Recently, I attended a conference and sat through a particularly bad presentation. I was tempted to leave, but my colleague insisted we stay until the end. So I somehow had to make the best out of it. This gave me the opportunity to analyze what made the presentation so ineffective and “bad” for me (maybe it was interesting for other people, I just didn’t like it.
So I regarded it as a case study to probably improve my own presentations.
- Why exactly do I not like the presentation?
- What’s going wrong?
- Would I have an idea how to make it better? If not, keep it in mind and discuss it with someone!
And specifically break it down into:
- Content/Topic: Is the content relevant and well-chosen for the audience? Is it “small” enough for the presentation or too broad?
- Presentation: Were the slides or visual aids effective and engaging? Are the slides overloaded or well structured? Do they support or replace the speaker? I recognized that I either read the slides or listen to the speaker – both at the same time doesn’t work.
- Language/Expression: Did the speaker use clear and appropriate language? Was it easy to follow?
- Energy: Was the presentation delivered with enthusiasm and energy?
By critically evaluating these aspects, I found a productive way to pass the time. Moreover, reflecting on these points might help me improve my own presentations in the future. After all, there’s always hope for better performance next time.