science of fail

Presentations in their current form fail. This failure is due to construction and delivery. They are the result of a failure to understand psychological principles.

 

Hysteron proteron

The slideument

Can you send me your presentation please?

Chicken or egg?

Hypnotised, like a chicken

 

 

 

Room 101

Room 101

Room 101 is a room in The Ministry of Love from the book by George Orwell, “1984.” Here the Party breaks down the resistance of prisoners exposing them to “their worst nightmare, the thing they fear most in the world.”…
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Busy slides

busy slides

“Busy slides” happen for many reasons; the script, something to read, the handout , what everyone does, “because of learning styles”, ”academic” and because it is quick and easy. They are not effective, they limit the message, they are not…
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Presentations are your responsibility

your responsibility

Presentations are your responsibility. Presentation skills are not innate. Like all other professional skills, they require education, example and feedback to develop. Unfortunately, there is little education, the standard achieved is at best mediocrity and feedback for those delivering presentations is seldom…
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Could you send me your presentation please?

send presentation

A simple question that belies a lack of understanding of the value of a presentation. “Could you email me your presentation please?” A presentation is the product of the story (p1), the media (p2) and its delivery (p3). A presentation…
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Thank you for your excellent presentation (again)

Recently I suffered a truly execrable presentation: there was absolutely no direction or purpose in the p1, the supportive media p2 was disastrous in chaos and complexity and the delivery p3 was entirely turned towards to the screen, reading out…
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Meanwhile, over at St Emlyn’s…

It is a pleasure to be a Visiting Professor at the virtual hospital of St Emlyn’s situated in the teeming metropolis that is Virchester. The “hospital” has some of the most eminent, hard working and caring professionals it has been my pleasure…
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Lists only work for shopping

lists only work for shopping

If your p2 is a list You will read it like a list Your audience will read it like a list Everything assumes the same importance Despite the structure on the slides And that is entirely forgettable And boring.  …
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That’s your opinion

It’s good to remember that I’m just someone with an opinion and that at times I need to be called on that. I’m grateful to Jon Jones (@jmjleeds) for engaging with me on Twitter the other evening and challenging the impression…
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One small step, one giant leap.

one small step

With a few simple words and one tiny step, one man changed everything: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Neil Armstrong stepped off the bottom rung of the ladder of The Eagle landing craft onto another world,…
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Cognitive load

cognitive load

Can you count to ten? Can you pat your head? Can you rub your tummy? Can you read? Of course you can. So, do each of these simple task right now, together. Or at least try. Come on! They are simple tasks….
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