Because bad presentations can kill good ideasby Megan Mead

HOW NOT 2 SUCKAT PRESENTING YOUR WORK

Megan Mead

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 2

MEGANMEAD· BFA Communication Design,

double minor in Theatre & Marketing

· 15 yrs of theatrical training & experience

· Worked with brands such as AT&T, 7-11, FedEx, The Long Center, & Westcave Preserve

· Speaking gigs include SXSWi 2013, RISE Week Austin & AIGA DFW Design: Big Week

ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER&EDUCATIONALSPEAKER

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 3

WHAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT TODAY · why presenting well is a big deal

· what good presentations do/should achieve

· how to give a good presentation

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 4

WHY IS MAKING A GOOD PRESENTATION A BIG DEAL?

BAD PRESENTATIONS CAN KILL GOOD IDEAS · audiences/clients have a hard time separating a good idea from a poor presentation

· presentations are the bridge between your target audience and your idea

· avoid singing a great song badly

What we’ll be presenting to all of you today

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 5

WHY IS MAKING A GOOD PRESENTATION A BIG DEAL?

A GOOD PRESENTATION CREATES VALUES

The Presentation Tri-force: sustains valuable relationships between these 3 forces

YOU Y O U R T E A M

CLIENT

IDEA

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 6

WHY IS MAKING A GOOD PRESENTATION A BIG DEAL?

MEGG’S SALARY SAGA · how I talked my way into a job

· presenting well can have a concrete effect on your career path

· Age is relative—skills are not

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 7

AGOODPRESENTATIONSHOULD… MAKE THE COMPLEX UNDERSTANDABLE · in ways that make sense to your audience/clients

· speak to them on their turf and in their terms

· they won’t advocate for what they can’t understand

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 8

AGOODPRESENTATIONSHOULD… CREATE EMPATHY · understanding an idea(s) is different than caring about it

· answer these questions: “Why should they care?” and “How will this create value for them now and in the future?”

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 9

AGOODPRESENTATIONSHOULD… MEET THE FOLLOWING PRIMARY GOALS · it is well-organized

· it is engaging

· it is professional

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 10

AGOODPRESENTATIONISWELL-ORGANIZED:

THE 3 “P’S” OF PRESENTING · plan

· prepare

· practice

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 11

AGOODPRESENTATIONISWELL-ORGANIZED:

THE 1ST “P:” PLAN WELL · don’t overload your slides!

· be a diva—nothing, not even your slides— should upstage you

· remember: “You’re not Quentin Tarrantino” tell a well-structured, easy-to-follow storyline

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 12

AGOODPRESENTATIONISWELL-ORGANIZED:

THE 1ST “P:” PLAN WELL | STORY STRUCTURE

1INTRO/FRAMINGOUTLINE KEY POINTS

2ARTICULATETHEMSUPPORT WITH YOUR

RATIONALES

3REITERATE KEY POINTSS U M M A R I Z EEND W/ MEMORY BITE

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 13

AGOODPRESENTATION ISWELL-ORGANIZED: THE 2ND “P:” PREPARE · tailor your presentation to your audience (a CEO requires info & delivery differently from a CD, or a Board President)

· vocal warm-ups: prep it up to step it up

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 14

AGOODPRESENTATIONISWELL-ORGANIZED:

THE 2ND “P:” VOCAL WARM UPS | WHY? · preps: your voice is your #1 tool

· relaxes: your voice can betray you “A warm voice is a confident voice”

· focuses: take a minute for yourself

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 15

AGOODPRESENTATIONISWELL-ORGANIZED:

THE 2ND“P:”VOCALWARMUPS|HOW?· shake it out: get loose and get silly to get ready

· BDGD: warm up your vocal muscles

· tongue twisters: get your mouth ready for any sound, any sentence—anything

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 16

AGOODPRESENTATIONISWELL-ORGANIZED:

THE 2ND“P:”TONGUETWISTERS· Unique New York. You need New York. You know you need unique New York.

· toy boat, toy boat, toy boat…

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 17

AGOODPRESENTATIONISWELL-ORGANIZED:

THE 3RD“P”:PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE· do not “wing it”

· practice in a way that works for you

· if you practice well, you will present well

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 18

AGOODPRESENTATIONISENGAGING

DON’TREADSTRAIGHTFROMTHESLIDES· they can read, so you should talk

· straight reading kills your vocal projection

· it undermines the strength of your ideas

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 19

AGOODPRESENTATIONISENGAGING

IMPROVEXERCISE#1:SPEAK ON THE FLY· things rarely go by script—practice extemporaneous speaking

· how: grab a magazine, pick a page at random, and speak about its contents for 60 seconds non-stop

· why?: doing this helps you practice speaking on the fly, as well as the ability to think on your feet

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 20

AGOODPRESENTATIONISENGAGING

SHOWSOMEENTHUSIASM· if you aren’t excited, they won’t be either

· channel your nervousness

· fake it ’til you make it

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 21

AGOODPRESENTATIONISENGAGING

IMPROVEXERCISE#2:BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT· practice drawing positive attention to yourself whenever you can

· how: be an audience volunteer, read out loud to your spouse or pet, make announcements at work

· why?: practice creates confidence & confidence is more engaging

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 22

AGOODPRESENTATIONISENGAGING

BODYLANGUAGE&STAGEPRESENCE· stay open: don’t cross your arms or slump your shoulders

· stay respectful: stand or sit professionally & confidently

· stay appropriate: utilize the “cone of movement”

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 23

AGOODPRESENTATIONISPROFESSIONAL

ATTIRE&ATTITUDE· act as if time and money are on the line every time

· dress, speak & act appropriately

· when in doubt, dress up & speak up

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 24

AGOODPRESENTATIONISPROFESSIONAL

IMPROVEXERCISE#3:RULEOFAGREEMENT· how: don’t deny your scene partner’s declarations

· use “and” rather than “no”

· why?: this helps you appear more professional & unified

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 25

TOSUMMARIZE BEYOURSELF,BUTBETTER · a good presentation is a genuine presentation

· be true to you (just be a less nervous you)

· find what works, forget what doesn’t

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 26

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER... PRESENTINGWELLISPARAMOUNT· plan, prepare & practice

· utilize some of these tips & tricks to improve your presentation performance

· above all, be organized, be engaging & be professional

H O W N O T 2 S U C K AT P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R W O R K | by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 27

QUESTIONS? CONTACTINFO

EMAIL | not2suck@gmail.com

TWIT TER | @hn2s

C O M I N G S O O N | not2suck.com