Talks: Comments

What makes a good talk? How do I prepare it?

Seminar at a group where nobody knows your work:

• Most important point: the talk is not for you, it's for the audience. The talk has to be designed such that the audience enjoys it, not you
• Who is the audience? What do they know? How much introduction is required such that it becomes understandable what I'm saying?
• Once I know who the audience is going to be: draft the talk in four slides. Condense the material
• Readable graphs (large units/labels, thickness of lines), i.e. if graphs are not prepared nicely, it shows that the preparation of the talk was not a priority
• Better the audience understands a little a bit, instead of it totally does not understand anything
• Simple Rule of thumb 1: Not more than two messages per slide
• Simple Rule of thumb 2: Not more than six bullet points, not more than 6 white-spaced expressions per bullet point No bullet points, substitute bullet points by figures
• Dont read the bullet points, memorize them. Go through them while facing the people, not the slides Address each figure and make it clear why it is there
• The slides dont substitute the talking. The talking is the main message carrier, the slides should allow to assist when explaining. Thats why text is not required, instead figures
• Dont base the talking on the slides, base the slides on the talking.
• Timing (excluding questions): 5% personal introduction: "who is this guy?", 10% content introduction, 70% content, 10% summary/conclusions, 5% aknowledgements
• Start practicing the talk at least 3 days a week ahead.
• Avoid text
• In the start of the talk, it's fine to show something unrelated so people remember you