100% sure I won't get a notification.
- pimlottc 11y ago
  Another tip for OSX - the system notification center can put in "Do Not Disturb" mode, just like your phone. By default, OSX will do this automatically when mirroring to a TV or projector, and you can do it manually at any time by Option-clicking the Notification Center icon on the menubar. https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18740?locale=en_US https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18740?locale=en_US
  - rcthompson 11y ago
    Wow, OSX automatically goes into DND when mirroring? That's a neat feature. Does that require a connection that allows the mirrored display to inform the Mac that it is a TV/projector? Or will it go into DND any time you use a mirrored display mode, even via a VGA cable where the Mac doesn't really know what kind of device is on the other end of the cable?
    - stephengillie 11y ago
      I believe Win7 has a similar feature. I've seen prompts asking me about it.
- follower 11y ago
  Yeah, I'm surprised more people don't create a "Presenter" account, I've taken that approach for a number of years. It also eliminates other potential computer distractions (other applications running, wallpapers etc) and you can optimise the configuration setup for the presentation process.
- mycelium 11y ago
  My main login is crawling with porn and sketchy photos. My desktop is littered with isht. The presentation account is a lifesaver for looking some level of professional.
- ChristianGeek 11y ago
  Wow does that site suck...on my phone, at least, there is no obvious way to buy the book or even tell if it's self-published or available at bookstores.
  - jedberg 11y ago
    It's a book you have to pay for, and you can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Patterns-Techniques-Crafting-Presentations/dp/0321820800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345753066&sr=8-1&keywords=Presentation+Patterns http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Patterns-Techniques-Craft...
DanAndersen 11y ago
Excellent list of things to keep in mind. Of course, being The Statue is allowed, if you happen to be John Carmack, legs planted firmly on the stage like a colossus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn8m5d74fk8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn8m5d74fk8
jschulenklopper 11y ago
Zack Holman has a great "The Talk on Talks" at http://zachholman.com/talk/the-talk-on-talks/ http://zachholman.com/talk/the-talk-on-talks/ which lists some pro-patterns. Furthermore, his site at http://speaking.io/ http://speaking.io/ is a great resource for preparing and delivering presentations.
Someone1234 11y ago
Quick note about #2: Test it in the specific location where you'll be presenting. Different projectors and systems have different resolutions, and those differences can make a readable presentation unreadable. I've noticed this happens a lot more with people who use Retina Macbooks. They plug them into a 1080p projector, and for whatever reason the fonts are a pixel high on the projection.
thom 11y ago
Regarding bullets: respect your audience, and certainly don't just read or repeat what you've written, but do remember that many people will probably read your slides later. There's nothing more frustrating than clicking onto a slide deck and just seeing lots of beautiful stock photography with 'Why?' and 'But then...' written over it in large type.
- nekopa 11y ago
  This is a major problem, with quite an easy solution - make 2 documents, one for presenting, one for reading. If you try and compromise you get slides behind you on stage with too much text, and documents that don't go into enough detail - not enough text per printed (or PDF) page. I hate that most conferences ask for a slide deck in advance which they will print up for the audience.
Jack000 11y ago
I've always had problems with presenting in front of a crowd (it's pretty much my #1 fear) and I find the best way to improve is to practice. Presentation is really a form of performance art. It's easy to go down a checklist of things to do/not to do, but during the presentation it's difficult to keep it all in mind. Some stuff I've learned in toastmasters that's not in the article: - consciously avoid filler words (um, ah sounds) - maintain eye contact with the audience - speaking with volume and authority
xb 11y ago
This is a good list of things to avoid when presenting. I'd like to add another that I've commonly seen: Don't give up control of the presentation until it is time for questions. Sometimes people will butt in with questions, and you should answer them quickly and minimally. I've often seen this kind of thing fluster a presenter, and sometimes the presenter will say "okay, is there anything else? any other questions? " as if to invite more interruptions. This is a mistake, you should quickly address the person who interrupted and then get back into your flow without allowing others the chance to also interrupt. Another one, that maybe only I am bothered by, is don't start every single answer with "That's a good question..."
- nekopa 11y ago
  This really depends on the presentation. Of course, you should be in control of the presentation, and let your audience know wether or not they can ask questions at any time, or at the end, or, if you've designed a well structured presentation, take questions at the end of each 'part' of your presentation. The reason why it depends is if you're presenting something complex, say A and B and C, and if understanding B requires understanding A, and understanding C requires understanding A and B there is nothing worse than reaching the end of the presentation and the first question is 'What exactly did you mean by A?' and a lot of nodding heads. That means no one got two thirds of your presentation. I've been teaching presentation skills for about a decade, and I've seen the above scenario plenty of times, mainly in legal presentations, but also in tech and sales presentations.

