Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Scientific presentations: Critical errorsFrom “The craft of scientific presentations” by Michael Alley

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Critical errors

1 Giving the wrong speech

2 Drawing words from the wrong well

3 Leaving the audience at the dock

4 Losing the audience at sea

5 Projecting slides that no one reads

6 Projecting slides that no one remembers

7 Ignoring Murphy’s law

8 Not preparing enough

9 Not paying attention

10 Losing composure.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Critical errors

1 Giving the wrong speech

2 Drawing words from the wrong well

3 Leaving the audience at the dock

4 Losing the audience at sea

5 Projecting slides that no one reads

6 Projecting slides that no one remembers

7 Ignoring Murphy’s law

8 Not preparing enough

9 Not paying attention

10 Losing composure.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Critical errors

1 Giving the wrong speech

2 Drawing words from the wrong well

3 Leaving the audience at the dock

4 Losing the audience at sea

5 Projecting slides that no one reads

6 Projecting slides that no one remembers

7 Ignoring Murphy’s law

8 Not preparing enough

9 Not paying attention

10 Losing composure.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Critical errors

1 Giving the wrong speech

2 Drawing words from the wrong well

3 Leaving the audience at the dock

4 Losing the audience at sea

5 Projecting slides that no one reads

6 Projecting slides that no one remembers

7 Ignoring Murphy’s law

8 Not preparing enough

9 Not paying attention

10 Losing composure.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Critical errors

1 Giving the wrong speech

2 Drawing words from the wrong well

3 Leaving the audience at the dock

4 Losing the audience at sea

5 Projecting slides that no one reads

6 Projecting slides that no one remembers

7 Ignoring Murphy’s law

8 Not preparing enough

9 Not paying attention

10 Losing composure.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Critical errors

1 Giving the wrong speech

2 Drawing words from the wrong well

3 Leaving the audience at the dock

4 Losing the audience at sea

5 Projecting slides that no one reads

6 Projecting slides that no one remembers

7 Ignoring Murphy’s law

8 Not preparing enough

9 Not paying attention

10 Losing composure.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Critical errors

1 Giving the wrong speech

2 Drawing words from the wrong well

3 Leaving the audience at the dock

4 Losing the audience at sea

5 Projecting slides that no one reads

6 Projecting slides that no one remembers

7 Ignoring Murphy’s law

8 Not preparing enough

9 Not paying attention

10 Losing composure.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Critical errors

1 Giving the wrong speech

2 Drawing words from the wrong well

3 Leaving the audience at the dock

4 Losing the audience at sea

5 Projecting slides that no one reads

6 Projecting slides that no one remembers

7 Ignoring Murphy’s law

8 Not preparing enough

9 Not paying attention

10 Losing composure.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Critical errors

1 Giving the wrong speech

2 Drawing words from the wrong well

3 Leaving the audience at the dock

4 Losing the audience at sea

5 Projecting slides that no one reads

6 Projecting slides that no one remembers

7 Ignoring Murphy’s law

8 Not preparing enough

9 Not paying attention

10 Losing composure.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Critical errors

1 Giving the wrong speech

2 Drawing words from the wrong well

3 Leaving the audience at the dock

4 Losing the audience at sea

5 Projecting slides that no one reads

6 Projecting slides that no one remembers

7 Ignoring Murphy’s law

8 Not preparing enough

9 Not paying attention

10 Losing composure.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Giving the wrong speech

Not targeting the audience is one common reason for thefailure of many scientific presentations.

Another common reason is a failure to understand thepurpose of the presentation.

Occasions vary greatly, from informal meetings to formalsymposiums.

The occasion affects the expectations that the audiencehas for the presentation.

For instance, an audience for a morning plenary session ata formal conference has much different expectations fromwhat an audience for an after-dinner talk has.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Giving the wrong speech

Not targeting the audience is one common reason for thefailure of many scientific presentations.

Another common reason is a failure to understand thepurpose of the presentation.

Occasions vary greatly, from informal meetings to formalsymposiums.

The occasion affects the expectations that the audiencehas for the presentation.

For instance, an audience for a morning plenary session ata formal conference has much different expectations fromwhat an audience for an after-dinner talk has.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Giving the wrong speech

Not targeting the audience is one common reason for thefailure of many scientific presentations.

Another common reason is a failure to understand thepurpose of the presentation.

Occasions vary greatly, from informal meetings to formalsymposiums.

The occasion affects the expectations that the audiencehas for the presentation.

For instance, an audience for a morning plenary session ata formal conference has much different expectations fromwhat an audience for an after-dinner talk has.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Giving the wrong speech

Not targeting the audience is one common reason for thefailure of many scientific presentations.

Another common reason is a failure to understand thepurpose of the presentation.

Occasions vary greatly, from informal meetings to formalsymposiums.

The occasion affects the expectations that the audiencehas for the presentation.

For instance, an audience for a morning plenary session ata formal conference has much different expectations fromwhat an audience for an after-dinner talk has.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Giving the wrong speech

Not targeting the audience is one common reason for thefailure of many scientific presentations.

Another common reason is a failure to understand thepurpose of the presentation.

Occasions vary greatly, from informal meetings to formalsymposiums.

The occasion affects the expectations that the audiencehas for the presentation.

For instance, an audience for a morning plenary session ata formal conference has much different expectations fromwhat an audience for an after-dinner talk has.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Drawing words from the wrong well

How should scientists and engineers deliver their words in ascientific presentation?

Should they read those words, memorize those words, orspeak from notes or presentation slides?

Or should they just speak off the cuff; in other words,should they not worry about what they have to say untilthey are standing before the audience?

Before deciding upon an answer, you should consider theadvantages and disadvantages of each source of words andthe occasions to use each.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Drawing words from the wrong well

How should scientists and engineers deliver their words in ascientific presentation?

Should they read those words, memorize those words, orspeak from notes or presentation slides?

Or should they just speak off the cuff; in other words,should they not worry about what they have to say untilthey are standing before the audience?

Before deciding upon an answer, you should consider theadvantages and disadvantages of each source of words andthe occasions to use each.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Drawing words from the wrong well

How should scientists and engineers deliver their words in ascientific presentation?

Should they read those words, memorize those words, orspeak from notes or presentation slides?

Or should they just speak off the cuff; in other words,should they not worry about what they have to say untilthey are standing before the audience?

Before deciding upon an answer, you should consider theadvantages and disadvantages of each source of words andthe occasions to use each.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Drawing words from the wrong well

How should scientists and engineers deliver their words in ascientific presentation?

Should they read those words, memorize those words, orspeak from notes or presentation slides?

Or should they just speak off the cuff; in other words,should they not worry about what they have to say untilthey are standing before the audience?

Before deciding upon an answer, you should consider theadvantages and disadvantages of each source of words andthe occasions to use each.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Leaving the audience at the dock

One reason that beginnings to scientific presentations oftenfail is that the speaker has not anticipated the initialquestions of the audience.

What is the presentation about?

Why is the presentation important?

What knowledge is needed to understand the presentation?

How will the presentation be arranged?

Another reason that beginnings to scientific presentationsoften fail is that the speaker has not anticipated the biasesof the audience.

Although the speaker might target the level of the audiencein his or her arguments, if the speaker does not account forthe biases of the audience, he or she may adopt aninappropriate strategy.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Leaving the audience at the dock

One reason that beginnings to scientific presentations oftenfail is that the speaker has not anticipated the initialquestions of the audience.

What is the presentation about?

Why is the presentation important?

What knowledge is needed to understand the presentation?

How will the presentation be arranged?

Another reason that beginnings to scientific presentationsoften fail is that the speaker has not anticipated the biasesof the audience.

Although the speaker might target the level of the audiencein his or her arguments, if the speaker does not account forthe biases of the audience, he or she may adopt aninappropriate strategy.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Leaving the audience at the dock

One reason that beginnings to scientific presentations oftenfail is that the speaker has not anticipated the initialquestions of the audience.

What is the presentation about?

Why is the presentation important?

What knowledge is needed to understand the presentation?

