Breaking Murphy's Law - Latest Comments in The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Keith Davis — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:49:05 -0000

Hi Lee
Worth reading just for:

"If you practice like it’s the real thing,
the real thing will seem like a practice."
LOL

Well written, entertaining and so so true!

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Lee Potts — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:41:07 -0000

Hi Dr. Anderson, I agree that proper time allocation can be important in combatting presentation disaster ("6. If you’re not early, you’re late"). The problem is, we often find ourselves in situations where time isn't for sale at any price. Time control can't be the most powerful because many of us actually have very little control over issues involving time. Consider, for instance, the meetings I support for my employer. I have no control over when they will be held and I have limited influence over when the team begins to prepare not to mention the rest of the project time line. On the day of the meeting, I have absolutely no control over when I'll gain access to the meeting room to begin setting up our equipment. The agency we're presenting to is almost always accommodating but there are no guarantees. I hope that applying all seven (and maybe more) of these principles during the entire presentation process (from kick-off meeting through load out) makes it less necessary to depend solely on time resources which are often out of our control and are sometimes non-existent. Ideally, the application of these principles will make it unnecessary to do anything "on the fly." I appreciate you taking the time to visit and to comment, and look forward to your contributions as the principles continue to develop further.

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Lee Potts — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:12:16 -0000

Hi Lee, thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm glad to hear the rules encompassed your recent experience, but I'm sorry it went so poorly for you. I agree with the lack of sleep being a problem. There was one meeting when we finished up at 4:00am but had a 6:00am call. Rushed back to my room to try to get an hour of sleep. Couldn't figure out why the room key card would work. Then it hit me -- right room, wrong floor. I ran back to the elevator and turned the corner just as the room's occupant, most likely not very happy, opened the door. Hope they got back to sleep.

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Dr. Jim Anderson — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:38:53 -0000

Lee: you know, the most powerful way to combat each of the presentation killer items that you listed is to make sure that you buy yourself enough time. If for no other reason than you won't be surprised when something goes wrong / changes. I can deal with just about any setback as long as I've had a bit of time to figure out what my next step is. Trying to do that on the fly is much harder...!

- Dr. Jim Anderson
The Accidental Communicator Blog
"Learn How To Calm Your Fears, Wow Your Audience, And Get Your Point Across"

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Lee Hopkins — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:39:42 -0000

Blimey -- are you SURE you can't astral travel or remote project or something??? Every single one of those points were my experience on the first of the two days I presented in Sydney last week!

Your point about working too hard for too long is certainly apt - 3am tiredness and 'wood from tree syndrome' don't make for good bedfellows.

As for how to 'park' it all -- this blog is a damn good parking spot as far as I am concerned; everything is about one theme, the search engine works, and it's all neat and contained. Wikis can get unwieldy and hard to know what is there and what isn't... My 2c

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Lee Potts — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:22:54 -0000

Thanks for stopping by and for the great comment Andrew. I'm glad and relieved to hear the principles hold up to your extensive experience.

Checklists! I can't believe I forgot to explicitly get checklists in there considering I live and die by them. I'll most definately have to come up with one. Just have to figure how how to phrase it in a "pithy" way.

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Lee Potts — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:11:07 -0000

How about something like this as an additional principle: Once you mess with an established process, nothing is simple.

Might not be "snappy" enough put that way but it's an important concept. I adapted it from a Toolbox for IT post by Dennis Stevenson -- http://it.toolbox.com/blogs.... Might do a little wordsmithing and add it to the list

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Andrew Abela — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:19:33 -0000

Lee,

This is a good list. I went through the greatest presentation disasters I've faced over the years, and I think your list would have prevented pretty much all of them. The only other thing I would suggest - it may fit within one of your seven - is that each presenter should have a detailed checklists unique to his/her own situation, of specific things to pack the night before and then to check during the morning of (mine includes things like: bottle of water and glass on table; check my handout master against actual handouts reproduced by the client company--amazing how many times there are differences; etc.)

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Laura Bergells — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:01:41 -0000

Oooh, playing cards. Could make it into a game!

Or a tarot spread, portending your presentation future! Think of the graphic possibilities!

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Lee Potts — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:04:58 -0000

Hi Laura, thanks for stopping by. Maybe a laminated wallet card? Or maybe, if it turns out that there needs to be a lot more than just a handful of principles, they would be better as a deck of cards -- like Brian Eno's "Oblique Strategies" (http://www.rtqe.net/Oblique....

Re: The Seven Principles of Presentation Disaster Avoidance (Version 0.1 beta)

Laura Bergells — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:10:43 -0000

I love the idea of a living document. Technology and fashion are in a constant state of flux -- a living document can keep up with the changes. And the presentation fundamentals that don't change? In the heat of the mo, it's great to have a reference.

Every presenter needs a comprehensive presentation checklist. Might that be a great Google Doc -- or Spreadsheet for the condense version? I know I'd use it -- prolly even go old school and print it out.