Presenting for Geeks – 2

Not long ago, I suggested to Geeks who found themselves in the role of presenter could try shifting their thinking a little. :)  The gist of what I was saying was to move from thinking of the process to the product; from the features of a gadget to the uses of those features.  It’s not rocket science but it makes a huuuuge difference to how well your presentation is received and – crucially – how much use it is to your audience.

And it’s all about your audience – if it’s not, you shouldn’t be presenting.  You should be geeking until you do have something to tell them!   Is Geeking a real word?  It is now.

Let’s take that idea a little further… and I’m only partially tongue-in-cheek ;)

Not only do ‘normal people’ not care about the details of how something works like geeks do, they find it odd that you do! I mentioned last time that you should concentrate on what things do, not on how they do them – well take that one step further and remember that to make a presentation it has to not only educate, it has to entertain.  That doesn’t mean it has to be funny – which is just as well for many geeks! – but it does have to be interesting.  Part of ‘interesting’ is not to be ‘alienating’.

You might think there’s no harm in sandals with socks.  Other people do.  You might not see any problem with your hair falling over your face and shunning makeup . Other people do. You might think awk and grep are words.  Other people don’t.  You might not need to look at people to value them. Other people do.

Sad but true, I’m afraid, people find differences distancing…

And doing things that other people ‘take a mental step back from’ makes it harder for them to ‘get’ you.  Remember that it’s not just what you say; it’s also the way you say it – and if people aren’t listening there’s no point in you talking.

Annoying though it may be, non-Geeks have their place in the world! :)  And often that place in the world is to provide the funders for what you do, or to be the end users of what you do.  Either way, it’s much, much easier for non-Geeks to accept what you’re saying if you not only take out the details they don’t need to hear (see last time) but also if you take out of the way anything else that gets in the way.

Think of the things that make you able to recognise a fellow Geek.  Ask yourself if a non-Geek would see those things in you. Think how you might be able to make it easier for them to get you….