Lessons Learned

I previously mentioned my conference travel and my visit to a local Toastmasters club. I also wanted to share some of the presentation lessons I learned from watching three days of speakers with Powerpoint. Unfortunately, these lessons are based on real-life negative experiences.

Lesson 1. Review your slides. One speaker's slides were truly unappealing. there was a dark red font on a black background that seemed almost invisible. Graphics were paster over text. The text on each slide flowed beyond the template's visible margins. A review of these slides by a colleague or two may have provided valuable feedback to improve the presentation.

Lesson 2. Slide are only support materials. One speaker seemed to put the entire text of his presentation on to the slides-- and then proceeded to read it all. Slides are meant to highlight, support or reinforce what the speaker says-- that why they are called bullet points and visual aides.

Lesson 3. Branding can be inhibiting. My office has prescribed a specific template and layout for staff to use when crafting presentations. In preparing my materials, I was limited in organizing some information in the way I wanted because specific elements were part of the standard layout. Also, in applying the new, branded template, a great deal of manual reformatting and editing was required.

Lesson 4. You've got to practice. This really came to light when a three person team gave a three hour presentation in five hours. Part of this came from repeated questions and interruptions, but part was in the lack of practice- knowing what they needed to get a across, who the audience was and what could be trimmed. Practice may have also meant knowing how long it actually was.

Lesson 5. Be flexible. Things will be happening throughout the conference that will affect your presentation-- up to and including events during your delivery. Questions are always a big reason to be flexible. The room layout may be something you have no control over and your setup will be dependent upon it. Earlier speakers may take the wind out of your sails, providing some of the same information. Other speakers may go overtime, and you'll be the one who has to shorten up. Be prepared for the potential pitfalls and know how you can react and can adapt.

These are just a few of the lessons I learned this week. To share them all would require a book. Toastmasters, though, helped me through the conference and my presentation. For that, I am grateful.