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Last active April 4, 2019 15:20
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How to give a talk -- by Bosco So
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Bosco_So_how_to_give_a_talk.md

How to Give a Talk

Treat it like a Meal

  • Appetizer - tell your audience what you’ll be talking about
  • Entree - the actual content
  • Dessert - summarize
  • Take away - something the audience can go home with

How do you get attention?

  • Ask a question
  • Vary tone
  • Eye contact
  • Dynamic movement, often there’s no need to stay stationary
  • Move around, break the 4th wall, get the audience to turn their body to follow you

Hands

  • If you have active hands, you’re all set. If you have quiet hands:
  • Not in your pants pockets. No key jingling please.
  • “Pastor hands”
  • Use a coffee mug or a glass of water as a prop.

Physical Conditions

  • Time of day: 11AM probably best. Avoid post digestive torpor after lunch.
  • If you have slides, dim yourself but light the audience. Don’t let them fall asleep. Walk among them.

Whiteboard/Slides

  • Face the audience, if possible
  • Avoid talking into the board
  • Set up a mouse clicker so you’re not trapped behind a podium.

Wrap Up

  • Dessert - tell the audience what you told them
  • Leave time for questions
  • Leave them a take away - a departing gift. A slide deck, for instance.
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