How to give tech talk

howto_tech_talk.md

How to give tech talk

• Date: Monday, November 25, 2019
• Speakers: Irina Geiman, Dana Iskoldski, Erica Pisani, and Kapil Khimdas
• Link: https://www.meetup.com/DevTOEvents/events/266277310/

Know your audience

• set expectations
• understand knowledge level of audience
• get feedback from sample of audience group ahead of time
• connect with audience with common problems

Small scale vs larger scale

• Practice. Memorize.
• Build strategic space for question
• be yourself. Be genuine.
• bigger --> more organized and less off the cuff
• do not read the audience. They all respond differently
• do not viciously correct course based off of "feedback"
• be confident regardless.
• there is no feedback for video calls where they don't turn on video

How do you tell a story. How does it change for the audience.

• tell the business story. Tell your personal story.
• show cased her own imaginery business... Nail salon.
• focus on what excite you about the topic
• tell the story to connect to the larger business cause
• tell why you care. What is the reason.
• the story can be told differently depending on the audience

Practice.

• self recording picks up on nervous ticks
• practice in uncomfortable/different environments or audiences
• don't focus on memorization
• you fall into the trap of remembering the next word
• just be comfortable
• don't over practice
• you can get nervous and go too fast
• associate a slide with the content you are supposed to talk to
• tedx has 16 week bootcamp. Last 4 weeks is to practice. 1 week of reading. 2 week pulling only if you need it. 3 week bullet points only. 4 week memorize.
• know your story or content.

How do you pace yourself

• breathe
• if you are getting light headed or dry mouth, you are probably talking too quickly
• you don't normally talk for more than one minute at a time
• practice by mouthing the word when reading things to get yourself practice
• try doing it as fast as you can. You can feel how it is for too fast.
• try it in a homer Simpsons for levity
• have allies. Get feedback during the presentation from trusted individuals

How did you get into doing talks

• did them and loved it
• was always around the tech talk world booking tedx
• mom signed him up for public speaking competition. Huge nerd all the time.
• worked consultancy. Part of job.
• felt communication was her weak point.
• got addicted to pitching new idea for the org

Combating imposter syndrome

• common feeling. Everyone feels it.
• politicians and policy makers feel that way. Afraid of tedx.
• you are an expert of your small slice
• someone will find value in your talk
• do a panel. Part of a group/team
• share the feeling with someone. Co present with someone. Be a team.

How do deal with questions

• break your own presentation and pre research ahead of time
• differ. It's a good question and try to answer after the fact. Chat offline
• people don't expect you to be an oracle
• smile and acknowledge the question. And how it is important. Answer the adjacent question that adds context.
• don't get defensive
• unrelated questions. Show off questions. Cannot prepare. Admit you don't know the topic and flip the tables on asker and look forward to their presentation on the subject.
• don't feel need to be perfect

The presentation

• you don't know the venue. Can they even see your slides?
• make your content visible
• focus on main ideas and not details
• get focus on what is said, not on the slides
• find the strategic story
• find what matters about the story
• how does your story or technology improve the audience's life
• minimal slide content
• focus on flow
• focus on why. Not how or what
• do not over rate slides