Presentation Technique

Published

May 5, 2025

Under construction

First: Plan

The absolute first thing you need to understand about your talk, is who you will be talking to.

Pitch (to investors):

  1. Strong opening (a “Punch in the nose”: PIN)
  2. Need
  3. Approach
  4. Benefits at the given cost (cost/benefit ratio)
  5. Competition (and why you’re better)
  6. Financials (amount needed, use and returning how much by when)
  7. Close with the ”The Ask” (Get to further discussion)

Presenting PMx science

Slides:

  1. Intro
  2. Conclusion (pause for questions, to guide the rest of the presentation) “tell ’em what you’re gonna tell ’em”
  3. Results (that support conclusion) “tell ’em”
  4. Conclusion “tell ’em what you told ’em”
  5. Many backup slides on details e.g., methods, demographic tables, graphics on study design, details on exclusion, PK sampling, etc.

Second: Design

  • Minimize text
  • Max 5 bullet points per slide (if you use slides)
  • You are the presentation, not the slide deck.
    • The focus of the audience should be on you
    • Use the ability to shut off the slide deck (turn screen black or white), when it is not needed.
  • Presentations are about entertainment
    • This does not mean that you omit scientific details
    • Rather, the entertainment aspect puts emphasis on the important details

Slide design basics

  • Be consistent with your slide-design. The safest way is to use a template.
  • Use a plain background with a solid dark or bright color
  • Control attention
    • We are drawn to the colors red, yellow, and orange; as well as size, contrasts and movements.
    • Let the most important thing be the most visible (i.e., the biggest).
    • YOU CAN’T GO TOO BIG (but you can go too small)
  • Focus the audience attention with clever use of blurr and colored boxes.
  • If you need a laser pointer, your slide is probably too detailed/messy.
  • Stick to a color theme.
    • Make the colors mean something across all slides.
  • Use slide numbers
  • Avoid intrusive in-your-face company logos on every slide
  • One message per slide
    • We can only think one conscious thought each moment
  • Separate speech and slide
    • We can’t listen and read entire sentences at the same time
  • Don’t write entire paragraphs on a slide
    • And do not read slides word-for-word
  • Max 6 objects per slide
    • That is approximately the limit of human perception.
    • Some people can percieve more, some less. Don’t make it too hard for your audience!
  • Images, with color
    • We remember colored images better than text or black/white images
  • Don’t use figures straight from a paper
    • Label them, make them readable, and relevant
  • Be restrictive with animations If used, they shall be relevant and not steal the attention from you

Third: Practice

Practice your talk

  • Go through your talk a couple of times.
    • Read it out loud, as you would in a real situation.
  • If you want, record yourself and watch the recording.

Go to the venue where you will talk.

  • Where will you be?
  • Will your slides be seen from the backmost row?
  • Will you need a microphone?
  • Will you need some other equipment, like an extension cord, some adapter?
  • If you will be recorded, where can you move so you don’t go out of picture?

If presenting “offline”

  • What projector will you be using
  • How will the slides look like on that specific projector
    • In that specific room
    • At that specific time of the day (i.e., lighting conditions)

Fourth: Deliver

Right before

  • Turn on the lights. It’s not bed time.
  • Put up the title slide on the screen for all to see
  • Go to the bathroom
  • Have (sparkling) water close by
  • Silence your phone
  • Stand up
    • If you sit down, people won’t pay as much attention
  • State that clarifying questions are allowed
    • Save discussion points for after the presentation

During

  • Use a remote. Don’t move back and forth from the laptop (aka the ppt-dance).
  • Speak up! We want to hear you!
  • Pay attention to your audience Are they following? Are they asleep?
  • If the audience seems lost: ASK! It is your responsibility to explain, not their responsibility to understand.
  • Talk to one person at a time, not the entire crowd.
    • Look him/her in the eyes, explain your point, then switch person.
  • Trust yourself. The audience wants you too succeed, and they are interested in what you have to say.

Fifth: Aftermath

  • Seek feedback.
  • Reflect on feedback.
  • Share your talk online.