75 points by lawn 11y ago

I cracked up when the author mentioned launching his browser in incognito mode, but a great detail to mention. I've seen way too many embarrassing things pop up in omniboxes during live demonstrations.

jedberg 11y ago

This is a great summary. If you do a lot of speaking, there is a whole book on this stuff that is fantastic: http://presentationpatterns.com http://presentationpatterns.com It certainly made me a better speaker. My solution to "The Notifier" is to take advantage of the fact that I can have multiple logins on my Mac. I have a "Presenter" account that has nothing installed, and has read/write access to my Presentations folder on my main account. Then I'm 100% sure I won't get a notification.

pimlottc 11y ago
Another tip for OSX - the system notification center can put in "Do Not Disturb" mode, just like your phone. By default, OSX will do this automatically when mirroring to a TV or projector, and you can do it manually at any time by Option-clicking the Notification Center icon on the menubar. https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18740?locale=en_US https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18740?locale=en_US
- rcthompson 11y ago
  Wow, OSX automatically goes into DND when mirroring? That's a neat feature. Does that require a connection that allows the mirrored display to inform the Mac that it is a TV/projector? Or will it go into DND any time you use a mirrored display mode, even via a VGA cable where the Mac doesn't really know what kind of device is on the other end of the cable?
  - stephengillie 11y ago
    I believe Win7 has a similar feature. I've seen prompts asking me about it.
follower 11y ago
Yeah, I'm surprised more people don't create a "Presenter" account, I've taken that approach for a number of years. It also eliminates other potential computer distractions (other applications running, wallpapers etc) and you can optimise the configuration setup for the presentation process.
mycelium 11y ago
My main login is crawling with porn and sketchy photos. My desktop is littered with isht. The presentation account is a lifesaver for looking some level of professional.
ChristianGeek 11y ago
Wow does that site suck...on my phone, at least, there is no obvious way to buy the book or even tell if it's self-published or available at bookstores.
- jedberg 11y ago
  It's a book you have to pay for, and you can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Patterns-Techniques-Crafting-Presentations/dp/0321820800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345753066&sr=8-1&keywords=Presentation+Patterns http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Patterns-Techniques-Craft...

DanAndersen 11y ago

Excellent list of things to keep in mind. Of course, being The Statue is allowed, if you happen to be John Carmack, legs planted firmly on the stage like a colossus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn8m5d74fk8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn8m5d74fk8

jschulenklopper 11y ago

Zack Holman has a great "The Talk on Talks" at http://zachholman.com/talk/the-talk-on-talks/ http://zachholman.com/talk/the-talk-on-talks/ which lists some pro-patterns. Furthermore, his site at http://speaking.io/ http://speaking.io/ is a great resource for preparing and delivering presentations.

Someone1234 11y ago

Quick note about #2: Test it in the specific location where you'll be presenting. Different projectors and systems have different resolutions, and those differences can make a readable presentation unreadable. I've noticed this happens a lot more with people who use Retina Macbooks. They plug them into a 1080p projector, and for whatever reason the fonts are a pixel high on the projection.

thom 11y ago

Regarding bullets: respect your audience, and certainly don't just read or repeat what you've written, but do remember that many people will probably read your slides later. There's nothing more frustrating than clicking onto a slide deck and just seeing lots of beautiful stock photography with 'Why?' and 'But then...' written over it in large type.

nekopa 11y ago
This is a major problem, with quite an easy solution - make 2 documents, one for presenting, one for reading. If you try and compromise you get slides behind you on stage with too much text, and documents that don't go into enough detail - not enough text per printed (or PDF) page. I hate that most conferences ask for a slide deck in advance which they will print up for the audience.

Jack000 11y ago

I've always had problems with presenting in front of a crowd (it's pretty much my #1 fear) and I find the best way to improve is to practice. Presentation is really a form of performance art. It's easy to go down a checklist of things to do/not to do, but during the presentation it's difficult to keep it all in mind. Some stuff I've learned in toastmasters that's not in the article: - consciously avoid filler words (um, ah sounds) - maintain eye contact with the audience - speaking with volume and authority

xb 11y ago

This is a good list of things to avoid when presenting. I'd like to add another that I've commonly seen: Don't give up control of the presentation until it is time for questions. Sometimes people will butt in with questions, and you should answer them quickly and minimally. I've often seen this kind of thing fluster a presenter, and sometimes the presenter will say "okay, is there anything else? any other questions? " as if to invite more interruptions. This is a mistake, you should quickly address the person who interrupted and then get back into your flow without allowing others the chance to also interrupt. Another one, that maybe only I am bothered by, is don't start every single answer with "That's a good question..."

nekopa 11y ago
This really depends on the presentation. Of course, you should be in control of the presentation, and let your audience know wether or not they can ask questions at any time, or at the end, or, if you've designed a well structured presentation, take questions at the end of each 'part' of your presentation. The reason why it depends is if you're presenting something complex, say A and B and C, and if understanding B requires understanding A, and understanding C requires understanding A and B there is nothing worse than reaching the end of the presentation and the first question is 'What exactly did you mean by A?' and a lot of nodding heads. That means no one got two thirds of your presentation. I've been teaching presentation skills for about a decade, and I've seen the above scenario plenty of times, mainly in legal presentations, but also in tech and sales presentations.