How will the presentation be arranged?

Another reason that beginnings to scientific presentationsoften fail is that the speaker has not anticipated the biasesof the audience.

Although the speaker might target the level of the audiencein his or her arguments, if the speaker does not account forthe biases of the audience, he or she may adopt aninappropriate strategy.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Leaving the audience at the dock

One reason that beginnings to scientific presentations oftenfail is that the speaker has not anticipated the initialquestions of the audience.

What is the presentation about?

Why is the presentation important?

What knowledge is needed to understand the presentation?

How will the presentation be arranged?

Another reason that beginnings to scientific presentationsoften fail is that the speaker has not anticipated the biasesof the audience.

Although the speaker might target the level of the audiencein his or her arguments, if the speaker does not account forthe biases of the audience, he or she may adopt aninappropriate strategy.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Leaving the audience at the dock

One reason that beginnings to scientific presentations oftenfail is that the speaker has not anticipated the initialquestions of the audience.

What is the presentation about?

Why is the presentation important?

What knowledge is needed to understand the presentation?

How will the presentation be arranged?

Another reason that beginnings to scientific presentationsoften fail is that the speaker has not anticipated the biasesof the audience.

Although the speaker might target the level of the audiencein his or her arguments, if the speaker does not account forthe biases of the audience, he or she may adopt aninappropriate strategy.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Leaving the audience at the dock

One reason that beginnings to scientific presentations oftenfail is that the speaker has not anticipated the initialquestions of the audience.

What is the presentation about?

Why is the presentation important?

What knowledge is needed to understand the presentation?

How will the presentation be arranged?

Another reason that beginnings to scientific presentationsoften fail is that the speaker has not anticipated the biasesof the audience.

Although the speaker might target the level of the audiencein his or her arguments, if the speaker does not account forthe biases of the audience, he or she may adopt aninappropriate strategy.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Leaving the audience at the dock

One reason that beginnings to scientific presentations oftenfail is that the speaker has not anticipated the initialquestions of the audience.

What is the presentation about?

Why is the presentation important?

What knowledge is needed to understand the presentation?

How will the presentation be arranged?

Another reason that beginnings to scientific presentationsoften fail is that the speaker has not anticipated the biasesof the audience.

Although the speaker might target the level of the audiencein his or her arguments, if the speaker does not account forthe biases of the audience, he or she may adopt aninappropriate strategy.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Losing the audience at sea

Given the inherent potential for the audience to becomelost even when the structure is sound, consider how easy itis for the audience to become lost when the structure isweak.

Several instances can arise in a presentation to cause theaudience to become lost.

One occurs when the presenter gives a presentation thatcontains gaps in logic.

A second instance occurs when the presenter does not cluein listeners about a major change of course in apresentation.

A third instance occurs when the presenter drowns theaudience in detail.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Losing the audience at sea

Given the inherent potential for the audience to becomelost even when the structure is sound, consider how easy itis for the audience to become lost when the structure isweak.

Several instances can arise in a presentation to cause theaudience to become lost.

One occurs when the presenter gives a presentation thatcontains gaps in logic.

A second instance occurs when the presenter does not cluein listeners about a major change of course in apresentation.

A third instance occurs when the presenter drowns theaudience in detail.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Losing the audience at sea

Given the inherent potential for the audience to becomelost even when the structure is sound, consider how easy itis for the audience to become lost when the structure isweak.

Several instances can arise in a presentation to cause theaudience to become lost.

One occurs when the presenter gives a presentation thatcontains gaps in logic.

A second instance occurs when the presenter does not cluein listeners about a major change of course in apresentation.

A third instance occurs when the presenter drowns theaudience in detail.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Losing the audience at sea

Given the inherent potential for the audience to becomelost even when the structure is sound, consider how easy itis for the audience to become lost when the structure isweak.

Several instances can arise in a presentation to cause theaudience to become lost.

One occurs when the presenter gives a presentation thatcontains gaps in logic.

A second instance occurs when the presenter does not cluein listeners about a major change of course in apresentation.

