Author Archive: ffolliet

At work I'm a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon. That involves Surgical Oncology, Neonatal Surgery and Trauma. There's also a lot of teaching and mentoring. None of this actually makes me particularly clever. I'm pretty heavily into improving presentations and long for the world to lay down the weapon of bulletpoints and embrace creative and engaging presentations. I lead presentation workshops and am currently working up a book on presentations. I did a wee thing at TEDx Stuttgart in 2014 of which I'm quite proud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFza3W87eDg Outside all of that I struggle to keep fit, cycle a bit and the odd triathlon. I'm a father, singer, laugher, learner, sharer, blogger, thinker, strummer and much more.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

The best books, the best films and the best presentations start with an attention grabber. “Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. A retrospective review of prenatal ultrasound in South East Thames,” is unlikely to do that. If you grab the attention of…
Read more

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.  …
Read more

The last post.

the last post

On Tuesday 5th March 2013 I first posted on the blog site Blogger. 217 posts later, this is the last post. What started out as just one bloke growling about the state of presentations has grown into a something that…
Read more

Movement on stage

movement on stage

A real step forward in #presentationskills is out from behind the lectern. This simple movement on stage engages the audience and frees the presenter. It also leaves some speakers unsure of what to do next. Recently I’ve observed a few…
Read more

What single purpose are your slides for?

one purpose

  The challenge in improving presentations is significant. This is due to a multitude of reasons. One of the fundamental issues though is the supportive media (p2) and addressing the very purpose of this may allow presenters a starting point…
Read more

Dual screen projection

dual projection problems

Dual projection screens showing the same image is a bad idea. It is bad for speakers and bad for the audience. Sometimes it may be necessary but if this is the only option a good speaker needs to make changes to…
Read more

When imperfect is perfect.

when imperfect is perfect #FOAMed #ffoiliet

The p cubed value of your presentation is not what you think it is. It is never about how you think your presentation went but always what the audience thinks, or better, what the audience feels. This should change how…
Read more

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…
Read more

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,…
Read more

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….
Read more