As a scholar and researcher, you likely have ample experience presenting your work to others. You probably present your work regularly at conferences or scholarly meetings, and perhaps you even have experience teaching at a University or College. However, presenting in non-academic, non-scholarly contexts, like writing or other forms of communication, is different than presenting in scholarly ones. This page will offer some tips for getting the most out of the opportunity to present to non-scholarly audiences.
Use Science Communication Best Practices:
Chapter 2 of this guidebook has shown you many best practices for science communication generally. Tips like avoiding jargon, using metaphor and analogy, telling a story, and using humour definitely apply when you are presenting your work. Make use of as many best practices as you can to create a compelling presentation and connect your work with your audience.
Know Your Audience:
You may be asked to present to non-specialist audiences in a variety of different contexts. For example, you may be asked to present to a group of government policy makers so that they can make an important decision, or you might be presenting to a professional organization who does work related to your area of expertise. You may be asked to present to a small group, or to a very large audience at an annual meeting or conference. Get to know the context in which you are speaking and the individuals you are speaking to. This will allow you to develop a presentation that really resonates, allowing you to…
…Tailor Your Presentation:
As you are putting together your presentation, do some research on your audience so you can use analogies that resonate with them, or apply your work to a context that they are familiar with. If you are presenting, for example to a group of practitioners during a lunch or dinner session, you may need to make your presentation more impactful or engaging than if you are presenting to a small group of government decision makers around a conference table. Try to create a presentation with examples, stories or analogies that will resonate with your audience. No two presentations should be exactly the same, even if they are about the same topic.
Introduce Yourself With Impact (And Other Ways to Mix It Up):
Did you know that the most impactful place to introduce yourself may not be the first slide? In fact, introducing yourself on the second or third slide, after you’ve introduced your big idea, key problem, or research question may be more impactful than introducing yourself on the first slide of your presentation. Overall, keep a linear storyline for non-academic presentations, but try to avoid boring the audience by starting with an “agenda” or other standard introduction. Instead, let the story guide people along the path of your presentation in an interesting way, and avoid falling back on boring tropes.
Memorize Your Presentation:
In many academic presentations, scientists use their slides almost as notes for their presentation. Slides contain a large amount of text, and serve as a memory aid for the important points. Some researchers even write and read a paper for their conference presentation. This can work in an academic conference setting, since getting the most minute details correct is of utmost importance, however, this type of presentation style is not engaging for most people. To make your presentation more interesting to a regular audience, avoid the temptation to read from a paper or put all of your information on your slides. Instead, take the time to memorize your presentation. This will allow you to present with a more conversational feel. When I’m memorizing a presentation, I like to record myself saying it on my iPhone and then listen to it over and over again until I remember what I’ve intended to say. This approach also allows me to workshop cadence, timing, and tone.
Body Language Basics:
When you’re presenting, keep a relaxed and comfortable posture with both feet on the floor, hands relaxed at your sides, and shoulders back. Avoid crossing your arms in front of you, and avoid rocking from one foot to the other. It’s ok to move while you speak. If you do so, try to keep a relaxed gate, and walk slowly and with confidence. Look at your audience, and shift your gaze to different people or different areas of the room as you speak. If you’re nervous, remember you’ve been asked to speak because of your expertise. The audience wants to hear what you have to say. For additional tips, see this video on presentation body language from Business Insider. You may view the embedded video here, or if it does not work on your device or browser, access it directly on YouTube at this link.
Practice, Practice, Practice:
For a powerful presentation, remember the three P’s: Practice, Practice, Practice! In order to memorize your presentation and deliver it effectively within your allotted time, you need to make sure you spend time practicing. After memorizing your presentation, run through it with your slides in front of a mirror. If possible, record yourself on video and watch it to correct any verbal or non-verbal tics that you may not be aware of. Finally, get a friend or family member to be your test audience and help you perfect your presentation. They’re probably interested in hearing more about what you do!