A third instance occurs when the presenter drowns theaudience in detail.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Losing the audience at sea

Given the inherent potential for the audience to becomelost even when the structure is sound, consider how easy itis for the audience to become lost when the structure isweak.

Several instances can arise in a presentation to cause theaudience to become lost.

One occurs when the presenter gives a presentation thatcontains gaps in logic.

A second instance occurs when the presenter does not cluein listeners about a major change of course in apresentation.

A third instance occurs when the presenter drowns theaudience in detail.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one reads

When slides are chosen to communicate the images andresults of a scientific presentation, their design becomesimportant for the success of that presentation.

Typically, as soon as a slide is projected, the listener shiftsattention from the speaker to the screen.

When the slide has words that cannot be read, the listeneris distracted with the question of what those words are.

Likewise, when the slide does not quickly orient thelistener, the listener is disoriented, wondering what thepoint of this slide is.

If the presentation does not allow for questions or if thelistener is not confident enough to ask a question, thenthese questions fester in the listener.

Given these two distractions, presenters should strive todesign slides that are easy to read and that quickly orient.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one reads

When slides are chosen to communicate the images andresults of a scientific presentation, their design becomesimportant for the success of that presentation.

Typically, as soon as a slide is projected, the listener shiftsattention from the speaker to the screen.

When the slide has words that cannot be read, the listeneris distracted with the question of what those words are.

Likewise, when the slide does not quickly orient thelistener, the listener is disoriented, wondering what thepoint of this slide is.

If the presentation does not allow for questions or if thelistener is not confident enough to ask a question, thenthese questions fester in the listener.

Given these two distractions, presenters should strive todesign slides that are easy to read and that quickly orient.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one reads

When slides are chosen to communicate the images andresults of a scientific presentation, their design becomesimportant for the success of that presentation.

Typically, as soon as a slide is projected, the listener shiftsattention from the speaker to the screen.

When the slide has words that cannot be read, the listeneris distracted with the question of what those words are.

Likewise, when the slide does not quickly orient thelistener, the listener is disoriented, wondering what thepoint of this slide is.

If the presentation does not allow for questions or if thelistener is not confident enough to ask a question, thenthese questions fester in the listener.

Given these two distractions, presenters should strive todesign slides that are easy to read and that quickly orient.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one reads

When slides are chosen to communicate the images andresults of a scientific presentation, their design becomesimportant for the success of that presentation.

Typically, as soon as a slide is projected, the listener shiftsattention from the speaker to the screen.

When the slide has words that cannot be read, the listeneris distracted with the question of what those words are.

Likewise, when the slide does not quickly orient thelistener, the listener is disoriented, wondering what thepoint of this slide is.

If the presentation does not allow for questions or if thelistener is not confident enough to ask a question, thenthese questions fester in the listener.

Given these two distractions, presenters should strive todesign slides that are easy to read and that quickly orient.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one reads

When slides are chosen to communicate the images andresults of a scientific presentation, their design becomesimportant for the success of that presentation.

Typically, as soon as a slide is projected, the listener shiftsattention from the speaker to the screen.

When the slide has words that cannot be read, the listeneris distracted with the question of what those words are.

Likewise, when the slide does not quickly orient thelistener, the listener is disoriented, wondering what thepoint of this slide is.

If the presentation does not allow for questions or if thelistener is not confident enough to ask a question, thenthese questions fester in the listener.

Given these two distractions, presenters should strive todesign slides that are easy to read and that quickly orient.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one reads

When slides are chosen to communicate the images andresults of a scientific presentation, their design becomesimportant for the success of that presentation.

Typically, as soon as a slide is projected, the listener shiftsattention from the speaker to the screen.

When the slide has words that cannot be read, the listeneris distracted with the question of what those words are.

Likewise, when the slide does not quickly orient thelistener, the listener is disoriented, wondering what thepoint of this slide is.

If the presentation does not allow for questions or if thelistener is not confident enough to ask a question, thenthese questions fester in the listener.

Given these two distractions, presenters should strive todesign slides that are easy to read and that quickly orient.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one remembers

What information should you include in your slides?

