p1

p1 is the basis of the presentation. It is the data, the story, the message that the presenter wishes to deliver to the audience. This section covers blog posts that address any part of the construction of p1; taking the “what” of the data and converting it into a “so what” for the particular audience. In particular, this covers audience needs, the value of a single, identifiable message, an elevator pitch, the arc of the story and development of sparklines.

The cornerstone articles on p1 are below but please surf through the links to gain a deeper understanding of why p1 (the story) is the basis of your presentation and must be the starting point in construction.

1.Hysteron proteron – the place to start with a presentation is the message.

2. It is not acceptable or valuable to just talk, you must have a message.

3. The aim and objective of a presentation are not the same thing.

4. The best presentations are planned analog. Shut the laptop and be creative.

5. Consider principally “why” you are presenting, not what to present.

Reading the dictionary out loud.

Guten ist mir Freude hier meine Damen. Es Herren Abend eine zu und sein. That is just a list of German words in a meaningless order. I am hoping it doesn’t mean anything (bad) but using it as a metaphor for the problem of teaching. Simply…
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Sense you’re not making

It supports delivery. Many fail due to lack of effective structure. This is the basis of construction. An effective presentation has structure. This leaves sense making to the audience. Without structure a presentation is merely a list. It facilitates better data retention. There…
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Baby steps

It is often daunting when considering change, such as in presentations, to consider only the difference between an expert and your current position. This brings feelings of inadequacy, powerlessness and resignation. Consequently no change is made except in feeling bad….
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If you are just presenting data, don’t bother.

If you are just presenting data, don’t bother. The data of your presentation (p1) is much better presented in a document. It lasts longer, may be reviewed at an individual’s own pace and allows for detailed and fulsome interpretation. In…
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The sigmoid curve of preparation

sigmoid curve

The (perceived) overall value of a presentation, the p cubed value, is based on the product of the story (p1), the supportive media (p2) and the delivery of this (p3). Mathematically I wonder if the relationship between the p cubed value…
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Sparklines

The most important part of your presentation is p1 (the story). A presentation is not simply a list of facts: it is your personal interpretation of those facts for the benefit of this specific audience. The challenge for most presenters…
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I need to present more data. You don’t

A frequent question from clinicians about presentations involves “all the data I need in my presentation.” I’ve addressed this before in various posts but it bears repeating. At a scientific presentation you are not there to present your data; you…
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Prepare for failure

SO, the Chair has introduced you and you stride up to the stage, there’s a flicker behind you and your title slide appears on the 20m high screen. You press the remote and everything goes black, for a second then…
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It’s for you…

There’s a great post over on at http://kidocs.org/2015/09/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/ giving an impassioned plea from audiences in scientific meetings about what “powerpoint” is doing to medical conferences and how changing it makes a massive difference. Yet still the call from those who oppose…
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It’s .pptx not .docx

A common mistake in attempting to deliver a (scientific) paper is the failure to recognise the difference between a document and a presentation. They are not the same. Perhaps the nomenclature is the start of the problem but an oral…
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