On the plane again back home after a week on the road in
London. Besides the constant weather of 150 shades of grey in London all went
pretty well.
2 days conference. 9 to 5 booth camp. Don't they realize
even I cannot be overly nice to everyone for that long...?
Day 2, a bit slow, I tell my colleagues I am going to
attend this one pitch. Perhaps besides just giving my back a break I may even
learn a thing or two. I chose a specific presentation which seemed to
potentially possess the right combination of titles - the title of the
presenter as well as the presentation. Session starts at 2pm and I am thinking
to myself it is a perfect timing as it is right after lunch so no one will be hungry
and right after lunch so no one will be tired just yet.
5 minutes to ShowTime and there is no one empty seat.
Some impatient buzzing among the audience and then he shows up. Vibrant,
smiling, dressed well. All of the elements for an amazing performance.
This is where I drift a bit in my writing and remind you
dear reader about the ultimate combination of the What and the How. The content
as well as the delivery.
You see, even if you are incredibly knowledgeable of
history it does not make you good at teaching history. Even if you know your
business extremely well it does not mean you can articulate it properly. The
one who possesses both the What and the How is the one! The ultimate
communicator.
So Mr. Title clears his throat while checking to make
sure the mic is on, every one of the roughly 85 people quiets down, the title
slide is on with the title of the presentation and Mr. Title starts introducing
himself. I observe every move, every nuance, body language, eye contact. He is
pretty good. I peak at my watch and realize Mr. Title has been at it for about
6 minutes now and the title on the slide, right underneath Mr. Title's title
himself is still on the screen. Is it possible that he is the one? The ultimate
communicator who will barely use the slides? The one who can combine the
content with the delivery? But then I'm thinking....hang on, he's been at it
for six...now seven minutes and didn't say one word related to the title. Of
the presentation that is. I look around and people start checking out their
phones, 3 people yawning and one even got up and left (very rude by the way).
Time goes by and Mr. Title is still swirling around his background and...you
guessed it...his title.
All in all....14 minutes before he started talking about
the topic at hand. Let me spell it out - FOUR FREAKING TEEN!! Out of 1 hour
session.
At this point I am still positive. Perhaps there is still
a chance. 4 members of the audience I guess are not as optimistic, they pretend
to be taking an important call and leave the room.
FOURTEEN minutes!!
The title slide is flipped. Looking at the slide I see on
the top - his title (but of course) and a couple of bullets. Well-designed
slide.
And then, oh then it happened. Then Mr. Title surprised
even me. I feel shivering down my spine. Perhaps I am imagining. Perhaps it is
a typo. Maybe I simply cannot see well but it was there. Small. On the bottom
left. The hara-kiri of the presenter, the ultimate showdown, the mother
of all spoilers is there....
2 of 56
KILL ME NOW!! Are you kidding me?
A quick math - he will never make it. 5 more are drifting
out the door.
Please, when you are preparing for a presentation, use
fewer words and more pictures. And show how many slides you have on your deck
ONLY if you have about 3 or 4 slides left. Just trust me on that.
2 of 56!!!!!!!!!
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