The answer lies in the reasons for projecting slides in thefirst place.

One important reason to include slides is to show imagesthat are too complicated to explain with words.

A second important reason is to emphasize key results.

Given these two reasons, it is easy to see that slides shouldinclude the most important images and results of apresentation.

Yet a third reason to include slides is to reveal theorganization of the presentation.

By making the audience aware of the presentation’sorganization, the presenter keeps the audience relaxed.

Since they are not worried about where they are, they areable to focus more on what the presenter communicates.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one remembers

What information should you include in your slides?

The answer lies in the reasons for projecting slides in thefirst place.

One important reason to include slides is to show imagesthat are too complicated to explain with words.

A second important reason is to emphasize key results.

Given these two reasons, it is easy to see that slides shouldinclude the most important images and results of apresentation.

Yet a third reason to include slides is to reveal theorganization of the presentation.

By making the audience aware of the presentation’sorganization, the presenter keeps the audience relaxed.

Since they are not worried about where they are, they areable to focus more on what the presenter communicates.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one remembers

What information should you include in your slides?

The answer lies in the reasons for projecting slides in thefirst place.

One important reason to include slides is to show imagesthat are too complicated to explain with words.

A second important reason is to emphasize key results.

Given these two reasons, it is easy to see that slides shouldinclude the most important images and results of apresentation.

Yet a third reason to include slides is to reveal theorganization of the presentation.

By making the audience aware of the presentation’sorganization, the presenter keeps the audience relaxed.

Since they are not worried about where they are, they areable to focus more on what the presenter communicates.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one remembers

What information should you include in your slides?

The answer lies in the reasons for projecting slides in thefirst place.

One important reason to include slides is to show imagesthat are too complicated to explain with words.

A second important reason is to emphasize key results.

Given these two reasons, it is easy to see that slides shouldinclude the most important images and results of apresentation.

Yet a third reason to include slides is to reveal theorganization of the presentation.

By making the audience aware of the presentation’sorganization, the presenter keeps the audience relaxed.

Since they are not worried about where they are, they areable to focus more on what the presenter communicates.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one remembers

What information should you include in your slides?

The answer lies in the reasons for projecting slides in thefirst place.

One important reason to include slides is to show imagesthat are too complicated to explain with words.

A second important reason is to emphasize key results.

Given these two reasons, it is easy to see that slides shouldinclude the most important images and results of apresentation.

Yet a third reason to include slides is to reveal theorganization of the presentation.

By making the audience aware of the presentation’sorganization, the presenter keeps the audience relaxed.

Since they are not worried about where they are, they areable to focus more on what the presenter communicates.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one remembers

What information should you include in your slides?

The answer lies in the reasons for projecting slides in thefirst place.

One important reason to include slides is to show imagesthat are too complicated to explain with words.

A second important reason is to emphasize key results.

Given these two reasons, it is easy to see that slides shouldinclude the most important images and results of apresentation.

Yet a third reason to include slides is to reveal theorganization of the presentation.

By making the audience aware of the presentation’sorganization, the presenter keeps the audience relaxed.

Since they are not worried about where they are, they areable to focus more on what the presenter communicates.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one remembers

What information should you include in your slides?

The answer lies in the reasons for projecting slides in thefirst place.

One important reason to include slides is to show imagesthat are too complicated to explain with words.

A second important reason is to emphasize key results.

Given these two reasons, it is easy to see that slides shouldinclude the most important images and results of apresentation.

Yet a third reason to include slides is to reveal theorganization of the presentation.

By making the audience aware of the presentation’sorganization, the presenter keeps the audience relaxed.

Since they are not worried about where they are, they areable to focus more on what the presenter communicates.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Projecting slides that no one remembers

What information should you include in your slides?

The answer lies in the reasons for projecting slides in thefirst place.

One important reason to include slides is to show imagesthat are too complicated to explain with words.

A second important reason is to emphasize key results.

Given these two reasons, it is easy to see that slides shouldinclude the most important images and results of apresentation.

Yet a third reason to include slides is to reveal theorganization of the presentation.

