I had the opportunity to meet JP Campbell (better known as
jpblogger on Twitter) and after following him for a few days, came across the tweet below which intrigued me:
jpblogger:
Saw an amazing presentation this afternoon. You have to like it when the right products and the perfect presenter come together.
so I came back and tweeplied (i.e. replied via Twitter) & we had the following conversation (thanks summize!) :
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jpblogger:
@eMarv Communicates complicated material well, encourages questions/participation yet still leads, shows respect to everyone in the room ... 11 minutes later ·
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eMarv:
@jpblogger great definition of presenters! what do u think is the best way 2 present complex material? anecdotes? other? 25 minutes later ·
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jpblogger:
@eMarv Between calls, sorry! Anecdotes are very good also visualizations in words or graphics ... Back to calls ... 31 minutes later ·
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eMarv:
@jpblogger re our mini exchange re presenters, do u mind if I ask u a couple more Qs to do a mini T interview to post to a blog w/props 2 u? about 4 hours later ·
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1. Question: Why do presenters present?
Answer: Presenters are doing their thing for a variety of reasons. For example, they may want to: increase sales; raise funds; inspire action; or share knowledge. Whatever the circumstance they should always have the same goal – to have the audience leave with their message.
2. Question: What must a presenter do to prepare a perfect presentation?
Answer: The perfect presenter has his goal. He then must know who his audience are. Are they familiar with the subject matter? Do they need technical information? Is there the potential for social or cultural misunderstanding that could distract from the message?
Next, the perfect presenter should be aware of the environment. Is the setting intimate? How much time does he have? Have potential technical issues been taken into consideration? What has the audience heard from others before he steps on the stage? I'll give an example on this last point.
Several years ago I was asked to give a presentation in the UK on corporate VPNs. I reviewed the program and what did I notice? The speaker before me was Richard Hollis. Richard is known across Europe as a true leader in the field of computer security. He's also a terrific speaker. What! I had to follow Richard Hollis? This was not going to be easy. Fortunately I found his email address and immediately contacted him. What issues I could avoid in my "talk" because they would already have been addressed by him?
The response I received was terrific and a great learning experience for me. Richard sent me his slides. He also told me he wanted those gathered to have a general understanding of security threats and their personal responsibilities. I modified my presentation to take off from where Richard concluded. I did not bore the audience with duplicate information and I had more time to give to other issues. In the end, I think we delivered not two separate talks but a rather good "one two" information punch.
3. Question: How do perfect presenters present?
Answer: With basic background done, it's time for the actual presentation. The best presenters I have seen immediately establish their presence. They may introduce their authority or expertise on their subject but they never give the impression that they're special. Rather they try to convey that they are where they are because that's where their interests and experiences have brought them. Then speaker and the audience are together at that moment, with their own backgrounds, because that's where life has brought them. This also establishes a mutual respect. Immediately there is something in common.
As the perfect presenter moves through his agenda he will illustrate his ideas with words and/or graphics. I remember being concerned when I heard a certain fellow say he was going to explain "open source" geospatial information. The audience was a well educated group using diverse software packages but they were management not "techies". He asked to see who in the group owned a car or took public transportation? The vast majority raised their hands. "Imagine your software brand is like a car. Well, I'm not here to tell you that you have to buy a Ford or an Audi. Keep the car you like. Open source is like a fuel that can power all of you no matter what vehicle you have." He now had these managers' interest. They wouldn't have to change the familiar. The presenter then began to introduce them to more in-depth information.
4. Who are some perfect presenters?
Answer: Perfect presenters are out there. Sir Ken Robinson uses excellent graphics with great stories to speak to the subjects of education and creativity. Lieutenant-General Roméo Alain Dallaire, portrayed in film and documentary, commanded the ill-fated UN mission to Rawanda that saw the slaughter of thousands. He has paid a personal price for this experience but inspires audiences none-the-less. Finally, I would add Ray Zahab. He has run the Sahara (documented by Matt Damon). Ray has the ability to inspire people where they are and he does it with a sense of humour and honesty.
BTW, twitterviewing = twitter interviews or interviews initiated in twitter
Tags: twitterviewing, twitter, twitter interviews, presentations, perfect presenters, jpblogger, interview, Q&A, eMarv
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Enjoy the rest of the Q&A:
In the interview, Steven shares how he has achieved his status on LinkedIn, his philosophy about networking and his non-profit, Burda Consulting, which he does (as he states on his LinkedIn profile) "at no-cost with no expectations in return." (Great guy, isn't he?)
