Hey Humans of Code!

Ever find yourself staring at a blank slide, wondering how to turn a jumble of ideas into a compelling presentation convinced you are a total fraud. Whether it’s a tech meet-up, a conference, an interview presentation, or even a blog post that will lead to a presentation (like this one!), the thought of speaking in front of an audience can be a bit daunting to say the least.

But here’s the thing: you’re not just presenting slides – you’re sharing a piece of yourself. And that’s where the magic happens.

This isn’t a rigid formula, but a friendly guide – a playbook that helps me navigate the world of presentations. Finding your own style is key, but I find a little structure and preparation can go a long way.

The Big Takeaway: You Are Your Presentation, Not Your Slides

Let’s get this straight: you are the heart of your presentation. Your slides are just support acts. It’s your passion, your story, your human connection that truly resonates. So how do I get started?

Getting started.

Before diving into slides or scripts, I answer three crucial questions. Do this before even naming your presentation, never mind starting any slides. I find this part the most useful and iterate, iterate, iterate loads before landing on what I want to actually present.

Practically – a Miro board, whiteboard, paper, word / google doc, a “planning” section at the end your slides (which you can hide or delete before the day). All these work well, make sure you have it to hand all the way through your preparation, keep yourself grounded to it.

And collaborate, whether this is with your boss, team, friends, co-presenter, or cat – get them involved from day one on this step.

Step 1: The Three Essential Questions

1. Objective: How Do You Want Your Audience to Feel? Think about the emotions you want to evoke. What’s the purpose of your presentation?
   • Case Study A: Tech Community Meetup (Mutual Mentorship and AI)
     • We want people to feel:
       • Intrigued
       • Entertained
       • Motivated
     • Purpose: Show how mutual mentorship can build confidence, skills, and connections through our “grit bin finder” project.
   • Case Study B: Umbraad Accessibility Conference
     • We want people to feel:
       • Empowered
       • Engaged
       • Interested
     • Purpose: Raise accessibility awareness, demystify the topic, and inspire action.
2. People, Problems, Pains: Who Are Your Audience, What Are Their Problems? Empathy is key. Put yourself in their shoes. Simply get started by writing a list of who they are and what their problems and concerns currently are round the subject.
   • Case Study A:
     • Audience: Tech community members, developers, leaders.
     • Problems/Pains:
       • Feeling isolated or lacking mentorship.
       • Struggling to learn new skills.
       • Wanting to build their personal brand.
   • Case Study B:
     • Audience: Umbraco developers, content editors, digital professionals.
     • Problems/Pains:
       • Overwhelmed by accessibility requirements and new legislation.
       • Seeing accessibility as a burden or cost.
       • Unsure how to make their work accessible.
3. Key Messages: What Are Your 3 Takeaways? What do you want your audience to remember most?
   • Case Study A:
     1. Mutual mentorship is a powerful tool for growth.
     2. Community-driven projects can lead to innovative solutions.
     3. AI can be explored in a fun and practical way.
   • Case Study B:
     1. Accessibility is an enabler, not a burden.
     2. Small steps can make a big difference.
     3. Accessibility is a community effort.

Step 2: Structuring Your Presentation (The CBDA Framework)

Now, let’s turn these insights into a structured presentation. Remember, it’s not about you; it’s about them. They want to know:

• Why should I listen to you?
• What’s in it for me?
• How does it work?
• What now?

Here’s a simple framework:

• C – Credibility: (Why should I listen to you?)
  • Establish your expertise or experience.
  • Case A: Briefly share your experience with mentorship and the grit bin project.
  • Case B: Highlight your involvement in the Umbraco Accessibility Guild.
• B – Benefits: (What’s in it for me?)
  • Focus on the value you’re providing.
  • Case A: Emphasise the benefits of mentorship: skill growth, confidence, connections.
  • Case B: Show how accessibility improves user experience and broadens reach.
• D – Details: (How does it work?)
  • Explain the process or concepts.
  • Case A: Share the steps of your grit bin project and the mentorship experience.
  • Case B: Provide practical tips and examples of accessible design.
• A – Action: (What now?)
  • Give clear next steps.
  • Case A: Encourage attendees to find a mentor or mentee.
  • Case B: Offer resources and actionable tips for improving accessibility.
  • Thank you and Q and A.

The Power of Three and Visuals

Remember, people pay attention to beginnings and endings. Keep your slides concise, split things (structure, messages, lists) into threes for harmony (and to keep your crowd’s attention), and use visuals to enhance your message.

Avoid wordy slides that bore your audience.

It is usually our instinct to focus on the details. Although it is important to spell these out and it is probably the bit of the presentation you think you really need to get across, it is actually the benefits that interest people the most.

Therefore major on the benefits. Do them first, and then try not to bore people with the details afterwards. Just simply link the detail to the benefit.

Final Thoughts

Presentations are about connection. It’s about sharing your passion and empowering others. So, face the fear. Everyone has it, embrace your humanity, letting your authentic self shine.

There is so much not covered here. For instance, your physical presence matters. Consider:

• Body Language: It speaks volumes. Ensure your posture is open and confident. Making appropriate eye contact can show you’re engaged and approachable.
• Hand Gestures: Use them naturally to emphasise points. Avoid fidgeting or keeping your hands rigidly by your sides. Let them flow with your words.
• Congruence: Ensure your body language matches your message. If you’re talking about passion, let your enthusiasm show in your expressions and gestures. If you are talking about empathy, show it in your face.
• Starting Strong: Before you begin, take a deep breath and breathe out. Step forward confidently and welcome your audience. A simple “Good morning, everyone. I’m so glad to be here today… <pause – breathe out>…”. This sets a welcoming tone combined with an open hand gesture and gets you past the most terrifying bit of a presentation, starting! Then tell them who you are and your credibility story, why you are here talking to them, e.g. “I’m Jonny, 25 years ago I … etc etc”.
• Breathing: Before and during your presentation make sure to breathe. This will help you stay calm and help you to focus. Top tip – breathe out first and then start strong.

Remember, it’s okay to feel nervous. Use that energy to fuel your passion. Practice, prepare, and most importantly, be yourself. Your audience wants to connect with you, the human behind the presentation.

What are your go-to presentation tips? Sign up, say hello, and share them in our spaces.

Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash