Pointless
A pointer in a presentation is pointless. Whether a laser on the stage or the cursor in an online presentation, there is no point in a pointer. It is pointless. Construct and deliver your presentation such that there is no…
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.
imposter phenomenon
The imposter phenomenon affects virtually every presenter. The belief, that as you wait for your moment in the spotlight, that you don’t deserve this opportunity, that others are more qualified or that everyone knows more about the topic than you…
Without further ado
“Without further ado, I would like to introduce our next speaker.” It’s just a phrase, but the introduction defines the presentation to follow. As a presenter, one can(and should) influence this introduction to ensure both brevity (the ado) and appropriate…
Pictures of slides
Pictures of slides are intended by the photographer to be used for later data retrieval. Few actually review the images, even fewer retrieve any data. Constructing a slide for this purpose is further false logic. It defeats the purpose of…
Your stage, your rules
As a conference organiser, you are responsible for what happens on your stage. Your stage, your rules. This starts with the backdrop, the IT system and the lighting. You are also responsible if a speaker puts up unacceptable images, expresses…
Roadmaps are for roads
Roadmaps are for roads, not presentations. Setting out the plan of the presentation does not engage the audience, it may in fact disengage them. It simply wastes time. Keep roadmaps for roads. This is the second paragraph of the blog…
Just another presentation
A presentation is an opportunity to change the world. A presentation is an honour, hugely valuable and life changing. The experience of the world though is that a presentation is one of life’s trials, something to be endured. Audiences expect…
in actual fact
One of my father’s dear friends, John used to say, “in actual fact,” a lot. In actual fact, he would say, in actual fact, probably every other sentence, more in actual fact. He confessed that he felt unable, in actual…
Mumble mumble
Effective delivery (p3) is essential to an excellent presentation (p cubed). The good presenter will have practised, arrived early and ensured that both slides and the presentation area are ready, before stepping onto the stage. “Mumble, mumble essential to mumble…
What if…?
It is a privilege to travel the world sharing ideas on improving presentation skills. An encouragement is that many people know and understand that their presentations could be better and they recognise easy steps to improve. Yet they are resistant…