How to Survive Giving a "Tech Talk"

As William Shakespeare said, “All the worlds a stage and all the men and women are merely players.” Though spoken long ago, this thought is at the forefront of presentations in today corporate environment. Trying to communicate technical data and/or ideas is often a complicated process. As president of “All the Worlds a Stage”, a business dedicated to helping corporations and individuals master savvy presentations in the age of show business, Julia Poulos has developed “Ten Tips for Tech Talk” that can help organize presentations and make them more effective.

For more tips or information on corporate and individual presentation skills training provided by “All the Worlds a Stage”, please visit www.savvypresentations.com or call Julia Poulos at (609) 683-8824.

The first thing to remember is to connect with your audience. The more technical the data, the more important this first step becomes. It is essential to realize that you are the value added. Be sure to communicate how you feel about the information that is being presented. It is not merely enough to just give the facts. In essence, remember that you are putting on a show and must get all the details you can about who will be attending your speech, presentation, or company meeting. Once you know who your audience will be, your job is to demonstrate how your services are the solution to their needs. Remember that they will be asking themselves, “What’s in it for me” early on! Be explicit about what benefits your audience will get from your proposal. Be sure to incorporate these benefits throughout the presentation. Remind them why your business or your technical ideas are the best out there!

In the fast paced technology world, waiting for inspiration is counterproductive. It is important to write a clear statement of what you want to achieve in your tech talk. Don’t wait for inspiration, create it! After you target your audience and an idea of what you want to say, think closely about how you are going to sell your point. Whether you want to think it or not, you are a salesperson. In our professional lives, we are always selling our ideas and ourselves. In this case you are persuading people to listen to your data, your proposal, or the benefits of your services. The art of persuasion requires an; attention-getting opener, reiterating your point throughout your presentation, and a “call to action”. A call to action is a strong statement of what you want your audience to do or know as a result of your presentation. This must be a strong statement and said with enthusiasm.

“It is not only what you say but how you say it.” Many technical professionals “love their data”, and that should come out in the presentation. Using Power Point visuals can often drive a point home. However, it is important to note that you should practice with your PowerPoint before the day of the presentation. Never read the slide word for word and don’t touch the screen. The powerpoint is simply a backdrop, you are the leading actor.

After you have given your tech talk, be prepared for questions! One of the best ways to handle these often nerve racking questions is using the Q-Best-Q recipe. For complex answers think: (Q) question repetition; (B) bottom-line answer; (E) evidence; (S) summary; (T) time awareness; (Q) questioner satisfied?. Broken down, this simple-to-use formula reminds you to; repeat the question to make sure you have gotten it correctly, give the answer in a matter-of-fact way, support your answer or claim, summarize the answer that you have given, keep your answer within one minute, and assure that the questioner is satisfied with the answer that you have provided.

Above all, remember its okay to be nervous. Even those who have been speaking for twenty years still get shaky when they speak in front of an audience. Use your adrenaline to focus your energy on the presentation, not the nervousness!

For more tips or information on corporate and individual presentation skills training provided by “All the Worlds a Stage”, please visit www.savvypresentations.com or call Julia Poulos at (609) 683-8824.