Give an Awesome Presentation

A great speaker does more than just transfer some information. I have had the pleasure of attending 3 TEDx events so far, and the presentations witnessed there illustrate just how much this is true. Being able to present any topic like a pro gives you instant authority. Whether it is about the presentation of company results, facilitating a brainstorm or pitching to an investor, your soon to be awesome presentation skills have more influence than they rationally should.

Job Opportunity = yes/no / Time to Learn = weeks / Cost = free

Why learn it

• Profession Independent: everyone benefits from being able to present themselves.
• Personal Development: good presentation skills give you an advantage in every day as well. In combination with reading people this will change the way you are perceived and how you perceive yourself
• Fun: being an introvert by nature I appreciate how scary and nerve racking presentations can be. After a while however presentations become awesome fun
• Influences Other Skills: being a skill collector means that you will probably have a gazillion ideas that you think are awesome. Being able to present them properly increases your chances of success

My Experiences

As I mentioned before, I am an introvert by nature. When I tell people this however, I get confused and occasionally annoyed looks since they can’t imagine this to be true. I take this as a compliment to my extensive and considerably unprofessional training. By now I enjoy giving presentations and have enough confidence to try out techniques that could be labeled ‘unconventional’.

How to learn it

This post features an interview with Teun Dekker. Teun is an assistant professor of political philosophy at the University of Maastricht. He is one of the few people in such positions who will be able to hold your attention regardless of the topic he is presenting on.

Inspiration

Very well presented TED talk

Interview

Interview by Question

Introduction of Teun

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/1-Introduction-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

How did you learn to present? Do you have a rolemodel? Are some aspects of presenting more important than others?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2-How-did-you-learn-to-present-how-you-do-was-is-a-conscious-thing-Do-you-have-a-rolemodel-Are-certain-aspects-of-presenting-more-important-than-others-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

What place does presentation have in our society?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/3-What-place-does-presentation-have-in-society-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

Teun Intermezzo: Why bother presenting at all?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/4-Why-bother-presenting-why-not-just-send-the-slides-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

Does our education system do presentation justice?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/5-Presentation-is-important-does-our-education-system-do-it-justice-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

How does one learn presentation?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/6-How-to-learn-to-present-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

Can one analyse presentations systematically to learn from them?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/7-Can-one-analyse-a-presentation-systematically-to-learn-what-makes-it-tick-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

Do you have a favorite presentation? Plus Teun shares some of his personal experience.

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/8-Do-you-have-a-favorite-presentation-+-Personal-experience-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

Where do you start learning presentation?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/9-Where-to-start-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

Is the expectation of effortless conflicting with the ideal of hard work?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/10-Effortlessness-and-the-ideal-of-hard-work-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

Do you have a golden piece of advice?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/11-Golden-piece-of-advice-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

Teun Intermezzo: The up and downsides of presentation

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/12-The-up-and-downsides-of-presentation-Interview-Teun-Dekker.mp3

Online resources

• TED.com videos
• Specific TED video on presentations:

Other

• Practice, practice, practice
• Do it in front of a mirror
• Ask for brutal feedback from friends/family
• Copy styles of a speaker that captivated you