Another Version of How NOT 2 Suck at Presenting Your Work that was created for a design agency that wants to help their employees improve their presentation performance.

1. HOW NOT 2 SUCK
AT PRESENTING YOUR WORK
Because bad presentations can kill good ideas
by Megan Mead

2. HOW NOT 2 SUCK AT PRESENTING YOUR WORK |
MEGAN MEAD
by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 2
ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER
& EDUCATIONAL SPEAKER
Megan Mead
·
BFA Communication Design,
double minor in Theatre
Marketing
· yrs of theatrical training
15
experience
·
Worked with brands such as
ATT, 7-11, FedEx, The Long
Center, Westcave Preserve
·
Speaking gigs include SXSWi
2013, RISE Week Austin AIGA
DFW Design: Big Week

3. HOW NOT 2 SUCK AT PRESENTING YOUR WORK |
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

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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

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WHY IS MAKING A GOOD
What we’ll be presenting
PRESENTATION A BIGtoday
DEAL?
to all of you
A GOOD PRESENTATION CREATES VALUES
The Presentation Tri-force:
sustains valuable relationships
between these 3 forces
CLIENT
IDEA
YOU
YOUR
TEAM

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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

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by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 7
A GOOD
PRESENTATION
SHOULD…
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

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A GOOD
PRESENTATION
SHOULD…
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?”

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A GOOD
PRESENTATION
SHOULD…
MEET THE FOLLOWING PRIMARY GOALS
· it is well-organized
· it is engaging
· it is professional

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by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 10
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS WELL-ORGANIZED:
THE 3 “P’S” OF PRESENTING
· plan
· prepare
· practice

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by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 11
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS WELL-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

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A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS WELL-ORGANIZED:
THE 1ST “P:” PLAN WELL | STORY STRUCTURE
1
INTRO/FRAMING
OUTLINE KEY POINTS
2
ARTICULATE THEM
SUPPORT WITH YOUR
RATIONALES
3
REITERATE KEY POINTS
SUMMARIZE
END W/ MEMORY BITE

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A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS WELL-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

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by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 14
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS WELL-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

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by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 15
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS WELL-ORGANIZED:
THE 2ND “P:” VOCAL WARM UPS | 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

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A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS WELL-ORGANIZED:
THE 2ND “P:” TONGUE TWISTERS
· Unique New York. You need New York. You know you
need unique New York.
· toy boat, toy boat, toy boat…

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by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 17
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS WELL-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

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A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
DON’T READ STRAIGHT FROM THE SLIDES
· they can read, so you should talk
·
straight reading kills your vocal projection
· undermines the strength of your ideas
it

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A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
IMPROV EXERCISE #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

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by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 20
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
SHOW SOME ENTHUSIASM
· if you aren’t excited, they won’t be either
· channel your nervousness
· fake it ’til you make it

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A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
IMPROV EXERCISE #2: BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
· practice drawing positive attention to yourself whenever
you can
· ow: be an audience volunteer, read out loud to your spouse
h
or pet, make announcements at work
· why?: practice creates confidence confidence
is more engaging

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A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
BODY LANGUAGE STAGE PRESENCE
· 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”

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A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS PROFESSIONAL
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

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A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS PROFESSIONAL
IMPROV EXERCISE #3: RULE OF AGREEMENT
· how: don’t deny your scene partner’s declarations
· use “and” rather than “no”
· why?: this helps you appear more professional unified

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TO SUMMARIZE
BE YOURSELF, BUT BETTER
· a good presentation is a genuine presentation
· be true to you (just be a less nervous you)
· find what works, forget what doesn’t

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AND ALWAYS REMEMBER...
PRESENTING WELL IS PARAMOUNT
· plan, prepare practice
· utilize some of these tips tricks to improve
your presentation performance
· above all, be organized, be engaging be professional

27. HOW NOT 2 SUCK AT PRESENTING YOUR WORK |
QUESTIONS?
CONTACT INFO
EMAIL | not2suck@gmail.com
TWITTER | @hn2s
COMING S OON | not2suck.com
by Megan Mead | @hn2s | #not2suck | 27