5 tips for star technical presentations

This article is part of our exclusive series of career counseling in cooperation with IEE Technology and Engineering Management Society.

They taught graduates’ communication courses with high-tech disciplines for more than ten years. Although students who come to my programs are qualified in technical areas, expertise is only part of the equation for professional success.

The ability to communicate clearly and convincingly complicated ideas is decisive for the success of every technical expert. Whether they are customers, colleagues or leadership, take the time to develop and practicing your presentation skills to impress.

Here are five tips for mastering technical presentations.

Get to know your audience

One size is not suitable for presentations. Not all members of the audience want or need to know about specific technical aspects of your ideas, recommendations or conclusions.

The introduction that all parties involved must receive the same information is a common mistake among technical experts. In order to have this pitfall, the moderator must do three things:

• Assess the audience. Are they non -perceiving, technical peers or management? The complexity of the message should be added to the answer. Note that everyone will probably be enthusiastic about technical information as you are.
• To understand the goals. What does the audience need from your presentation? Update? Information about budget or staff needs? Make your presentation to help those who are in your audience achieve their goals.
• Read the room. If you notice that your eyes are glazing, or people who check their phone, continue strength. Measure the audience as you speak. Use stimuli to adapt, clarify or simplify information.

Mastering presentations means understanding your audience. As you describe your work to your friend, manager or CTO, it must differ because any person you add has different and expertise.

Keep in mind that it can help shape your speech and terminology.

Bluf principle

The principle of the lower line ahead (Bluf) is a necessity in the presentation of technical information. It is essential that as a speaker you define your key with you soon to know the audience what you are trying to tell.

You will start your presentation with your recommendations or conclusions and then structure the rest of your content to support these elements.

“You are developing your presentation skills, En Ening that you can effectively share your expertise and ideas with others – which is necessary for your success.”

Perhaps the biggest challenge for technical presentations is crushing real technical data. It can be difficult. Remember, however, that in most boxes, non -technical people, you share your passion for details.

Including most of the information in your presentation helps to ensure that you do not get lost on weekends. Save the data of deep dives for materials to complete or support the audience questions.

Bottom line depends on the goal of the presentation. Do you provide the status of the project, describe the technical problem that needs solutions, requires financing of equipment or tools, requires a change in the scope for product specification or by requesting approval for key delivery? Whatever the goal, your audience should be announced from the beginning.

Become a narrator

The biggest mistake I see with technical professionals during presentations is the failure of the human connection – “so” for data. Although people want a solid base of solid technical reasoning, they also want to understand the consequences of what you present. How can your proposed solution solve or provide a positive outcome for end users?

A great way to complete your presentation is visuals that match your story that helps the audience to turn abstract numbers into relative data. If you are interested in how to start incorporating the narrative into your presentations, use a simple distillation of a linear narrative arch to hand over your story with the following elements:

• Challenge: How did you start with this research, project or way? Explain the problem you are trying to solve and discuss the catalyst. You may have failed a product failure or the participating party faced a complex problem without an existing solution. Use the story to set the internship for your presentation.
• Process: Explain the projects of the project or problem and the different ways of thinking about it. Also discussion about any challenges or roadblocks you support.
• Resolution: Explain how you solved the problem or have finished your way. What was the impact of your work? How does it relate to what viewers care about?

The narrative can be a powerful tool for production in the presentation. As a bonus, it can help you think about the organizational structure of your presentation, which is a key element for understanding and maintaining the audience.

Be authentic

Speakers who are real and relative create more news and involvement of the audience. Among the technical professionals, excessive use of jargon and too technical language is a real risk. Make sure you match the tone and knowledge of the audience.

The purpose of the presentation is to clearly communicate, not to dazzle the audience with its command of the discipline.

Some of the best presentations I have heard are those in which the spokesperson discuss the challenge that they personally faced in attempting a problem. It requires the speaker to have a certain vulnerability and openness with the audience.

This may feel uncomfortable for a technical expert, but it can help you create a message with the audience.

Makes a perfect practice

The ability to communicate your ideas, processes and solutions is crucial for success. Providing impressive presentations is a skill and like any skill you need to practice it. Athletes understand that repetition creates muscle memory and trust. The same applies to presentation skills.

Do not try to perfection. Take every opportunity you can introduce to people. When creating presentation skills, seek feedback from the TROM colleagues and adjust accordingly. With each presentation you provide, you can develop your competences and trust.

Soft skills are necessary

Communication is too often a return to a soft skill that is pleasant. However, this should be considered necessary for success, especially in technical fields, where complicated ideas and concepts are abounded.

By incorporating five tips in this article, technical experts can convey complex ideas more efficiently and convincingly and leave a lasting impact on their audience.

To ensure a buy-in, support or resources, your ideas must be communicated clearly and rarely.

As a technical expert, you understand the importance of constantly expanding your knowledge to remain up to date in your field, and communication skills must be part of the equation. By developing your presentation skills you are Ennant that you can effectively share your expertise and ideas with others.

Remember: Your ideas are just as good as your ability to communicate them to others.