So many great talks at @ReactAmsterdam today. Haven't been to a conf as an audience member for a while, and it's given me time to think about the art of public speaking.
A thread. 👇
A thread. 👇
Everyone has great content and interesting things to say. But sometimes we can subconsciously undermine our effect by falling into easy traps.
Here are some speaker "don'ts" to be mindful to avoid. None of these are subtweeting a particular talk.
Here are some speaker "don'ts" to be mindful to avoid. None of these are subtweeting a particular talk.
1. Don't decredentialise yourself.
Don't say what you don't know or what you haven't done. Tell us why you're the expert and why we should hang on your every word. You are the show everyone came to see.
Don't say what you don't know or what you haven't done. Tell us why you're the expert and why we should hang on your every word. You are the show everyone came to see.
2. Don't flatten expectations.
Don't start by telling us what we won't be covering in this talk. Give us an outline of what is to come, and (if you must) discuss further possible exploration at the end.
Don't start by telling us what we won't be covering in this talk. Give us an outline of what is to come, and (if you must) discuss further possible exploration at the end.
3. Don't undermine your premise
If you start with a strong statement or idea, don't argue against yourself. You may feel this protects you from criticism but really you're just being your own worst critic. Leave it to the Q&A
If you start with a strong statement or idea, don't argue against yourself. You may feel this protects you from criticism but really you're just being your own worst critic. Leave it to the Q&A
4. Don't underestimate the audience.
This is not a school paper. You don't need to start with the dictionary definition. Speak to the top of your intelligence and assume the same from your listeners. If something fell through, they can ask you later.
This is not a school paper. You don't need to start with the dictionary definition. Speak to the top of your intelligence and assume the same from your listeners. If something fell through, they can ask you later.
5. Don't forget about the audience.
Talks about technology are ok. Talks about the presenter's point of view are good. Best talks, though, are about the audience. Ask yourself what you want to communicate, and make it relatable to problems they may have.
Talks about technology are ok. Talks about the presenter's point of view are good. Best talks, though, are about the audience. Ask yourself what you want to communicate, and make it relatable to problems they may have.
6. Don't forget to tie high-concept ideas to practical examples
The idea might be crystal clear in your head, and it's your job to transfer that to the audience's heads. If you talk about high concepts without grounding it to examples, you risk losing the audience.
The idea might be crystal clear in your head, and it's your job to transfer that to the audience's heads. If you talk about high concepts without grounding it to examples, you risk losing the audience.
7. Don't get meta
The talk is about the topic. Don't talk about the talk itself, where else you gave it, or what it could have been. Nobody knows what it was supposed to look like. Don't expose the machinery behind the magic.
The talk is about the topic. Don't talk about the talk itself, where else you gave it, or what it could have been. Nobody knows what it was supposed to look like. Don't expose the machinery behind the magic.
8. Don't forget to build a narrative
30 minutes is a long time. In order to keep your audience engaged, weave a narrative and stick to it. Laundry lists are rough on stage. Make sure you end with a conclusion.
30 minutes is a long time. In order to keep your audience engaged, weave a narrative and stick to it. Laundry lists are rough on stage. Make sure you end with a conclusion.
9. Don't forget the visuals
It's a conference. You put a lot of effort to your presentation. Make it show. If you don't have the design skills, ask a friend or use a template. Your content deserves a pretty dressing.
It's a conference. You put a lot of effort to your presentation. Make it show. If you don't have the design skills, ask a friend or use a template. Your content deserves a pretty dressing.
10. Most importantly, don't be this guy. 