By making the audience aware of the presentation’sorganization, the presenter keeps the audience relaxed.

Since they are not worried about where they are, they areable to focus more on what the presenter communicates.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Ignoring Murphy’s law

The decision as to whether to incorporate demonstrationsor slides should account for three factors:

(1) the complexity of the demonstration or the difficulty inhandling the projection equipment;

(2) the gain for the presentation should the demonstrationsucceed or the slides project; and

(3) the loss for the presentation should the demonstration failor the slides not project.

If the demonstration is worth trying or if the slides areworth projecting, you should go forward.

In that case, though, you should find ways to minimize theoccurrence of Murphy’s law.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Ignoring Murphy’s law

The decision as to whether to incorporate demonstrationsor slides should account for three factors:

(1) the complexity of the demonstration or the difficulty inhandling the projection equipment;

(2) the gain for the presentation should the demonstrationsucceed or the slides project; and

(3) the loss for the presentation should the demonstration failor the slides not project.

If the demonstration is worth trying or if the slides areworth projecting, you should go forward.

In that case, though, you should find ways to minimize theoccurrence of Murphy’s law.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Ignoring Murphy’s law

The decision as to whether to incorporate demonstrationsor slides should account for three factors:

(1) the complexity of the demonstration or the difficulty inhandling the projection equipment;

(2) the gain for the presentation should the demonstrationsucceed or the slides project; and

(3) the loss for the presentation should the demonstration failor the slides not project.

If the demonstration is worth trying or if the slides areworth projecting, you should go forward.

In that case, though, you should find ways to minimize theoccurrence of Murphy’s law.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Ignoring Murphy’s law

The decision as to whether to incorporate demonstrationsor slides should account for three factors:

(1) the complexity of the demonstration or the difficulty inhandling the projection equipment;

(2) the gain for the presentation should the demonstrationsucceed or the slides project; and

(3) the loss for the presentation should the demonstration failor the slides not project.

If the demonstration is worth trying or if the slides areworth projecting, you should go forward.

In that case, though, you should find ways to minimize theoccurrence of Murphy’s law.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Ignoring Murphy’s law

The decision as to whether to incorporate demonstrationsor slides should account for three factors:

(1) the complexity of the demonstration or the difficulty inhandling the projection equipment;

(2) the gain for the presentation should the demonstrationsucceed or the slides project; and

(3) the loss for the presentation should the demonstration failor the slides not project.

If the demonstration is worth trying or if the slides areworth projecting, you should go forward.

In that case, though, you should find ways to minimize theoccurrence of Murphy’s law.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Ignoring Murphy’s law

The decision as to whether to incorporate demonstrationsor slides should account for three factors:

(1) the complexity of the demonstration or the difficulty inhandling the projection equipment;

(2) the gain for the presentation should the demonstrationsucceed or the slides project; and

(3) the loss for the presentation should the demonstration failor the slides not project.

If the demonstration is worth trying or if the slides areworth projecting, you should go forward.

In that case, though, you should find ways to minimize theoccurrence of Murphy’s law.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Not preparing enough

Preparing a strong presentation does take time.

Time is needed to understand the content well enough toorganize it in a fashion that is readily comprehended by theaudience.

Time is also needed to gather the important images, tograph the important results, and to incorporate thoseimages and graphs into a set of well-designed slides.

Moreover, time is needed to rehearse the material so thatthe speaker can find the right words to explain the difficultconcepts and to smooth the transitions between points.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Not preparing enough

Preparing a strong presentation does take time.

Time is needed to understand the content well enough toorganize it in a fashion that is readily comprehended by theaudience.

Time is also needed to gather the important images, tograph the important results, and to incorporate thoseimages and graphs into a set of well-designed slides.

Moreover, time is needed to rehearse the material so thatthe speaker can find the right words to explain the difficultconcepts and to smooth the transitions between points.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Not preparing enough

Preparing a strong presentation does take time.

Time is needed to understand the content well enough toorganize it in a fashion that is readily comprehended by theaudience.

Time is also needed to gather the important images, tograph the important results, and to incorporate thoseimages and graphs into a set of well-designed slides.

