“Speak" like an Analyst - Part 2: Presenting

Our analyst training program splits the skill “Speak" like an Analysis (SLA) into two themes: Collaboration and Presentation

          1) Verbally collaborating with other analysts to produce products

          2) Presenting finished products to customers

This specific post focuses on Presentation:

Some analysts just have that natural charm and infectious enthusiasm that make them natural presenters. Fortunately for the rest of us, good presentations and oral briefings are easier to learn from an instructor than writing. In the finest tradition of working at a university, I’m much better at critiquing presentations given by student than giving one myself.

We first cover the basics: Watch your “ums,” plant your feet on the ground if you have a tendency to fidget, and whatever you do, don’t making something up - it’s likely to bite you in the bum at some point. If the audience asks a question you don't know the answer to, say something along the lines of "That is a great question, but I don't know the answer. I will definitely get back to you on that."

We stress with students that they should always consider the following when preparing presentations:

   1)   “Who is your audience?"

   2)   "Why are they at your presentation?"
   3)   "What do you want them to think, do, or say upon walking out of the room?”

That third point in particular is critical.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, we spend a significant amount of time discussing Microsoft PowerPoint. It’s pretty standard educational material: don’t have a wall of text, keep things clear and simple, when in doubt, be conservative. 

The only non-generic material we cover is the annoying problem of designing a PowerPoint presentation that makes sense if read as a separate document, while still insuring the presenter doesn’t just read off the slides when orally briefing.

Example Lesson:

Our Program briefs sponsors and other customers on a broad array of topics regularly. We make sure the students present whatever project they are currently working on. Sometimes, we don't give the students a long time to prepare. This is great practice for the workplace.

By the time the students graduate, We want them to be better presenters than us. I'm proud when this occur.

Though, I also can get a little depressed when comparing their presentation abilities to my own lol.

I considered sharing a presentation produced by a student. I decided against this because I think their is little educational value in doing so. Instead, I have attached a link to a PowerPoint presentation we put together for the students on the basics of using.., well, PowerPoint. 

Note: The attached presentation is designed to be given in person. Therefore, the purpose of some slides might be lost. Sorry, I'm too lazy right now to go back and tailor it for remote use. Perhaps I'll do it in the future. 

The PowerPoint presentation link: PowerPoint Design Guide

I suggest downloading and running it through PowerPoint as opposed to using Google Docs. It'll make some of the points (particularly the section on transitions) more clear.