Delivering the Technical Presentation: Myths and Mistakes

By Lisa Marshall, Managing Director for anEdge

"He is an expert in his field. He shows dozens of slides crammed with data. He talks in a monotone, directly to the screen. Unfortunately, I tune out."

Although expertise is extremely important, today, communicating technical ideas persuasively to management, customers and peers is equally important. Your ability to make a compelling presentation often decides whether you win contracts, receive funding, or advance in your career. This article uncovers the "truth" about the three most common delivery mistakes of technical presenters.

1. "Your audience requires a lot of technical detail in order to evaluate your ideas".

This myth suggests that technical people are eager for a "data dump". However, just the opposite is true. Hewlett-Packard Labs conducted a survey to determine what technical audiences want to hear from other technical presenters. The results showed that technical people want less technical detail and more concise organization. Talks that are easy to follow and well organized are preferred. Many technical professionals have asked, "but shouldn't I include all the equations and references to fully support my assertions?" Studies show, that simplifying the messages is more successful. Full support is important; however, include it your written handout. Your interested audience members will be able to refer to it and analyze the details later. During your talk, it is important to repeat and simplify your main ideas so that you create increased attentiveness and retention of your ideas. The ability to distill technical information down to the essential core. is perhaps the single most important delivery skill of a technical presenter

2. Content is everything. Style is unimportant and enthusiasm is offensive.

Contrary to this popular myth, the Hewlett-Packard study again indicated that technical audiences want more enthusiasm and effective style, including better visuals. Technical audiences are sometimes skeptical of too much style and enthusiasm. Alternatively, a tentative, unenthusiastic delivery will ruin a speaker's effectiveness. The key is to use facial expressions, specific gestures and vocal variety to communicate and promote confidence and enthusiasm for your topic. Try to imagine yourself engaged in a heightened one-on-one conversation.

Many engineers/scientists have said to me, if the science is good, the delivery shouldn't matter. However, studies consistently show that body language and tone of voice, together, provides almost all of the overall message impact, while actual words supply less than 10%. Not only does delivery matter, it is critical for you to develop and incorporate nonverbal communication skills into your presentations.

Your effective style and confident delivery, in addition to your visuals, are the most important factors affecting your audience.

3."The text on the visuals is more important than the speaker."

Does the "talking visual" sound familiar? The lights are dimmed, the technical expert is barely seen, but his voice can be heard narrating each visual. It is important to understand that you, the speaker, are always the focal point of your presentation. Do not hide in the darkness, or behind the lectern. Try to position yourself front and center, under a light if you can, while using an effective delivery style to remain the center of attention. Use your visuals only to control your pace and flow. Remember never to turn your back to the audience and never talk to projection screen Finally, keep in mind that 20 percent of what you say will provide 80 percent of the impact and only this critical 20 percent should be in visual form. Your visuals are not meant to contain every word or idea of your speech.

Summary
Now you know the basics of delivery: solid organizations, varied delivery, enthusiastic style, and simple creative visuals. When technical speakers finally believe and implement these basic "truths" and dismiss the myths, they too will join the ranks of other excellent presenters.

Learn more about Lisa Marshall in our Contributors area.