Moreover, time is needed to rehearse the material so thatthe speaker can find the right words to explain the difficultconcepts and to smooth the transitions between points.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Not preparing enough

Preparing a strong presentation does take time.

Time is needed to understand the content well enough toorganize it in a fashion that is readily comprehended by theaudience.

Time is also needed to gather the important images, tograph the important results, and to incorporate thoseimages and graphs into a set of well-designed slides.

Moreover, time is needed to rehearse the material so thatthe speaker can find the right words to explain the difficultconcepts and to smooth the transitions between points.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Not paying attention

The sense of being disconnected reflects the way that manypresenters carry themselves during a presentation, as if theyhave no idea about the elements around them:

(i) the room,

(ii) themselves,

(iii) the audience, or

(iv) the time.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Not paying attention

The sense of being disconnected reflects the way that manypresenters carry themselves during a presentation, as if theyhave no idea about the elements around them:

(i) the room,

(ii) themselves,

(iii) the audience, or

(iv) the time.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Not paying attention

The sense of being disconnected reflects the way that manypresenters carry themselves during a presentation, as if theyhave no idea about the elements around them:

(i) the room,

(ii) themselves,

(iii) the audience, or

(iv) the time.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Not paying attention

The sense of being disconnected reflects the way that manypresenters carry themselves during a presentation, as if theyhave no idea about the elements around them:

(i) the room,

(ii) themselves,

(iii) the audience, or

(iv) the time.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Not paying attention

The sense of being disconnected reflects the way that manypresenters carry themselves during a presentation, as if theyhave no idea about the elements around them:

(i) the room,

(ii) themselves,

(iii) the audience, or

(iv) the time.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Losing composure

To watch a presenter lose composure is a painfulexperience.

In some cases, the presenter has so much stage fright thathe or she loses composure before the presentation evenbegins.

For instance, some people become so nervous that theysimply read the papers rather than look the audiencemembers in the eyes and speak to them about what theyknow.

Moreover, they read so quickly that they finish everythingin half of the time that they are allotted for.

Needless to say, no one in the audience learns anythingfrom such presentations.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Losing composure

To watch a presenter lose composure is a painfulexperience.

In some cases, the presenter has so much stage fright thathe or she loses composure before the presentation evenbegins.

For instance, some people become so nervous that theysimply read the papers rather than look the audiencemembers in the eyes and speak to them about what theyknow.

Moreover, they read so quickly that they finish everythingin half of the time that they are allotted for.

Needless to say, no one in the audience learns anythingfrom such presentations.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Losing composure

To watch a presenter lose composure is a painfulexperience.

In some cases, the presenter has so much stage fright thathe or she loses composure before the presentation evenbegins.

For instance, some people become so nervous that theysimply read the papers rather than look the audiencemembers in the eyes and speak to them about what theyknow.

Moreover, they read so quickly that they finish everythingin half of the time that they are allotted for.

Needless to say, no one in the audience learns anythingfrom such presentations.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Losing composure

To watch a presenter lose composure is a painfulexperience.

In some cases, the presenter has so much stage fright thathe or she loses composure before the presentation evenbegins.

For instance, some people become so nervous that theysimply read the papers rather than look the audiencemembers in the eyes and speak to them about what theyknow.

Moreover, they read so quickly that they finish everythingin half of the time that they are allotted for.

Needless to say, no one in the audience learns anythingfrom such presentations.

Errors

Errors

Wrongspeech

Wrong well

Leavingaudience

Losingaudience

Unreadableslides

Forgettableslides

Murphy’slaw

Preparing

Attention

Composure

Losing composure

To watch a presenter lose composure is a painfulexperience.

In some cases, the presenter has so much stage fright thathe or she loses composure before the presentation evenbegins.

For instance, some people become so nervous that theysimply read the papers rather than look the audiencemembers in the eyes and speak to them about what theyknow.

Moreover, they read so quickly that they finish everythingin half of the time that they are allotted for.

Needless to say, no one in the audience learns anythingfrom such presentations.

Errors